Letter to Donald Fisher, dated September 28, 1943, directing him to report for a physical examination pursuant to his application to become a probationary patrolman for the Baltimore City Police Department

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Officer Donald Fisher and his wife Anna.

Photo taken in the mid 1940's when he was assigned to the Eastern District.

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2 Youths Held in Theft of Automobile

Two 18-year-old youths were arrested by police early today after they abandoned an automobile that had been reported stolen.

Patrolmen Charles P. Klemmiek and Donald Fisher of the Western District. chased the pair down an alley and captured them after they had run the car, parked in font of 734 West Fayette street.

The youths were sitting in the front seat when the officers in a patrol car spotted the automobile as one reported stolen. They fled when the policemen approached.

Radio In Car

In the car was a radio, which Joseph Peltier said was stolen from his apartment on the first floor of 734 West Favette Street. Peltier said his home was broken into and the radio stolen while he was asleep.

The car had been reported stolen at 3:55A.M. by Mrs. Ethel Palacorol]a of the 100 block north Pearl Street. The two youths were taken to the Western Police Station for questioning.

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Police Catch 2 MEN AFTER FIELD SEARCH

Pair Nabbed After Holdup Near Pratt And Haven Streets

Flushed by pistol shots, two men were bagged last night after bandit-hunting police surrounded and beat through the underbrush of a field at Eastern and Dundalk Avenues. The pair both Negroes, were taken to Eastern Police Station for investigation of a holdup while police continued their search for a third Negro believed to be still hiding in the thick underbrush.

Samuel Mills, night watchman for the Kimball Tyler Company, Pratt and Haven Streets, reported to police that while he was making his rounds outside the building at about 8.30 P.M. he was approached by three Negroes.

Searched His Pockets

One of them stuck a hard object into his side and demanded that Mills give them his money.

"I haven't got a cent," the watchman told the trio.

After searching his pockets, the three bandits took the watchman's flashlight and fled.

Eastern police broadcast a description of the three men and just as Patrolman Donald Fisher, on his motorcycle, heard the broadcast; he saw three men answering the description walking along Dundalk Avenue.

Fled Into Field

When the motorcycle patrolman approached, the trio fled into the a field, he reported. Patrolman Fisher phoned for assistance from a near-by filling station and additional police under Lieutenant Joseph Varock, of the Eastern district, and Captain Henry Kaste, of the Traffic Division, arrived. Radio cars trained their head lights onto the field, and a

Fire Department searchlight. was brought into play. Police fired several shots into the ground in an attempt to persuade the men to surrender, then beat through the brush looking for them.

Crouching In Grass

The two men seized were found crouching in the high grass and concealing bushes. In an earlier holdup, police reported that a Negro entered a beauty shop in the 100 block North Bond Street. He carried a nickel plated revolver, partially concealed beneath a white handkerchief.

Addressing the proprietor and the four patrons, all Negroes, he said: "Don't move or say anything. This is a holdup and I want your money." He then quickly went through the pocketbooks which the women handed him and fled with S41.

Officer Donald E. Fisher assigned to the Traffic Division

HIGH AND DRY ON IMPOUNDING LOT--Patrolman Donald Fisher wondered if the heat had got him when he saw a 17-foot cabin cruiser perched on the impounding lot at Police Headquarters. However, the vessel didn’t float up on the incoming tide; instead it was hauled to the lot in the usual impounding style. The cruiser in tow of a station wagon, illegally was parked in the 100 block East Redwood Street during the morning rush hour, so the whole business was hauled to Headquarters. George Maypole, Chicago, aboat dealer, retrieved his errant craft for the usual ten bucks,

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Courteous Cop

To The Editor Of The Evening:

The other evening I approached a motorcycle policeman to ask directions. He not only gave me excellent directions, but was extremely courteous and helpful. I feel that if we had more officers of this caliber the police force, Baltimore would be a better place in which to live. I am sorry that I didn't ask the officer his name. but. I remember the number on his cap was 1129.

I should like to say thank you again to him through you

                                                        ANN GOLDFARB

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Officer Donald Fisher, second Officer from the right, with a few buddies at the Friendship Airport

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Atkinson Retires Three Policemen

Police Commissioner Atkinson announced the retirement of the veteran policemen Charles McKee, Northeastern District; Joseph Musil, Jr., Southern District; John Sanders, Southern District.

Transfers also were announce of Patrolmen Cornelius Tenkampt and Sidney Jacobs, Headquarters Division Vice Squad, to the Northeastern District, and Donald E. Fischer and Walter S. Tyler from the Northeastern the Eastern District

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Shop Robbed

Hold Up Foiled

An armed bandit last night held up a beauty parlor in the 700 block North Bond Street and robbed the proprietor and customers of $41 while three other men, foiled in another hold-up attempt, were cornered in a vacant lot at Dundalk Avenue and Gusryan Street, where two suspects were captured.

In the latter episode, a trio stuck a gun into the stomach of Samuel Mills, night watchman for the Kimball-Tyler Company at 261 South Haven Street, and demanded money.

He told them he had nothing but a flashlight. They took that and disappeared.

SAW 3 MEN.

A short time later Traffic Patrolman Donald Fisher saw three negroes answering their description walking on Dundalk Avenue. He shouted at them and they ran into a nearby field. Fisher telephoned for help and then raced after the men. He found a man hiding in the bushes. The man did not resist arrest and Fisher marched him out with his hands in the air. Meanwhile, other police arrived and combed the field, finding another man.

THIRD NOT FOUND.

Both prisoners told police, who surrounded the field, that the third man had the gun. He was not found. However at the beauty parlor, the proprietor, Mary Meekin, told police the bandit was a young man' armed with a nickel plated revolver. He robbed three customers, her assistant and herself, she said.

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$13,500 Bail Set In Police Attack

A 22·year-old Negro who allegedly sent two policemen to Mercy Hospital for treatment of' injuries after a fight in the 400 block Mosher street on New Year's Day was held in a total of $13;500 bail today following a hearing in Northwestern Police Court.

In addition to being charged with assault on the two officers with intent to kill, the defendant, O'Neal Russell, 1400 block McCulloh Street, was charged with attempted burglary and lottery violations.

Patrolmen Donald Fisher and Peter Buccheri testified before Magistrate E. Everett. Lane that they were in a traffic patrol car at 2:30 A.M. on January 1 when they noticed Russell in a doorway of a shop in the 400 block Mosher Street. When they stopped to investigate, they said. Russell attacked them with a chisel. Fisher was hospitalized with his injuries and Buccheri was also treated. Other police rushed to the scene and subdued Russell, who was treated for injuries at Maryland General Hospital, where police said they found lottery slips in his clothing.

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Pedestrian Struck Driver Is Charged

A reckless driving charge was placed against Franklin Bellamy, 32, Negro, of the 1900 block West Fayette Street. after his car struck a pedestrian yesterday in the 1600 block Preston Street. Smyril Davis, 56, Negro, of the 11300 block North Bond Street. was admitted to St. Joseph's Hospitol after the accident with a fractured skull. Bellamv was arrested by Patrolman Donald Fisher, of the Police Traffic Division

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MAN SHOOTS POLICEMAN IN FACE, FLEES

Arresting Officer Had Just Called For Wagon For Suspect

A suspected automobile thief whipped out a gun at a police call box at North and Greenmount avenues and fired into the mouth of a traffic patrolman late yesterday after the policeman had summoned a patrol wagon to pick up his prisoner. The officer, Patrolman Donald E. Fisher, 37, fired four shots at his Negro assailant, who escaped south on Greenmount and west on Lanvale street.

Patrolman Fisher was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where it was reported the gunman's bullet lad ricocheted off a denture, split the policeman's tongue, entered the roof of his mouth and lodged near his right ear.

The hospital said last night he was in satisfactory condition and resting comfortably. It said the bullet had not been, recovered.

Fires At Pursuers

Witnesses at the scene of the shooting said the escaping car thief' fired twice at men who pursued him on Greenmount. Preliminary reports were that two young men driving south on Greenmount toward North Avenue spotted a car stolen from one of them Monday night and forced them to the curb. The men, Harold S.Tabb,27,of the 3300 block Avondale Avenue, and Alan Gross, 27, of the 3900 block Maine Avenue, pulled the negro occupant from the car and turned him over to Patrolman Fisher.

Patrolman Fisher called for a patrol wagon at 5:26 P.M. from the box at the Southwest corner of North and Greenmount.

Second Call Comes

A few minutes later a second came in from the box, this one asking for assistance. It was followed almost immediately by a third' call for an ambulance for Patrolman Fisher: A police car reached the intersection, before the ambulance and, took the wounded officer to St Joseph Police said last night they did not know who had put in the second and third calls.

They said there had been a scuffle at the call box after the first call, in which James C. Pierce, of the 400 block East North avenue, assisted Patrolman Fisher. Mr. Tabb and Mr. Gross. As police pieced together the next moments, the man under arrest who already had been frisked by the patrolman, pull a gun from his belt suddenly and fired. They said the assist call apparently had been placed during the struggle which preceded the first shot.

Two bullets fired in the shooting hit the back window of Mr. Tabb's car. The stolen car belonged to Mr. Gross.

Bullet Picked Up

One spent bullet was picked up near the call box and sent to the crime laboratory. Police said it might be from a .32 caliber weapon.

As the gunman ran south on Greenmount. Patrolman Frank Wrzosek. of the Northeastern District, jumped in the Tabb car with Mr. Tabb, and they chased him two blocks before he disappeared.

As soon as it was known Patrolman Fisher had fired at the man who shot him, police put out an order for a check of all hospitals and doctors on the chance the gunman had sought medical treatment.

He was described as about 28 or 29 years old and 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 175 pounds.

Wearing Jacket

Witnesses said he was wearing a brown leather jacket and a gray hat. Central District police checked a house in the 1700 block Barclay street last night following a report that a man answering the description of the escaped gunman had been seen there.

The Barclay street man was seen leaving the house in a black and white plaid jacket, a light hat with a black band and muddy shoes, and police relayed this information by radio to supplement the description already moved in connection with the city wide search for the gunman.

Converge On Area

Later, police converged on the area north of the Pennsylvania Railroad's North avenue bridge at the Falls road. A Central District post patrolman had reported seeing a man who looked like the suspect there.

Soon afterward police received further word that a man resembling the gunman had been seen leaving a shack on a Pennsylvania Railroad siding and running north on the tracks.

Mrs. Fisher, wife of the patrolman, and their two sons, Donald 12 and. James. 11, arrived at the hospital at 6.15 P.M. in an inspector's car.

After seeing her husband, Mrs. Fisher said he appeared to be doing all right.

The Fishers, who live at 1608 Montpelier Street, have a third child, Barbara Ann, 14. Patrolman Fisher has been on the force for twelve years. He is a Motorcycle Officer.

His denture is the result of his tangle last year with a young burglar armed with a chisel.

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Wounded patrolman consoled by wife

Patrolman Donald E. Fisher, shown with wife, Anna, credits denture with saving his life.

 

Suspect Freed In Fisher Assault

Police investigating the shooting of Patrolman Donald E. Fisher released a 29-year-old man, yesterday afternoon after questioning him for several hours.

The man, a Negro, had been picked up by two traffic patrolmen about 10 A,M. at Calvert and Twentieth streets.

Patrolman Fisher was shot in the mouth by a suspected car thief late Tuesday at a police call box at North and Greenmount Avenues. St. Joseph's Hospital reported last night he was "doing very well."

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Policeman's Hard Luck Continues

Patrolman Donald E. Fisher described by fellow traffic officers as '''the hard-luck guy." last night suffered a possible heart attack as he was preparing to go on duty. The 37 year old motorcycle officer only recently recovered from a gunshot wound in the mouth he received while arresting a suspected automobile thief in March.

In January 1955. he was struck, in the face "by chisel when he and another patrolman arrested a burglar attempting to break into a tailor shop.

Fellow officers rushed the stricken patrolman to Mercy Hospital from the Police Headquarters Building in a squad car.

A hospital physician. who described his condition as fair, said Patrolman Fisher had a possible coronary attack.

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Fisher Better After Attack

Baltimore hard luck patrolman, Donald E. Fisher, thirty- seven, was reported in “satisfactory" condition in Mercy Hospital today after suffering a heart attack as he prepared to, take his post last night. He only recently recovered from a bullet wound in his mouth. He received it as he arrested a suspected auto thief in March. His denture miraculously saved his life. Eighteen months ago, he was struck in the face with a chisel when he another policeman arrested a burglar.

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Motorist Is Arrested After 7-Mile Chase

Anne Arundel county police reported early this morning that following a 7-mile chase from near the Baltimore City line to Sunset Beach. John J. Cleckner, 23, was apprehended as he jumped from his car near his home on Stoney Creek Road, Sunset Beach.

According to Police, Cleckner was seen traveling at a high rate of speed on Pennington Avenue by Traffic Officers, James Devoe and Donald Fisher. Radioing ahead to Anne Arundel County Police to meet them in the chase, the two officers attained a speed of over 70 miles an hour, they said, before arresting Cleckner at his home.

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Approximately 100 handicapped children have left by bus for Junior Camp Greentop in the Catoctin Mountains from headquarters of the Baltimore League for Crippled Children and Adults. John Feehley, carried to a bus by Officer Donald Fisher. Fisher is the policeman who was shot in the mouth last winter by a prisoner at a callbox at Greenmount and North Avenues.