April 13, 1976

During the lunch hour Baltimore's City Hall, like many major offices, undergoes a change. Although the level of activity is barely diminished many of those who work in the building are either coming or going from a lunch break, are out of the building enjoying the noon meal or are filling in while someone takes a break.

That's the way it was on Tuesday, April 13, 1976 when a man got off the elevator on the 7th floor of the temporary City Hall in the 100 block East Redwood Street demanding to see the Mayor. A short time after the initial contact with the receptionist this man was spreading terror through the two adjoining buildings which are housing City Government while City Hall is being remodeled.

Officer John A. Swiec, Southern District, received a minor gunshot wound to the left shoulder when he recently aborted the hold-up of a service station in the Southern District. During the hold-up attempt one of the suspects was mortally wounded by the officer but not before his coat was partially blown away by the suspect's shotgun. Two other suspects were arrested hours later

Detective Ernell C. Thornton, Property Crimes Section, was shot four times on September 22, 1976 while off-duty in the 1700 block Pressman Street. The suspect was quickly apprehended and charged. The nine year veteran with the Department is recovering from his wounds in an area hospital

Officer Croft was admitted for treatment of the stab wound of the abdomen and was released two days later. Officer O'Byrne was treated for stab wounds to the chin, the left elbow, the right hand, the right side and an injury to his right hand and was then released from the hospital.

A later examination of Officer Edward O'Byrne's clothing told a more chilling story than the incident itself. There was a 1/2 inch wide hole in the officer's right front shirt pocket and inside the pocket was Officer O'Byrne's J.D. carrying case which had been cut half-way through. The knife though, did not penetrate through the case nor the soft body armor the officer was wearing nor did he receive injury as a result of the thrust.

Another hole was on the right side of the shirt about 5 inches from the shirt pocket hole. The same area of the soft body armor showed a puncture as did the officer's undershirt. The officer received a slight puncture wound as a result of this thrust. A third hole was discovered through the shirt in the upper stomach area.

Examination of the soft body armor revealed that this thrust had only penetrated half way through and there was no injury as a result.

Both officers agree that the suspect must have heard them come in and was waiting for them to come to the bedroom. The incident took only a few seconds in the dark hallway and Officer O'Byrne didn't even realize he was stabbed until they had disarmed and subdued the suspect.

Officer O'Byrne believes that had it not been for his ID. case and the soft body armor his injuries would have been more disabling if not fatal. Experts in the field of blunt trauma agree that the force used to penetrate the Department's soft body armor would be disabling if not fatal to an individual not wearing it

While all-duty on October 23, 1977, and out with some friends, Officer Frank J. Lorah, Central District, came upon a large altercation as he was exiting a club in South Baltimore. He attempted to break up one of the fights and three of the combatants turned on him. During the fracas they disarmed the officer and one of the suspects stabbed him. Southern District Units responded, gained quick control of the situation and rushed Officer Lorah to an area hospital. The 27 year old Officer was cut on the left cheek, stabbed in the right elbow and received a serious stab wound of the upper left abdomen. The suspects were arrested and charged and the officer's gun was picked up by an alert citizen who hid it until the arrival of other units. Officer Lorah at last report is recovering from his wound at South Baltimore General Hospital.

Shortly before 9:00 p.m., on November 14, 1977, Police Agent Andrew Leso of the Eastern District was patrolling in the 2000 block of Harford Road. He had conducted several field interviews on the street and was returning to his patrol car when he saw a man in his early 20's who he had arrested previously. Agent Leso recalled that this suspect's name had been read out at roll call several days earlier as an escapee.

Agent Leso approached the suspect, called for a patrol wagon and attempted to place the suspect against a wall so that he could be searched as part of the process of arrest. The suspect resisted, turning toward the officer and at the same time placing a handgun, which he had concealed in his belt, against the officer's side. In the ensuing struggle for possession of the suspect's weapon both Agent Leso and the assailant were knocked to the street.

The suspect at one point pulled back aiming his weapon at Agent Leso's head, threatening to shoot if the officer moved. At the same time the suspect reached for the officer's still holstered weapon. Once again Agent Leso attempted to gain possession of his assailant's weapon when the suspect moved back slightly and fired point blank at the officer who was lying on his back in the street.

The bullet struck Agent Leso's soft body armor, near the collar bone. The suspect immediately retreated through a three foot wide alley-way which runs parallel to 20th Street from the 2000 block Harford Road. Agent Leso was able, because of the protection offered by the soft body armor, to pursue the assailant returning the fire.

Officers responding to the shooting scene found Agent Leso standing next to his patrol vehicle. A description, including the name and age of the assailant was broadcast, and the victim was taken to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins Hospital a short distance away.

Doctors examining the wound found what amounted to a very serious bruise, a result of the blunt trauma of the projectile hitting the protective soft body armor. Doctors say that without the protection of the soft body armor the wound could very well have been fatal.

Instead, after spending the night at the hospital, Agent Leso was released 12 hours later.

Crime laboratory technicians recovered the .32 caliber bullet from the soft body armor. It had not penetrated the protective fabric.

A little more than an hour after the shooting incident officers arrested a 23 year old escapee from a Maryland Correctional Institution on the street not far from where the shooting occurred.

He was arrested without incident and was charged with assault with intent to murder Police Agent Leso. Additional handgun violation charges were also placed against the suspect.

Commissioner Donald D. Pomerleau provided the soft body armor to all members of the Department after supervising its development late in 1975. The protective fabric was first developed by the DuPont Corporation to replace steel in radial tires. It was incorporated in the soft body armor, which was developed to specifications after intensive field testing by the Department and experts from Edgewood Arsenal in Harford County.

Soft body armor is not a "bullet proof vest." It is instead a lightweight garment which is designed to minimize the impact of projectiles from weapons which are commonly found in the urban area. Although the wearer is most often protected from the damages which can be inflicted by a bullet penetrating his skin, he still runs the risk of serious injury as the result of the blunt trauma or impact of the projectile against the soft body armor

Three women who were enroute to a birthday party in the Northeastern District were terrorized by two men on the evening of February 4, 1978. As the ladies parked their car at their destination in the 3100 block of Weaver Avenue the suspects approached their vehicle displayed a handgun and robbed the occupants of $51.00. After shouting instructions to leave the keys in the ignition the suspects attempted to force the victims from their automobile. One suspect looked inside and shouted to the second that the keys were not there. The second suspect then chased and tackled the woman who had the keys in her possession. The suspects fled, without the car, when another of the victims sounded the horn as the woman who had been wrestled to the ground shouted for assistance.

Northeastern District officers quickly obtained and disseminated a description of the suspects, both 20 years of age.

Officer Joseph E. Wolfe, 24, was patrolling in the vicinity of Herring Run Park and noted the description as it was broadcast by police radio. As he cruised the area he saw a suspect matching one of the descriptions which had been broadcast about 15 minutes earlier. He parked his radio car at Argonne Drive and Harford Road and waited for the

suspect to walk by.

As the suspect approached, Officer Wolfe got out of the car and ordered him to stop. At this point the young man turned and fired three shots at the Officer. Although one of the shots struck Officer Wolfe in the right forearm he returned the fire, then chased the suspect for about a block. The suspect was apprehended while he was trying to stop a passing vehicle.

Police Officers transported the wounded Officer to Union Memorial Hospital for emergency treatment. He was admitted and held for several days of treatment and observation.

The second suspect was also apprehended by Northeastern District Officers who responded to a call from the Department's Helicopter which had been searching the area. The Aerial Observer gave the officers on the ground directions to seek out a man who was hiding behind a tree in the 3900 block of Harford Road. This suspect was apprehended without further incident.

The suspects were subsequently charged with Assault, Robbery, Attempted Murder and other counts related to several armed robbery attempts in the Northeastern District that evening. A 32 caliber revolver was recovered at Harford Road and Argonne Drive.

Shortly before 4:00 o'clock last Thursday morning, Police Agent Lawrence B. Bennett of the Northern District pulled an automobile over in the 4900 block of Greenspring Avenue for a car check. A few minutes later Police Agent Bennett radioed his dispatcher requesting a Signal 13. He calmly requested an ambulance reporting to the dispatcher that he'd been shot. Even though seriously wounded Agent Bennett was able to broadcast the route of escape used by the two assailants.

Northern District Officers who responded to the 4900 block of Greenspring Avenue found Agent Bennett lying face down in the middle of the street. He had been shot in the back. Agent Bennett, still conscious but not able to move, told officers that he had the. assailant's driver's license and registration card in his hand. (The license and registration, in fact, belonged to a third party not directly involved in the incident.) A Baltimore City Fire Department Ambulance transported Agent Bennett to Sinai Hospital where he is under treatment for the gunshot wound.

Investigation revealed that a 63 year old West Baltimore man had stopped his automobile in traffic at Mosher and Fulton Avenues shortly before 10:00 o'clock the night before, when two men forced their way into his vehicle at gunpoint. He was forced to drive into an alley and was then prodded, at gunpoint, into the trunk of his own vehicle. The assailants then apparently drove randomly for about an hour before firing three shots into the closed trunk. The vehicle's owner sustained a gunshot wound of the left hand.

The suspects then drove for approximately six hours until they encountered Police Agent Bennett in the 3800 block of Greenspring Avenue.

Officers from the Northern District immediately began a search for the suspects wanted for the shooting and abduction. Slightly more than an hour after the shooting occurred Officer Richard Lear of the Northern District saw a male subject edging out of the wooded area at Northern Parkway and the Jones Falls Expressway. The suspect's clothing was partially mud-covered. He fit the description of one of the assailants which had been given police by the victim of the abduction the night before.

A search for the second suspect continued with Police Officers in all districts receiving a description and a nickname of the person thought to be the second assailant. Shortly after 5 :00 a.m. a Western District Police Agent received a report from a 45 year old taxi cab operator who related that he had picked up a fare at Fulton Avenue and Reisterstown Road and taken him to the 700 block of McKean Avenue. According to the driver the fare then got out of the vehicle, produced a small caliber handgun and announced a robbery. The victim turned over $5.00 in currency and at the same time he alertly grabbed the suspect's gun and stepped on the accelerator causing the vehicle to lurch forward at the moment the assailant discharged his weapon. The projectile narrowly missed the victim and smashed his vehicle's front windshield. The taxicab driver was not injured.

After receiving a description of the assailant in the hold-up and noticing the similarity in the description to those given after Agent Bennett was shot, a description was broadcast which linked the two incidents. Police from the Homicide Unit and the Western District then began an intensive search in the Western District for the wanted assailant.

Police searched, without success for nearly five hours before arriving at a residence which is located in the 700 block of North Monroe Street. After receiving information to the effect that the wanted person was inside the residence officers entered and arrested the suspect without further incident.

Detectives investigated both subjects thoroughly and with the advice of the Violent Crimes Liaison Unit of the State's Attorney's Office placed the following charges against the suspects:

# 1 Two counts assault with intent to murder One count of armed robbery One count of kidnapping Two counts of possession of a handgun Two counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony

#2 Three counts of assault with intent to murder Two counts of armed robbery One count of kidnapping Three counts of possession of a handgun Three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony

Both suspects are incarcerated awaiting adjudication of the charges which have been lodged against them.

Shortly after midnight on the morning of September 7, 1978, the routine radio traffic of the Baltimore Police Department's Communications System was interrupted by an urgent call for assistance by Officer Wardell James of the Northeastern District. He had been shot, he said, and needed an ambulance.

Officer James was found lying in the 5200 block of Parkside Drive, shot twice in the right side. Officers quickly obtained a description of the suspect and this was broadcast to all units immediately.

Tactical Section Sergeants Richard J. Ellwood, Jr. was responding to the area when he noticed the suspect, who had just been described, operating a motorcycle at a high rate of speed westbound on Moravia Road. As he began to pursue the suspect he notified Communications of the manner and direction of the escape.

In the 2400 block of East Coldspring Lane, the suspect lost control of his motorcycle and it overturned throwing him to the ground. At this time he lost possession of his .38 caliber automatic.

Sergeant Ellwood pursued the suspect on foot to the rear of the 2400 block of East Coldspring Lane, and lost sight of him.

Officer D. K. Ossmus of the Northeastern District, responding as the result of Sergeant Ellwood's communications on the direction of travel of the fleeing suspect was stopped by a distraught citizen who told him that a man fitting the suspect's description had just taken his automobile from him at gun point. The citizen accompanied Officer Ossmus and at Gilray Drive and Southern Avenue they recovered the stolen automobile which was parked at the curb. At this point Ossmus spotted the suspect as he forced another citizen at gunpoint out of a van parked on East side of Gilray Drive.

As Officer Ossmus gave chase the van accelerated at a rapid rate. Keeping his radio dispatcher informed of the changing routes of the suspect's vehicle Officer Ossmus gave other responding police units the opportunity to establish a roadblock at the intersection of Roland Avenue and Northern Parkway. The suspect approached the police roadblock at a high rate of speed and in an attempt to drive around the stationary police vehicles he lost control and collided with a utility pole. Officers who had established the road block took him into custody as he attempted to leave the van. At this time Officer James' service revolver was recovered.

At Parkside Drive and Sinclair Lane a man told Officers who were assisting the wounded Officer James that he had been the victim of a kidnapping and that he knew the identities of two of three of the assailants.

He said that when the vehicle, in which he was being held at gunpoint stopped at the intersection he observe a Officer James with a stopped civilian vehicle on Sinclair Lane. Fearing for his life the kidnap victim had escaped from the vehicle and called for the Officer to assist him.

Officer James immediately ran across two lanes of Sinclair Lane and encountered the suspect who produced an automatic weapon. A brief struggle followed in which the suspect wrested the service revolver from Officer James. Two shots were fired and Officer James fell to the roadway, critically wounded. The suspect fled to a nearby apartment complex, where he obtained the motorcycle to be used in the attempted escape.

The suspect, 25 year old Sherman W. Dobson of Baltimore, was charged with Assault with Intent to Murder Officer James, Kidnapping, three Armed Assault and Robberies and numerous handgun violations. He is presently awaiting trial.

Officer James was taken to Baltimore City Hospitals where he underwent several hours of emergency surgery to repair the damage caused by the two bullets which had been fired into him at point blank range. He is presently under intensive medical supervision as he recovers from his wounds

When a Police Officer gets shot in the line of duty all of us are saddened. Recuperation from gunshot wounds is a long, slow and often painful process. There are occasions, however, when such an incident has a brighter than expected ending.

Officer Michael P. Dunn of the Southern District was shot three times during what began as a traffic violation stop on April 7, 1979. When he stopped a van that Saturday night he had little way of knowing how close death would be in just a moment or two.

The van was occupied by three people, the driver and two young women, who were being held against their wills; He had kidnapped and raped them earlier in the evening. Officer Dunn, of course, was unaware of this when he stopped the vehicle.

Just twelve days after his harrowing experience Officer Dunn visited the NEWSLETTER Office and talked about what had happened to him. In the following excerpts from that Interview he offers a unique perspective on what was nearly a personal disaster:

"I just finished backing a unit up on Reedbird Ave. and went down to Reedbird and Hanover to finish the run sheet for the night. I finished and pulled onto Hanover St. to go into the Station when I spotted a black van with no tail lights or tag light. I pulled him over in about the 2700 block of South Hanover St.

"I approached the van and requested his driver license and registration. He took them out of his wallet and I advised him that his tail lights were out and he said that he knew because the fuse blew that day. While I was talking to him I heard a low scream coming from the back of the van and 1 didn't think too much of it. I figured that they were playing in the van.

"As I was looking at his registration I heard this terrifying scream and as soon as I heard that I said to myself, OK . . . just be calm and don't make any jerky moves. I looked back toward him and there's a gun pointing at my head. I put my hands into the air because I knew that I had no chance for my gun. He said, 'let me have it', it dawned on me that he wanted his license back because it had his picture on it.

"As soon as I gave it to him he shot me almost dead center in the chest. (I was) no more than three or four feet away from him. The first shot threw me back and spun me around and I then got it in the left arm and in the left leg.". . . I remember the hit in the chest and the next thing I knew I was down on the ground. If there was any pain in the chest from that I really can't say because my mind was on what to do, what to remember and the things I was hearing from the opposite side of the van.

". . . When the other units got there I was conscious (and) they asked me where I was shot. As soon as I said that I was hit in the chest one guy said, 'Did you have the vest on?' and I said, 'Yes, I think it did the job because I don't feel any pain and no blood running down the chest!' ". . . (In the hospital) I helped them take the vest off because I was anxious to see if it did the job. When I saw just the bruise and just some skin that was more or less cut, I'm yelling, 'It really works! It really works! It did the job!'

The bullet which struck Officer Dunn in the chest passed through his necktie before striking his soft body armor. The bullet is shown just above the impact paints which are marked with arrows

Officer David S. Garayoa, Southern District, was wounded on August 30, 1979 during a bizarre incident which still remains a mystery.

Officer Garayoa, a six year veteran, was walking his foot post and had just completed a business check of a food market in the 900 block of East Patapsco Avenue. He walked from the store to the rear loading dock of the building where he intended to check the parking lot.

While in the parking lot he heard what sounded like breaking glass and immediately felt a stinging sensation in his left forearm. He grabbed his arm and turned to his right looking in the direction of the noise. Officer Garayoa looked at his bleeding left arm and realized that he had been shot.

He notified his communications dispatcher that he was shot and requested assistance. A unit quickly arrived and transported the injured officer to a nearby hospital.

At the hospital, a .44 calibre magnum projectile, probably fired from a rifle, was removed from the officer's arm and examined by a technician from the Laboratory Division's Firearms Unit.

As a result of the projectile examination and the circumstances surrounding the incident it is felt that the shooting of Officer Garayoa was not a deliberate shooting, but apparently a stray shot fired from a great distance.

This opinion is based upon a number of factors; the relatively minor injury to Officer Garayoa and the non-mutilated condition of the projectile. An unobstructed shot from a .44 calibre rifle has an effective range of 400 to 500 yards. From within this effective range the injury to Officer Garayoa's arm would have been extensive. Total disintegration of the projectile would have almost been a certainty. The trajectory of the projectile was in a downward angle. This would indicate that the shot was apparently fired outside the effective range and apparently at an upward angle. A .44 calibre rifle, being a high powered hunting rifle, has an extremely loud report. The officer and three witnesses, however, reported that the only noise heard was a sound similar to breaking glass.

Officer Michael J. Cassizzi, Eastern District, was wounded on October 19, 1979 during an incident which ended with the suicide of his assailant.

The events surrounding the shooting of Officer Cassizzi, a four year veteran, began hours earlier. A relative of the suspect talked with doctors seeking help for his foster brother who was apparently mentally ill. After the doctor spoke with the suspect he advised the relative to obtain emergency commitment papers from a judge for his foster brother.

The Court Order was obtained and presented to officers at the Eastern District who were assured that the suspect had no weapons.

Officers went to the residence of the suspect to serve the commitment papers and again met the foster brother who told them that the suspect was in the basement. The officers, including Officer Cassizzi, examined the basement with negative results.

The officers were then informed that the suspect was probably in a second floor bathroom. They went to the area, found the door locked and a light on inside. The officers asked the suspect several times to unlock the door, but he refused each time. When Officer Leonard Petrovich forced the door open the light went out and gun shots erupted from the room. The officers retreated to the first floor under a rain of bullets. During the retreat; Officer Cassizzi was shot.

Officer Cassizzi was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of a gun shot wound in the lower back.

It was later learned that Officer Petrovich's portable radio had been struck by a bullet.

A command post was established and attempt» were made to establish communication with the suspect. There was never a reply.

Chemical agents were used several times in an attempt to force the suspect from the residence. Quick Response Team members then saw the suspect lying in a hallway. He had taken his own life.

Shootings of Baltimore Police Officers continue. The latest incident involved Officer William R. Surratt, a 21 year veteran assigned to the Western District. Officer Surratt is the eighth officer to be shot this year and the fifth within the past three months. Although eight unlawful police shootings in the past eight months is alarming it does not equal the twelve officers injured by gunshot in 1976.

Officer Surratt sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Officer Surratt is at home recovering from a relatively minor laceration. He was spared serious injury or death by soft body armour provided by the Department. This is the second time this year that an officer has been spared the ordeal of a serious gunshot wound by his protective body armour.

On November 24, 1979, Officer Surratt, while working as an Officer-in-Charge, heard gunshots in a tavern in the 2100 block of W. North Avenue.

Officer Surratt had no way of knowing that a few moments before, a suspect had entered the tavern, brandished a .38 calibre revolver and shot a victim four times. The apparent drug related incident proved fatal to the victim.

Seeing a person walking from the tavern, Officer Surratt left his patrol vehicle and ordered the suspect, who was reaching into his waistband, to stop. The officer drew his service revolver and commanded the suspect to stop for a second and third time. At this the gunman stopped walking, turned completely and fired a shot at Officer Surratt striking him in the left side. Officer Surratt stumbled forward momentarily and returned fire. The suspect, struck in the right buttock, was knocked to the sidewalk. The officer, having absorbed the impact of the suspect's bullet, was still able to approach, disarm and arrest the suspect.

Officers responding to the Signal 13 called by Officer Surratt found him standing in the middle of the block along side his prisoner.

Officer Surratt was transported to a nearby hospital where he was admitted in good condition for a blunt trauma laceration to his abdomen. He was released a few days later and is now recuperating at home.

The suspect was also taken to a near by hospital in good condition. He has been charged with homicide, assault by shooting with intent to murder and appropriate handgun violations.

Most persons who are skilled law enforcement professionals would agree that much of the work which is accomplished on "normal patrol" could be described as "routine". They will also agree that the distance between tedium and survival is often very slight.

It started that way for Officer Thomas H. Lewis of the Northwestern District as he began his tour of duty on February 19, 1980. That Tuesday morning wasn't even 15 minutes old when the Officer was stopped by a young man in the 2700 block of Hilton Street. He told the Officer that his younger brother, about a half block away, had a handgun.

Officer Lewis confronted the suspect who assaulted him with a portable radio, then pulled a concealed 22 calibre handgun. The exchange of gunfire left the suspect seriously wounded. The Police Officer's "soft body armour" stopped what could have been two fatal wounds of the chest and abdomen. A third bullet chewed through his left arm.

He radioed for assistance and when additional Officers arrived they found him still guarding the seriously wounded assailant. Both were taken to nearby hospitals. Officer Lewis was treated, released and is presently recuperating satisfactorily. His adversary was transferred to a shock trauma unit for treatment of massive injuries.

Soft body armour has, on numerous occasions, saved the lives of Officers of the Baltimore Police Department. The addition of the "garment" to the "official wardrobe" of a Police Officer in 1976 was greeted with some trepidation by several members of the Department.

Its effectiveness, however, has made it as desirable a piece of wearing apparel as a good pair of shoes. You wouldn't go out without your shoes on, would you?

During the past year, more than 44,000 traffic accidents were investigated by police in Baltimore City. Fortunately, the over-whelming majority of these accidents are of a minor nature. For most officers, a traffic accident investigation is routine. Some officers have probably investigated hundreds of accidents during the course of their careers.

On February 27, 1980, Officer Michael Herpel's radio dispatcher sent him to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Monroe Street for an accident.

A dump truck had struck a utility pole. At the accident site he met Officer Richard Palmisano. They had a mess to take care of. As the result of the accident, two large traffic signals were lying in the intersection still attached to their cables which were also lying across the roadway. An intensive traffic tie-up had developed as vehicles attempted to slowly cross the cables.

Officer Herpel notified authorities of the damaged traffic light as he and Officer Palmisano began to direct traffic, side by side, in the center of the intersection. The officers were directing traffic across the cables when a truck entered the intersection. As the truck slowly crossed the cable, the rear wheels became entangled with the wires stretching the cables. The truck operator, apparently unaware of what was happening proceeded on, stretching the cable until it snapped. Two traffic signals, which were still suspended, hurtled into the intersection as if hurled by a giant rubber band. One of the stoplights struck Officer Herpel directly in the upper chest causing him to fall back into the arms of Officer Palmisano. Officer Herpel was seriously injured. Officer Palmisano called for assistance and began to render first aid.

At the University of Maryland Hospital it was determined that Officer Herpel sustained a broken neck and bruised spinal cord. While undergoing treatment Officer Herpel's soft body armour was removed.

Once again, this light weight fabric vest had saved a life. According to one of the attending physicians at the hospital, Herpel's soft body armour saved his life. It has been estimated that the stop light hit the officer with about 1,000 lbs. of force. Rather than absorb this impact in a small area of the chest, the officer's "vest" dissipated the energy of the blow over a wider portion of his body. Officer Herpel has undergone surgery.

He has progressed satisfactorily enough to be removed from the intensive care unit of the hospital.

Officer Herpel continues to show progress in what will be a long recovery period

Police Officer Charles H. Benjamin, Eastern District, was wounded on Friday, March 25, 1980 during an apparent ambush.

At about 8:30 that evening, Officer Benjamin was on Sinclair Lane. As he approached Homestead Street he was flagged down by a citizen. This simple stop, which has occurred thousands of times was the beginning of a nightmarish few minutes for the officer.

Officer Benjamin brought his vehicle to a stop in a nearby parking lot as the person came nearer. Suddenly the person pointed a cloth bag which covered his hand and demanded the officer's portable radio and service revolver. Reacting instinctively Officer Benjamin grabbed his assailant's arm and pulled him partially into his radio car.

Gunfire erupted from the bag. Officer Benjamin drew his service revolver which the suspect tried to grab with his free hand. In the struggle the weapon discharged. The suspect wrested free of the officer's grasp, backed away and fired several more times at the officer.

The gunfire ended, Officer Benjamin sat in his vehicle, shot in the right hand and upper right thigh. The bizarre incident wasn't over.

As he sat wounded he saw an automobile moving in a Westbound direction on Sinclair Lane from the direction of Belair Road. The interior and exterior lighting of this vehicle had been turned off as it cruised toward the shooting scene. As the car drew abreast of Officer Benjamin it stopped, the suspect got in, and it again drove in a Westbound direction.

Officer Benjamin drove his vehicle across the street and called for help.

Responding officers quickly applied first aid and rushed the stricken officer to a nearby hospital. While in route to the hospital Officer Benjamin gave a description of his assailant which was immediately broadcast to fellow officers throughout the city. Although an intensive search was conducted, the suspects were not found.

Officer Benjamin underwent emergency surgery. The following day he was able to assist an artist to draw a likeness of the man who shot him.

                   WANTED

Just before midnight on August 25, 1980, Officer James Weglein, Central District, assisted other officers and a sergeant serving a search and seizure warrant for narcotics at an apartment on Guilford Avenue. While two officers secured the rear of the building, Officer Weglein went to the front door with another officer and the sergeant.

Their knocking and repeated calling out of "Police" produced no response.

They forced the door, again shouting "Police" and entered, Officer Weglein in the lead. Suddenly a shotgun blast rang out from a hallway in the apartment. Officer Weglein raised his hands to his face and fell backwards against a wall. He quickly recovered and helped return fire at a man illuminated by the shotgun muzzle flash. The room fell silent. Officers, maintaining their defensive positions, called out for the suspect to surrender. For several moments there was no response.

The suspect fired additional shots down the hallway as the officers continued to implore him to surrender. Finally the assailant called out that he was wounded and surrendered his shotgun.

The officers arrested the suspect and administered first aid. Although struck in the face by shotgun pellets Officer Weglein led the suspect from the scene to an officer outside.

Officer Weglein was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of a few minor pellet wounds to his face, hand and arm.

The suspect was hospitalized for a chest wound and was charged with multiple assaults with intent to murder.

Shortly after 1 :30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 23, 1980, Officer Durwood Hood of the Eastern District heard a broadcast description of a man wanted for the armed robbery of a taxi-cab driver in his District. As Officer in Charge he was responding to the 2200 block East Lanvale Steet, where the robbery occurred.

As he drove East on Federal Street the officer saw the suspect walking South on Montford Avenue. He pulled along side, got out of the Police Cruiser and approached the suspect, ordering him to place his hands atop the Police car. It was at this point that Officer Hood saw the gun in the suspect's hand. The suspect fired as the Officer ducked behind the car door for cover. Two more shots were fired at him after he had been struck in the lower back.

The suspect ran to an alley in the rear of the 2200 block East Lanvale Street after firing two shots at Officer Larry Evans of the Eastern District who was in pursuit.

Officers recovered the hand gun from the alley. They then began knocking on doors of residences of the 2200 block East Lanvale in hopes of turning up information regarding the suspect. A woman at one of the homes whispered to an Officer that the suspect was inside her residence. She dosed the door.

Homicide Detectives and Eastern District Officers then knocked on the door once more and the resident and the suspect appeared in the doorway. The suspect was arrested without further incident.

Officer Hood was transported to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment of the gunshot wound to the lower left back. The suspect faces a variety of charges ranging from Assault with Intent to Murder two Police Officers, Armed Robbery and Breaking and Entering.

Shortly after midnight on January 9, 1984, two Central District Officers, who had arrested three men on the 11th floor of the High Rise Apartment Building, located at 734 West Fayette Street, called for a backup unit and a Cruising Patrol Wagon with which to transport the suspects to the Central District.

Officers Theodore Black and Harry E. Sheppard III responded within moments and entered the lobby of the building. As they did so the elevator door opened and a woman pointed out a man in the elevator car saying he had just robbed her. The suspect immediately fired a shot which struck Officer Black in the left thigh

The suspect ran past the Officers to the front door of the building. Outside he encountered Officer James T. Clark, who had just arrived with his Cruising Patrol. The suspect fired twice at Officer Clark who was struck once in the upper right chest.

At this point Officers Sheppard and Black came outside and pursued the suspect firing several shots.

Medic Teams from the Baltimore City Fire Department arrived in a few moments and after initiating medical stabilization procedures, transported both Officers to University Hospital.

Officer Black received medical attention and was listed in stable condition with a bullet lodged in his upper left leg. He was released the next day.

Officer Clark's condition was listed as critical and medical treatment and evaluation continued on a round the clock basis. Officer Clark was released from the hospital on January 15th and is continuing to recuperate at home.

As the Officers were being administered initial and follow-up medical treatment, virtually every member of the Baltimore Police Department searched for the suspect. Detective Carl B. Layman of the Howard County Police Department, after consulting with the Officers and another witness, produced a sketch of the suspect.

This sketch was widely distributed to Police Officers throughout the city and to each citizen through the splendid cooperation of Baltimore's newspapers and television stations. As a result, literally dozens of phone calls were received by Detectives of the Homicide Unit. This resulted in the early morning arrest of the suspect a few days later.

Officer Clark's parents reside in Boston, Massachusetts, where his father retired after a distinguished 34 year career with the Boston Police Department.

The family was alerted and came to Baltimore to be with Officer Clark during the initial stages of his recovery.

Expenses for hotel accommodations and other necessary items were borne by the Signal 13 Foundation which, beginning September 1, 1983, has been making grants to members of the Department during their time of personal emergency.

Police Commissioner Frank J. Battaglia pointed out that Officer Clark's unfortunate injury provides an example of just one of the ways in which the Signal 13 Foundation can act quickly to provide meaningful assistance during a time of need.

UPDATE Shooting

On July 14, 1984, Officer William Scott, Northwestern District, while off duly, attempted to quell a disturbance between several people.

While assisting one of the participants with leaving the area, he was approached from behind and stabbed several times in the back. Officer Scott was able to pursue the suspect and wound him with his service revolver. The suspect was captured by responding on duly officers who also tended to the wounded officer. Officer Scott has been released from Johns Hopkins Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Officer Richard D. Phillips, Western District, was shot as he struggled with an assailant during the evening of July 24, 1984.

Officer Phillips was walking foot patrol in the 2100 blk. Pennsylvania Avenue when he entered the rear yard of a vacant house he knew was often used by drug abusers. As the officer went into the dark yard, he was immediately struck in the rear of his head by a heavy object. Staggered by the blow, he withdrew his service revolver to defend himself.. Officer Phillips was attacked by the suspect and a struggle began for possession of the officer's service revolver. The weapon discharged into the officer's thigh and the suspect fled.

Responding officers rendered aid to Officer Phillips who was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. His gunshot wound was found not to be serious. Officer Phillips is resting at home and is expected to make a full recovery.

No suspect has been apprehended in Officer Phillips' shooting.

On the morning of November 2, Officer Vincent P. Cole, Central District, arrived at the scene of a shooting call. A man standing outside of a Park Avenue building told Officer Cole that a man living in a second apartment had shot and killed a first floor resident with a shotgun. Officer Cole entered the building, drew his service revolver, and walked through a hallway to the stairs leading to the second floor. Officer Donna M. Cooper arrived to "back-up" Officer Cole and ascended the stairs with him. On the second floor, a man suddenly appeared and pointed a shotgun into Officer Cole's chest. Unable to defend Officer Cole, and to avoid a second hostage taking, Officer Cooper backed down the stairs and summoned additional aid.

At shotgun point, Officer Cole was ordered by the man to holster his weapon and sit on the steps. For several minutes, the man discussed the shooting of his neighbor while keeping the shotgun pointed at the officer.

While Officer Cole was being held hostage, special units throughout the Department began massing outside of the building to rescue him. Officer Cooper, along with Sergeant John F. Baker and Agent John J. McNamera had taken a position just inside the building doorway when the suspect saw them. He fired one blast from the shotgun wounding all three. Pellets struck Sergeant Baker in the face Agent NcNamera in his left hand and thigh, and Officer Cooper on an elbow.

The wounds were minor allowing the three to escape the building and take cover.

The gunman forced Officer Cole into his second floor apartment, reloaded the shotgun and said he was going to again confront police. The gunman left the room and began walking down the stairs. Officer Cole, hearing on his radio that Officers had been shot by the man withdrew his revolver and ordered him several times to stop. The gunman continued and the officer fired, fatally wounding the man. Officer Cole disarmed the suspect and walked from the building.

Sergeant Baker and Agent McNamera were transported to a nearby hospital where they were treated and released.

Officer Cooper received treatment at the scene of the incident.

On November 8, Officers Jessie J. McClain, Mason Land, Jr. and Loney Manley, all assigned to the Northern District, Narcotic Drug Enforcement Unit, received information that illicit-drugs were being sold in an apartment building on Woodland Avenue.

The officers went to the building to investigate the complaint. Inside, the officers saw several men standing in the apartment building hallway. One of the officers made a purchase of cocaine. After the drug transaction, Officers Manley, Land and McClain identified themselves as police officers and attempted to make arrests. The suspects, however, began to flee. One suspect produced a handgun and began firing on the officers.

The officers left the hallway to seek cover while they returned fire. Officer Jessie McClain was wounded in the right shoulder. A Signal 13 was called and other officers, only moments away, responded to assist. Officer McClain was transported to Sinai Hospital by a police supervisor.

All six suspects were arrested either at the scene or within several hours and charged.

Officer McClain was released from the hospital the next day with the bullet still lodged in his shoulder. It will be determined at a later date if additional treatment will be required. Recovery, however, is expected to be complete.

Christmas gifts this year came in many ways to many people. For most, Christmas morning found families across the metropolitan area around Christmas trees ripping open gaily festooned boxes to delight in their contents kept secret for so long. Toys, clothes, tools, games, food and good will made this a special time of year.

The spirit of the season was especially memorable for a retired Baltimore Police Officer thanks to the concern of the Office of Retiree Affairs and generosity of the Signal 13 Foundation. For Retired Officer Paul Coster, the Signal 13 Foundation provided the gift of a better life.

In 1968, Officer Coster retired from the Traffic Division. He retired as the result of a line of duty injury to his arm that he sustained while rescuing a trapped woman from a burning automobile.

During retirement, Officer Coster developed an arthritic condition so severe that it resulted in the removal of his entire right hip and leg bone to the knee. This disability has confined Officer Coster to a wheelchair for the past several years.

Officer Coster was unable to operate his manual wheelchair due to his arm injury. With the help of his wife, he was able to remain mobile. During the past few years, however, Mrs. Coster also developed medical difficulties that necessitated several back and neck operations.

These operations no longer allowed her to push her husband's wheelchair. Officer and Mrs. Coster had a problem that seemingly had no attainable solution. A motorized wheelchair was, of course, the answer. But the several thousand dollar cost of the new wheelchair made that solution prohibitive. The quality of life for Officer Coster was rapidly fading.

In the Fall of 1984, Officer Coster contacted the Office of Retiree Affairs and spoke to Sergeant Charles R. Daugherty. Under the auspices of the Office of Retiree Affairs, Sergeant Daugherty and his staff have assisted dozens of retired members with information and problems dealing with benefits, insurance, the Credit Union and other things that may affect retired people. Sergeant Daugherty was touched by the critical need of Officer Paul.

To assist with the unique needs of Officer Paul, Sergeant Daugherty immediately enlisted the aid of the Signal 13 Foundation.

Since August, 1983, the Signal 13 Foundation has provided assistance to members of the Department during times of personal crisis. Under the leadership of its Chairman, former Police Commissioner Frank J. Battaglia, the Board of Directors of the Foundation has enlisted many of Baltimore's prominent business people, community leaders and professionals into its membership.

The Foundation has granted funds to assist with extraordinary medical expenses, reimbursement of critical personal property not covered by insurance , and to meet other crucial needs of members and their families.

The Signal 13 Foundation Board of Directors met and enthusiastically agreed to underwrite the expense of a motorized wheelchair for Officer Coster. A local distributor of motorized wheelchairs was contacted and agreed to supply a premium machine at a substantially reduced cost.

On December 21, 1984, Officer Coster and his wife, Theresa were the special guests of the Signal 13 Foundation and Police Commissioner Bishop L. Robinson at the Headquarters Building. At an afternoon gathering in the Headquarters Lobby of Foundation Board Members, Police Department Command Staff members and friends of Officer Coster, a special presentation was made. Awaiting Officer Coster were former Commissioner Battaglia and Commissioner Robinson with a new motorized wheelchair and a large card offering him Season's Greetings from the Signal 13 Foundation.

After remarks by attending officials and from Officer Coster, he was gently lifted from his old manual chair into his new one. With a twinkle of excitement in his eyes, he engaged the chair mechanism and navigated a short course in the Lobby to the smiles and applause of everyone present. Christmas came early for Paul Coster.

But this past Christmas will also be one that everyone who attended the ceremony will remember. On that day, the Signal 13 Foundation gave Paul the gift of a more complete life. For that gift to a retired Officer, the entire Department says thank you. To retired Officer Coster we say. . . Merry Christmas Paul.

On June 14, 1985, Officer John F. Heiderman, Traffic Division, was patrolling Druid Hill Park when he noticed a parked vehicle bearing only one license plate. He dismounted from his horse "Tony" and approached the vehicle which was occupied by two men. Officer Heiderman requested the driver's license and vehicle registration. At this time the driver of the car started the ignition in an attempt to drive away. Officer Heiderman reached into the car to shut-off the ignition. As Officer Heiderman attempted to get the car keys, 3 shots rang out, striking the officer twice.

Police Officer Joseph V. Fonte, Northern District, heard the shots and saw Officer Heiderman stagger to the side of the road and collapse. He exited his vehicle and called out to the suspects who were driving away. Ignoring commands to stop, Officer Fonte fired at the suspect’s car several times. The suspects shot back, striking his vehicle. He then went to the aid of Officer Heiderman and radioed for medical help.       Within seconds, a description of the suspect’s car and license tag was broadcast by Officer Heiderman. Police units from throughout the city attempted to locate the suspects' vehicle.

Officer Heiderman was flown by Maryland State Police Helicopter to University Hospital's Shock Trauma Unit for gunshot wounds to the right arm and upper chest.

In the early evening, an alert citizen called police and reported that a car matching the description of the suspects' car was seen in Northwest Baltimore on a parking lot. Foxtrot responded to the area and located the suspects' car for searching ground units. It was learned that the car was taken in an armed robbery and kidnapping committed in Weehawken, New Jersey the day before. With the assistance of the Weehawken Police Department, the identity of one of the two persons involved in the offense was obtained. Both suspects remain at large.

Officer Heiderman was released from the hospital later that evening with a bullet still lodged in his upper chest. It will be determined at a later date if it will be removed. Recovery is expected to be complete. “Tony“, Officer Heiderman's horse, was also injured by one of the suspects' bullets. The bullet is lodged in the horse's right hip and will not require removal unless the horse shows signs of discomfort.

Shortly before 6:00 p.m., September 1, 1985, a gunman robbed a service station located in the 2200 block of Edmondson Avenue at gunpoint. After obtaining the money he brandished his weapon at the 30 year old attendant who ran looking for police assistance.

Officers quickly broadcast a description of the wanted suspect, warning Officers that he was armed with a handgun. Sergeant Terrance McLarney, 32, of the Western District was responding in the 2300 block of Arunah Avenue when a witness pointed to a spot in the bushes where the suspect was hiding.

Sgt. McLarney requested a backup unit and was quickly joined by Western District Officer Reginald Hendrix, 26. Both approached, on foot, to within 8 feet of the bushes, their service revolvers drawn. As the suspect exited his hiding place, both Officers observed a weapon in his hand and ordered him to discard it. The suspect fired two shots, both striking Sgt. McLarney. He and Officer Hendrix returned fire.

The weapon, a 9mm automatic, was subsequently recovered. One of its projectiles had penetrated Sgt. McLarney's soft body armor. He received a wound of the left abdomen.

The other projectile struck him in the left thigh. He was taken to the Shock Trauma Unit at the University of Maryland Hospital where, at press time, he was in fair condition and recovering from his injuries.

The suspect, Raeford Barry Footman of the 500 block N. Pulaski Street was also taken to the Shock Trauma Unit where he is being treated for wounds of the right shoulder and thigh.

Officers shot during dice-game robbery

******************************************************************************

 NEW ADDRESS FOR THIS SITE: