National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Special Agent

Memorial Panel: 58-E: 27

Department: Drug Enforcement Administration

End of Watch: October 12, 2004

Cause: PHYS

Age: 64

Years of Service: 24

Description: On June 9, 1975, Special Agents Ware and Wilfred Stevenson were kidnapped, beaten and shot with an M-16 rifle while conducting an undercover drug investigation in Mexico. Both Agents had concealed weapons and were able to return fire and call for backup. Agent Wilfred survived his injuries. The three drug smugglers were apprehended. Agent Ware was in critical condition in intensive care for over four months. The trajectory of the bullet caused major injury primarily to his heart, liver, chest, nervous system and abdomen. Agent Ware medically retired in 1997. On October 12, 2004, Agent Ware was in surgery for his hip when he died of cardiac arrest due to kidney failure.