Community Corner

Fallen Border Patrol Agent From Lake Elsinore Honored

On July 14, 1994, Agent Trena McLaughlin was stuck with a syringe while searching a vehicle in Temecula. As a result of the incident, she tested positive for Hepatitis C and died in 2009.

A fallen border patrol agent from Lake Elsinore who died after being stuck with a syringe in the line of duty has been honored in Washington D.C.

Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Trena McLaughlin was honored Friday during a Valor Memorial Ceremony held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection headquarters.

On July 14, 1994, McLaughlin was stuck with a syringe while searching a vehicle in Temecula. As a result of the incident, she tested positive for Hepatitis C in 1998.

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After medically retiring from the Border Patrol in 2002, she died of liver failure on September 14, 2009.

McLaughlin had served with the United States Border Patrol for 18 years and was a member of the 167th session of the Border Patrol Academy assigned to the Theodore L. Newton, Jr. and George F. Azrak Station in the San Diego Sector.

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She is survived by her mother and brother.

McLaughlin was one of three local agents honored Friday. Customs and Border Protection Officer John R. Zykas from the city of Poway and Border Patrol Agent Nathaniel A. Afolayan from the city of San Jacinto were also honored.

The Valor Memorial pays tribute to uniformed officers and agents killed in the line of duty or who have passed away as a direct result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty.

“Today – as always – we honor the courage and selfless sacrifice of the individuals whose names are etched on this valor memorial,” said Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan D. Bersin during the ceremony. “May their legacy of distinguished service to our Nation be forever remembered and continue to inspire all of us charged with protecting our homeland.”

On September 2, 2010, Officer Zykas suffered a major heart attack during a training course at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. After undergoing intensive surgery, he was removed from life support and passed away on September 8, 2010. 

Agent Afolayan passed away May 1, 2009, just one day after collapsing during training at the Border Patrol Academy in Artesia, New Mexico. He collapsed shortly after completing the one-and-a-half-mile run portion of his physical techniques final exam.

In addition to Zykas, McLaughlin and Afolayan, other Customs and Border Protection employees were added to the memorial on Friday including Mark F. Van Duren, Charles F. Collins II, Michael V. Gallagher, and Bryan A. Terry.


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