Elijah Monroe Garretson was born March 18th, 1998, and was killed in the line of duty on Saturday, January 10th 2026 while handling a suspicious person call as an officer with Copperas Cove Police Department in Copperas Cove TX.

He leaves behind a beautiful 5 year old daughter, Elliana, his wife Lexi, and many family members and friends who love him dearly. From one end of the country to the other, Eli left a mark on everyone he met, from new coworkers in Texas to grade school classmates in New Hampshire – time and again, people have remarked on his kindness, his confidence, and his steadfast presence. Our family appreciates everyone who has offered kind words, thoughts, and prayers in his honor.

Some community members have asked whether a GoFundMe was being set up for donations from a kind and thoughtful public. Initially, we hesitated - our family is generally the pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps sort, and I imagine Eli would even be embarrassed by the idea of strangers making donations in his name. With life insurance and whatnot, his daughter and his wife will not be left entirely without resources, but it is more than clear that this is a way that people wish to honor Elijah’s courage and sacrifice, and to help provide for his family.

The proceeds from these donations will primarily go into a trust, for the education, care, and raising of his daughter Elliana.

If deemed appropriate and in agreement by multiple family members, donations may also be used for: a) any funeral or memorial expenses not already covered by other means; b) travel costs for family members to travel for services, unless already covered by other means; and c) immediate funds to defray living expenses for his wife and daughter from the sudden loss of income.

Thank you to everyone in the community in Copperas Cove TX, and everyone across the country and around the world who has expressed their condolences and offered their support and prayers for Elijah, his wife and daughter, and our entire family. We lost Eli far too young. He was a thoughtful, kind, compassionate, intelligent man who served his country and his community with all the ideals of what a good man and a good officer should be, and I know he would have been a credit to us all for years to come.

Dara Garretson

Sister to Roger Garretson, Elijah's father

On behalf of the Garretson Family

New Boston, NH