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Fallen Heroes

Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:34

Patrolman John Harris

Written by
Patrolman John Harris

c patrolman john harris

Patrolman John Harris

4 July 1925

PATROLMAN, STRUCK BY CAR IN PARK, DIES

The Sun (1837-1987); Jul 4, 1925; pg. 3

Patrolman struck by a car in park, DIES

student motorist held in death of John E Harris

Ban Will Not Be should be heart upon a guitar player Lifted

North after conference Declares roads will remain closed to learners

Patrolman John E. Harris, of Juneau Park police, died yesterday at the West Baltimore General Hospital from pneumonia, which is said to have been caused by injuries received last Monday when he was struck by an automobile operated by a student driver. He was 73 years old

at the hour of Mr. Harris’s death William L. Norris, president of the park board and conference with officers and members of the automobile trade Association refused to resend the boards order by which persons learning to drive automobiles would be prohibited from using roads in the public parks. The order was issued by Mr. Norris as a result of the accident in which Mr. Harris was hurt. The conference ended with the Association deciding to abide by the ruling of the board.

Student Driver Held

Harry Siegel, 2366 McCulloch Street, who under the tutelage of Eli Apple Stein, 6 North Bond St., was operating the machine which is said to have struck the patrolman, was released in the custody of his attorney at the Northwestern police station pending the action of Dr. J. Tyrell Hensley coroner. Siegel was charged with causing Mr. Harris’s death. He had been released after the accident in the custody of his attorney. The police said Apple stain who may be arrested, but no immediate action against him was contemplated.

Conference Called Helpful

Mr. Nora said his conference with the officers and members of the automobile trade Association had been “very helpful.” He asserted the automobile salesman were of the opinion that the practice of teaching novices how to drive in the parks was dangerous to pedestrians. An officer of the Association and Mr. Nora’s will tout roads adjacent to Baltimore next week in an effort to locate territory available for beginners.

The salesman contended Mr. Nora said, that the roads of Druid Hill Park had been used by student drivers because of their proximity to the automobile trade centers of the city.

1 black devider 800 8 72

3 July, 1925 - Patrolman JOHN E. HARRIS - him patrolman John E Harris of Druid Hill Park police died yesterday in West Baltimore General Hospital from pneumonia which is said to have been caused by injuries received at last Monday when he was struck by an automobile operated by a student driver he was 73 years old. -At the hour of Mr. Harris’s death William Norris president of the Park board and conference with officers and members of the automobile trade Association refused to resend the boards order by which persons learning to drive automobiles would be prohibited from using roads in the public park the order was issued by Mr. Norris as a result of the accident in which officer Harris was hurt. The conference ended with the Association deciding to abide by the ruling of the board. Student driver held Harry Siegel 2366 McCulloch Street who under the tutelage of alley apple sign 6 North Bond St. was operating the machine which is said to have struck the patrolman, was released in the custody of his attorney at the Northwestern police station pending the action of Dr. J Terrell Hennessey corner Siegel was charged with causing officer Harris’s death. He had been released after the accident in the custody of his attorney. The police said Apple stain also may be arrested, but no immediate action against him has been taken. (*10)

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 3 July, 1925
City, St. Druid Hill Park
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death Auto Accident
District Worked Park Police
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:32

Officer Carroll Hanley

Written by
Officer Carroll Hanley

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1936 we lost our Police Officer Carroll Hanley in and auto accident based on the following: Officer Hanley placed a well-dressed man under arrest at the Back of a Chevrolet, 10 E. North Avenue, when the suspect hoped in his car and sped away. Officer Hanley jumped onto the closed side running board of the vehicle as the car was driving sped through rush hour traffic trying to shake him. Officer Hanley held on for a little more than three blocks but was eventually flung from the car to his death when the driver made a sharp left turn from 20th Street to Hargrove alley.

Newspapers made the following reports:

On 31 October 1936 - The search for Officer Hanley’s Killer widened. Authorities of Pennsylvania, Delaware and D. C. asked to help Baltimore Police. Still lacking any definite clue to the slayer in this case, police extend their search to neighboring States; their search for the driver of the automobile from which Patrolman Carroll F. Hanley was thrown to his death, are accepting the offered help of these neighboring agencies.

The casting of a wider net in 1936 pays off, as police in Washington DC nab a suspect based on the following:

On 2 Nov 1936 - The Baltimore Sun reported - A 35-year-old advertising agent was arrested in a Washington rooming house yesterday (1 Nov) and held for being the suspected driver of the automobile from which Police Officer Carroll F. Hanley was thrown to his death on 20th Street at Hargrove Alley on Thursday morning. After a brief interview the salesman/suspect admitted to driving the car that caused officer Hanley’s death, he went on to tell investigators he was in the rooming house since that Thursday night and that if he could take it all back he would...

On 3 Nov 1936 - The Baltimore Sun reported - HANLEY DEATH SUSPECT IS HELD TILL JURY ACTS

They went on to report, “Body To Hear Allegations Against George Shea Tomorrow” ONE OF WITNESSES IDENTIFIES THE ACCUSED - Police Make No Charges, Ad Solicitor Is Denied Bail, George K. Shea, 35-year-old advertising solicitor, was held without bail in the Central Police Station last night awaiting the action of the grand jury, which tomorrow will hear allegations that he drove the automobile from which Patrolman Carroll F. Hanley was thrown to his death on Thursday then drove straight to the DC Rooming house after killing Officer Hanley.

On 4 Nov 1936 - The Sun reported - SHEA IS HELD FOR OFFICER HANLEY DEATH. The Coroner Found Patrolman Was "Deliberately Thrown From Auto" George Shea made several quick turns from side to said, in order to shake him, or throw him from the vehicle, so that he could make his escape. Police will await Grand Jury Action. On advice of his counsel, George Shea refuses to testify at his inquest. Coroner Hubert last night reached a verdict that the death of Patrolman Carroll last Thursday was due to being literately and intentionally being thrown from the running board of Shea’s moving automobile as it was being driven by Mr. George K. Shea this was the testimony given to the grand jury by, Baltimore Coroner Mr. Hubert.

On 1 Dec 1936 - The Baltimore Sun reports the following - SHEA STARTS MANSLAUGHTER TERM of 5 YEARS FOR THE DEATH of OFFICER HANLEY - Sentenced to The Penitentiary in Maryland for the Death of Police Officer Carroll Hanley defendant Shea Faints upon hearing his penalty in the courtroom - Shea cried out, ”He Would "Do Anything" To Bring Victim Back

George K. Shea”. Last night he began serving a five-year term in the Maryland Penitentiary after he being found guilty of manslaughter in the death of Patrolman Carroll Hanley.

November 2nd 1936 Funeral Services were held for Officer Hanley in attendance were all of his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, along with his wife Katherine and his 5 children, Robert, Angela, Thomas M, Carroll M & Albert E. Hanley. Behind the Baltimore Police Family, and the Handley Family, we members of the community that Officer Carroll Hanley served for 21 years. Had he not been killed on Oct 29th he would have been awarded several awards at the yearly award ceremony for his actions that year, instead he was Posthumously Awarded the Medal of Honor.

As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department we will not let him be forgotten, His service Honored the City of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department may he rest in peace, and may God bless him.

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 29 October, 1936
City, St. City, St.
Panel Number 29-E: 4
Cause of Death Fall
District Worked Central
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:27

Officer Jimmy D. Halcomb

Written by
Officer Jimmy D. Halcomb

JIMMY DALE HALCOMB
34-E: 8
End of Watch: April 16, 1976
Baltimore City, Maryland, P.D.

Shots rang out from a high-powered rifle in Western Baltimore on Good Friday. Bullets poured onto the street from 1303 West Lombard Street. Several districts, including the Southern, Southwestern, Western and Tactical sections responded. Officer Jimmy D. Halcomb was 31 years old. He was assigned to the Operations Unit of the Western District and was one of the first to arrive on scene. The sniper fired a round, which penetrated the automobile Officer Halcomb was using for cover, striking the officer. He lost consciousness immediately. Seconds later, he was dead. Twenty five year old Officer James A. Brennan of the Western District was crouching behind a van a few feet south on Carey Street. He went down severely wounded. Officer Roland W. Miller, 23 of the Western District, sustained a minor wound in his left arm. Officer Neal C. Splain, 28, Officer Calvin R. Mencken, 33, and Officer Arthur E. Kennell, Jr. 27, all of the Southern District were hit by a shotgun blast that came from the rear of the building. A civilian was also wounded. It took nearly 45 minutes for the situation to be resolved. The suspect, an 18 year old male, surrendered to officers after telephoning his intentions to the Communications Division of the Department.

On this day In Baltimore Police History 1976 we lost our brother Police Officer Jimmy Halcomb.  on Good Friday in West Baltimore shots rang out from a high-powered rifle as a teenage POS sniper who was using armor piercing ammunition near the intersection of Lombard and Carey Streets fired rounds out onto the street from inside a 3rd floor apartment of 1303 West Lombard Street. Several districts, including the Southern, Southwest, Western and Tactical sections responded. Officer Halcomb was just 31 years old, he assigned to the Operations Unit of the Western District and was one of the first to arrive on scene. The sniper fired a round, which penetrated the automobile Officer Halcomb was using for cover, striking the officer he lost consciousness immediately unfortunately never coming to from his injuries. Before he would call 911 begging to turn himself in the POS suspect would shoot more police and more civilians, among them were Twenty five year old Officer James A. Brennan of the Western District was crouching behind a van a few feet south on Carey Street. He went down severely wounded. Officer Roland W. Miller, 23 of the Western District, sustained a minor wound in his left arm. Officer Neal C. Splain, 28, Officer Calvin R. Mencken, 33, and Officer Arthur E. Kennell, Jr. 27, all of the Southern District were hit by a shotgun blast that came from the rear of the building. A civilian was also wounded. It took nearly 45 minutes for the situation to be resolved. The suspect, an 18 year old male, surrendered to officers after telephoning his intentions to the Communications Division of the Department. Officer Halcomb had served with the Baltimore Police Department for 8 years at the time of his death. He is survived by his expectant wife and two daughters. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life plus 60 years July 1, 1977. It has been 37 years since this nightmare began taking our brother Jimmy Halcomb, and while he is gone he will never be forgotten by us, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department. RIP and God bless Jimmy, you are missed

#‎BPDNeverForget‬

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 16 April, 1976
City, St. Lombard and Carey Streets
Panel Number 34-E: 8
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Rifle
District Worked Western
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:24

Detective Sergeant Frank W. Grunder, Jr.

Written by
Detective Sergeant Frank W. Grunder, Jr.

Detective Sergeant Frank W. Grunder, Jr., who headed the Department’s Escape and Apprehension Unit, had spent several weeks attempting to track down elusive members of an elusive hold up team. On August 1, 1974, after a day of patrolling locations in the city in an attempt to find the holdup suspects, with no results, Sergeant Grunder went home after work. While off duty, Sergeant Grunder was driving on Harford Road in Hamilton with his wife and three children in the back seat. As he approached Echodale Avenue, he saw a man sitting crouched on the steps leading to the play lot at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church. Weeks of waiting and watching had finally paid off, this was one of the suspects. He parked his car a safe distance from the church, called for a uniformed back up unit and waited. Officer Joe L. Shaw of the Northeastern District wasn’t the assigned back up unit, but readily stopped when Sergeant Grunder waved him down. The 12-year veteran explained the situation to the uniformed officer as they approached the suspect who was still sitting on the steps. Sergeant Grunder was a few feet ahead of Officer Shaw as he ordered the suspect to stand and place his hands on the wall. At this point the suspect lurched to his feet and began running up the steps. As Sergeant Grunder reached the top step the suspect wheeled and began firing point blank. The Sergeant was able to fire three shots in return as he fell to the sidewalk, mortally wounded. Officer Shaw also returned fire. The suspect dropped. Detective Sergeant was transported to Union Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. The assailant, a resident of the area, was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigation into the suspect’s past revealed a string of felony arrests dating back to 1960. Funeral services were held for the 34 year old Sergeant on August 5th at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church.

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 1 Augus, 1974
City, St. City, St.
Panel Number 23-E: 4
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Criminal Investigation Division
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:19

Officer Martin J Greiner

Written by
Officer Martin J Greiner

On this day in Baltimore Police History 10 Dec 1974, we lost our brother Police Officer Martin J Greiner to gunfire based on the following: According to a Sun Paper article dated December 1974; On 30 November Officer Greiner responded to the corner of 2700 Huntingdon Ave,  & W 27th st.Baltimore, MD 21211 for multiple calls of an armed person, shots fired, firecrackers, and numerous other duplicate and similar calls. Upon arrival he was approached by four adults; 2 female, and 2 male, all seemingly terrified by the armed person, and shots being fired. As Officer Greiner exited his car to investigate, several shots rang out, the group gathered in closer; Greiner put his arms around the group the way a quarterback might in a game time huddle. His attempt was to push them down and to take cover behind his car to prevent them from being injured. Before he knew it the shooting had stopped. Officer Greiner began to ask for information from his witnesses, but as quickly as they approached him for help, they were gone. Then all of a sudden he felt a burning in his abdomen, and his left side, and realized that he had been shot, and at very close range. He fell to the ground while getting back into his car, while lying on the ground his attention was drawn over to a nearby alley where again he saw the suspect holding a gun; laughing at the Officer as he lay helpless in the street, the suspect pointed his handgun at the Officer Greiner and fired several more shots; Officer Greiner was shot one or two more times before the suspect vanished from sight into the alley. Officer Greiner managed to get back into his car where he was able to call for help, letting KGA know he had been shot, giving a full and complete description of the suspect. Before long Officer Greiner was with medics, and other officer’s; he was stabilized and taken to University Hospital. Meanwhile, the shooter, William E. Teves 3rd, of the 2600 block of North Charles Street was arrested by Officer’s Stephen McGowan, and David Crites, just outside his home in the 2600 block of North Charles Street (it was as if they were waiting for him). Officer’s McGowan, and Crites then took the suspect to University Hospital for medical treatment to an injury on his hand, with hopes that he might be identified by Officer Greiner.

Upon seeing Officer Greiner in the hospital bed two things happened; 1st, Officer Greiner did positively identify Teves as the person that had shot him while he lay injured in the street. Then, realizing he was caught, Teves lunged at and began to attack Officer Greiner. There are few things that affect police more than seeing a brother officer injured; one of those is to see someone trying to injure someone that an officer feels a personal obligation to protect, i.e. an officer as he lay helpless in his hospital bed. With this Teves was either thumped with an Espantoon or Buffaloed by a nearby officer with the butt/grip end of a Smith and Wesson .38 cal pistol. We may never know which, because to Buffalo someone in Baltimore was rare, and not part of our training, as well to carry a nightstick into a hospital detail was 50/50 some officers did, others left it in their car. In either case, Teves himself quickly became in need of medical attention and was taken from University Hospital to Mercy Hospital where he was admitted for a serious head injury, and of course that original little boo-boo to his hand.

While in the hospital Teves was guarded by two officers; Officer John Provenza, and Officer John Burns, Officer Provenza stepped in the hall for a minute, some reports say to take a smoke, others say he was guarding the prisoner from a chair in the hallway. (It was 1974, times were different, smokers could take smoke breaks inside buildings until the early 90’s) while alone with that single officer, the suspect seized the opportunity, and lunged from his bed, attacking Officer Burns, a struggle ensued, and Teves managed to get Officer Burns’ gun; Officer John Provenza heard the commotion and quickly came back into the room; just as Provenza entered the room, Teves managed to fire off several rounds, two of which struck Officer Burns. As Officer Provenza re-entered the room he drew his service revolver and squeezed off a round or two at Teves thereby ending the threat and saving Burns' life.

Officer Burns would go on to survive his injuries. Officer Greiner wouldn’t be as lucky, for 11 days after being shot, on 10 December 1974; Officer Greiner would die due to complications that had set in from one of the rounds perforating his colon and ending up lodged against his spine.

The suspect, in this case, William E. Teves the 3rd, was an orphan, and was no stranger to police; even less, a stranger to police involved shootings, as a little more than a year earlier he was arrested for shooting Central District Officer, James H. Harris, on Tuesday, 18 April 1972 – just outside the White Coffee Pot Jr. when the two attempted to rob a vagrant in the restaurant restroom; the vagrant had no money, so he was pistol whipped. As Officer Harris entered the restaurant Teves and Jenkins (the suspects were exiting the restaurant) and walked past the young officer, a few second later an unknown customer shouted that there had been a man beaten up in the men's room. Patrolman Harris rushed to the street to grab the two men he had just seen leaving the restroom as he entered the establishment. Witnesses said just that fast they heard a volley or shots, and saw Patrolman Harris stagger back, and fall to the pavement on his back. Harris was forced to undergo a four-hour surgery; as the shooting had caused damage to his left lung, his liver, and doctors had to remove his spleen. They said Patrolman Harris, was unmarried but had recently become engaged, he was a probationary officer. The victim of the beating at the restaurant was identified as John Grimes, 47, he was staying at the Armistead Hotel, (Fayette and Holliday Streets.) Grimes was treated for cuts and bruises at Mercy Hospital and later released. Grimes told police the suspects accosted him in the men's restroom and began beating him on the head with a pistol. He said they attempted to take money from him, but he had none. When it came down to it, the young officer never got a good look at Teves, nor did Grimes, so charges on Teves were dropped, in this case…

But that didn’t mean the judge forgot about them. Likewise while in the hospital when Teves attacked Officer Burns taking his gun, and then shooting him, making Burns the 3rd known officer Teves shot, though Teves wouldn’t be charged with the first two shootings, or the beating of grimes in the men’s room of the white coffee pot Jr. Judge Basil A. Thomas didn’t just forget about those incidents. It may not have been entered in as evidence and wasn’t marked as a conviction so to speak… Judge Basil A. Thomas still remembered it; his memory was obvious when he imposed a sentence on Teves, having just been convicted of 1st-degree murder in the shooting death of 25 year old, Northern District Officer Martin J Greiner . Teves so lackadaisical that he would yawn when the jury foreman announced the verdicts convicting Teves of murder, use of handgun commission of a violent crime, unlawful possession of a concealed weapon. Teves was quick to demand his right to file a motion for a new trial, telling the judge and courts, “This was a mock trial, and anything I would say would not make a difference.” Judge Thomas after a brief recess granted the defendant's request for an immediate sentencing. “This was an unexplained, unprovoked and coldblooded shooting of Officer Greiner, which ultimately resulted in his demise.” The judge said, “It is a crime that has shocked and is shocking to the entire community, and it deserves the harshest penalty that this court can impose.” The Judge was told Teves was the product of a broken home, and that he had begun living in and out of orphanages since the age of 10, he never felt loved, and turned to alcohol for comfort. The Defense went on to ask that Teves be sent to Patuxent Institution for Psychiatric Treatment. Judge Thomas refused that request… giving Teves, “Life plus 18 years”, saying, “I couldn’t take the shooting of Officer in Harris a little over a year ago April of 72 into consideration; nor could I take the more recent shooting of Officer Burns, into consideration!”, he went on to say, “Just as I couldn’t take those into consideration, nor can I take being an orphan as a mitigating factor, or any drinking problems to be blamed for a shooting rampage!” The judge basically sent Teves to a place where they don’t serve alcohol!”

Commissioner Donald Pomerleau saw 1974 as a particularly bad year for Baltimore Police, Greiner was the fourth officer killed in the line of duty that year, and the Commissioner had finally had enough, he determined based on Greiner’s death it was time to issue bullet proof vests for all of patrol. A step in the right direction, it wouldn’t be until 1985 with the loss of Vincent J. Adolfo that we would get better vests, and over the years the vest would get better, and better. During Teves’ trial, his defense tried every trick in the book, from saying he was crazy, to saying he was an orphan, to saying he was a drunk…. None of it worked… while it wasn’t admissible, it was unforgettable what Teves, did in 1972 to Officer Harris, and then after shooting and attacking Officer Greiner, to attack and shoot Officer Burns… unforgettable, Teves needed to be sent to jail and he was.

As his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department we will not let him be forgotten, His service Honored the City of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department may he rest in peace, and may God bless him.

Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th St., Baltimore, MD.
Emergencies: 9-1-1  Non-emergencies: 410-396-2037
BALTIMORE POLICE Web Site: http://www.baltimorepolice.org 

Devider color with motto

Again please contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll if you have pictures of you, your family, or other members of the Baltimore Police Department and wish to see them remembered here on this tribute site. We are anxious to honor the fine men and women who have served this fine police department. Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Like us on Facebook, or contact us for a mailing address 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 10 December, 1974
City, St. 2700 Huntingdon Ave, Baltimore, & W 27th st. MD 21211
Panel Number 20-W: 2
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Northern
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:16

Patrolman Lorenzo Gray

Written by
Patrolman Lorenzo Gray

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1972, we lost our Brother Patrolman Lorenzo Gray to gunfire based on the following:

On Tuesday, July 25, 1972, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Officer Lorenzo Gray and Officer William Heath, of the Southeastern District, received a call for a hold up in progress in the 3600 Block of Pulaski Highway. As they were responding to the scene at the Holiday Inn, they encountered two suspects, one of which was armed with a sawed off shotgun. Officer Gray pursued the suspect on foot, while Officer Heath attempted to apprehend the second suspect. After a brief chase, the first suspect wheeled around a fired his shotgun directly into Officer Gray, who then managed to fire one shot from his service revolver, slightly wounding the suspect. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, who had been near the scene at the time of the shooting, apprehended the suspects. Officer Lorenzo Gray, a three veteran of the Department, was pronounced dead of the gunshot wound at Johns Hopkins Hospital several hours after the shooting. Officer Gray was 24 years old and the father of 2 young children.

The following are news articles from that time

Wounded Officer Dies After Foiling Holdup; 2 Caught

The Sun (1837-1987); Jul 26, 1972

Wounded Officer Dies After Foiling Holdup; 2 Caught

A 24-year old Southeastern district patrolman was fatally shot last night as he and another officer were struggling with two armed men at the Holiday Inn, in the 3600 block Pulaski highway.

Patrolman Lorenzo Gray was shot in the chest with a sawed-off shotgun as he was chasing a masked man through the motel's kitchen at 10:40 P.M., police said.

He died in the Johns Hopkins Hospital about 1A.M. today (26 July, 1972).

Patrolman Gray, who had been on the force for three years was the first city police officer to die on duty this year.

Last year, a city patrolman was shot in the head when he was making a telephone call at a police call box.

The shotgun-carrying man and his accomplice, who was armed with a revolver and also masked, were arrested in a scuffle at the Holiday Inn by Patrolman William Heath and other officers, who rushed to the scene after the shooting. Police gave the following account or the events that led to last night’s tragedy:

The two Southeastern district patrolmen were driving in separate cars on Pulaski highway, looking for suspects in an earlier holdup in the area, when they were flagged down by a person who told them that he had seen two masked men enter the motel.

After entering the inn, the officers found the gunmen in the dining room, where Patrolman Heath struggled with a man armed with a revolver and managed to subdue him, police said.

Patrolman Gray, meanwhile chased the man with the shotgun to the motel kitchen. Where the men suddenly turned around and shot at him. Hitting him in the stomach. The blast knocked him 20 feet backward police said.

The patrolman was admitted in critical condition to Johns Hopkins hospital.

The two suspects and four other policeman were injured during the struggle that preceded the pairs arrest officials said.

The gunmen were taken city hospital is reported while the policeman were treated at Mercy Hospital. The extent of their injuries was not available last night.

400 Officers Attend Funeral for Slain City Patrolman

The Sun (1837-1987); Jul 30, 1972;

400 Officers Attend Funeral for Slain City Patrolman

Full dress police funeral services were held yesterday for Patrolman Lorenzo Gray, the Southeast district police man who was shot Tuesday while stopping an attempted robbery at an East Baltimore motel. Patrolman Gray. a Vietnam Veteran who joined the city police after his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1968. Was eulogized by the Rev. Leslie G. Metcalf, pastor of the Matthews United Methodist Church, as a man of "devotion to duty," whose death in the line of duty was the single greatest tribute to his dedication. Mr. Metcalf, long active in police affairs, remembered meeting Patrolman Gray after his assignment to the Southeastern district

“I was introduced to a young man with a pleasant smile and a desire to do the job right. I met him again on his beat on monument Street just before he was killed. He wore that same smile that day and his determination to serve the community was even greater.”


More Than 400

I still love is now scheduled funny looking doesn’t younger stop loving you okay yeah it’s funny looking at beautiful you look like a monkey is a monkey your nice to keep you More than 400 policeman were present for the 11:15 AM services at the Morton and diet funeral establishment, including some 350 from the Baltimore area. Only 45 of these were assigned to attend, according to the police spokesman. Among the 21 police who came from out of state representatives of units informed Plainfield New Jersey Washington Newcastle Delaware Philadelphia and Cherry Hill New Jersey one Plainfield policeman, Robert caravan, said that he came because he has a brother on the Baltimore police force and he want to show his solidarity with fellow policeman.

“Everybody else might be against us, but were all together,” he said. Your stand much more than I can understand


Other Units

Also present were police from Maryland units in Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, seat Pleasant Township, Howard County in Baltimore County. Federal law enforcement agencies attending the services included the United States Secret Service. US Park police and the Federal Bureau of narcotics. The Baltimore fire department was also represented.

Gov. Mandel and police Commissioner Donald D Pomerleau were among those who five past patrolman Gray’s casket. Gov. Mandel called the killing “a tragedy” and said that more cooperation between police and citizens might help avert such incidents in the future. “People should let the police know if they see someone carrying a dangerous weapon,” said Mr. Mandel.

Patrolman Gray was killed with assault off shotgun.

About 150 people, including 50 friends and relatives attended the half hour service, while some 300 more waited outside.


Flag Draped Casket

Patrolman Gray’s flag draped casket was taken two blocks to a hearse by pallbearers through a double column of policeman who stood at attention and saluted. The six pallbearers were members of the original narcotics squad with Patrolman Gray worked with when he joined the Police Department in 1969. A motorcade of about 200 vehicles, many of them police cars, left the funeral establishment at noon for Harmony Memorial Park, a cemetery in Prince George’s County near Washington. There, on the hill above the gravesite, a fellow policeman a former Marine, Robert L. Domney, played taps in the flag that had draped patrolman Grace Casket was presented to his stepfather Milton Cross. In addition to his stepfather, survivors include three stepsisters, Mrs. Benita Jones, Daphne Green and Delphine Green to stepbrothers, Joseph Green and Nathaniel Green two daughters Audrey Gray and Sandra Gray all living in Baltimore.

He will forever be missed, but never forgotten by us his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department.. God Bless and Rest in Peace.

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 26 July, 1972
City, St. 3600 Block of Pulaski Highway
Panel Number 13-W: 11
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Shotgun
District Worked Southeastern
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:11

Officer Kevon M. Gavin Sr.

Written by
Officer Kevon M. Gavin Sr.

Officer Kevon M. Gavin Sr.

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

On the night of 21 April 2000, Officer Kevon M. Gavin Sr. answered the call to assist an undercover unit that was pursuing a wanted felon who had just opened fire on a crowd of citizens on a corner, then sped off. Undercover units were doing narcotics surveillance when Eric Stennett drove up in his Ford Bronco and unleashed a hail of bullets on the citizens at that location. Mr. Stennet’s primary motivation was to take over a drug corner that he believed to be his. The undercover officers began to pursue the Ford Bronco as Mr. Stennet sped off. Officer Kevon Gavin Sr. parked his car on the street to safeguard citizens that were in the path of the ongoing pursuit. Officer Gavin left plenty of room for the speeding Bronco to drive around. Mr. Stennet steered his large truck directly into the front end of Officer Gavin’s patrol car, coming to rest on top of Officer Gavin’s car. Officer Gavin was transported to the Shock Trauma Unit at the University of Maryland Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Gavin was married with three children, ages 1, 5, and 8.

Devider. black

The time was approximately 8:00 pm, a tan 1985 Ford Bronco with limo tint pulled up in front of an abandoned row home in the 2000 block of Wilkens Ave. near Carroll Park in Baltimore’s Southwest District. Seated on some steps nearby were two men, they were talking smack, and drinking beer, their backs resting on the boarded-up door front. The driver of the Bronco, a scrawny little 17-year-old black male, trying to make a name for himself got out took a few steps toward the curb. Wrapping a bandana around his shooting hand, drew a heavy, chrome-plated handgun and opened fire on the corner.

His intended targets ran for cover as the gun made reports loud enough to alert a nearby team of plain close police; the muzzle flash and smoke barely evaporating from the air as the ground was being littered with his empty brass (shell casings). It’s easy to shoot at the unarmed, the weak, unprepared, or unsuspecting, but when four trained, armed and ready Baltimore Police Officers, all members of a crime-suppression team out on detail that night, who just happened to have been nearby in an unmarked car, followed the sound of the gunfire arriving on scene in time to see the shooter; they quickly pulled in behind his Bronco, as he fired his last few rounds of ammunition while making his way back to the driver side of his Bronco.

The officers had already whipped in behind that truck. But as they bailed out of their car to arrest the gunman, the Bronco pulled off. Within parts of a second, police had already radioed every car in the area a description of that 1985, Tan Ford Bronco, and its heavily armed driver. Squad cars began converging on the area known to officers of the Southwest as Sector 2. Within minutes of the first radio transmission a procession of cruisers follow the Bronco in the direction of Officer Kevon Gavin, little did anyone know this wouldn’t be last time we would have a procession or police headed in the direction of, or behind young Officer Kevon Gavin, but in this first procession and along in its wake, the Bronco tore through red light after red light, narrowly missing passing cars as he barreled across grass medians on Martin Luther King Boulevard and veered westbound onto Lombard Street.

Officers say they glanced at their speedometers only briefly seeing speeds of 80, 90, 100 and some say as much as 105 miles per hour. Yet they still heard officers calling out on their radios, “He's pulling away from us like we're standing still" Seconds later, two senior officers - a sergeant and a lieutenant - rolled into position on a cross street a few blocks away, timing their next move to the location reports pouring in over their radio. When the Bronco was a block away, Sgt. David Wimmer gunned his patrol car left onto Lombard to take up a position in front of the approaching truck. No sooner had Sgt. Wimmer made his turn, then the Bronco shot past, still building speed. In a split second, it pulled away at 100 miles an hour ... to 105 on city streets, everyone is running on pure adrenaline. They are thinking faster, seeing fast and acting faster… you have to, or you’ll lose total control, the police are drawing on experience, streets they have patrolled for years, turns they have made 100’s if not 1000’s of times before, they know where pot holes are, bumps in the road that could throw their car from side to side or even airborne, and while this is never safe, it isn’t as dangerous for a trained police officer as it is for a 16/17-year-old kid, which became terrible obvious in the next few blocks, and was witnessed and seen coming by Lieutenant Mary Eilerman who was seated next to Sergeant Wimmer and described the events that will follow as suddenly getting a sick feeling in her stomach. Two blocks ahead, she saw a disaster in the making. At that moment, Officer Kevon Gavin, 27 – and a six-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, Husband and father of three small children - was pulling his 1995 Chevy Caprice cruiser into the intersection at Gilmor Street as if to block the road from the Ford in hopes of ending the chase, while protecting the people in the neighborhood.

"He came around that corner in what seemed to be an almost slow motion," Eilerman would later testify, then turned left onto Lombard, directly into the path of the truck. In his car trailing the Bronco, Sgt. Wimmer had time to see the emergency lights swirling on the roof of Gavin's car up ahead. He heard Gavin's siren and thought he saw the Bronco sideswipe a parked car as it raced toward Gilmor Street. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Bronco rocketed into the left-front side of Gavin's patrol car and burst into flames, as it forced the police cruiser along Lombard in a vortex of shattered glass, sheered chrome, twisting steel, there was a strong scent of burning rubber more than 100 feet before it all came to rest. The ball of smoke and metal, with the burning Bronco piled up on the hood of Gavin's cruiser and the officer trapped in the wreckage will be forever in the minds of not only those that were there, those that saw it, felt it, and smelled the smoke, rubber, blood and tears, But those that knew everyone involved, or experienced similar accidents where the loss of a brother or sister officer was the final outcome. Here we had a Sergeant, a Lieutenant in Wimmer and Eilerman along with a dozen or more officers rushed to their injured brother. Trapped inside the squad car, they found Officer Kevon Malik Gavin pinned under the dashboard - unconscious, bloody and barely breathing. The officers threw their shoulders into the demolished Bronco in a hopeless attempt to lift it off their friend.

Suddenly someone yelled, "Signal 13! Signal 13! Officer down!" into their radio, as Officers reached inside the demolished patrol car, desperately ripping at Gavin's clothing and bulletproof vest, trying to administer first aid, CPR and other first responder needs, including someone having to kick in a rear window and Officer Frank Jarrell squirming inside - clawing his way over the cruiser's torn upholstery before realizing that the situation was hopeless. Lieutenant Eilerman would eventually testify that "It was the most desperate, frustrating situation, I have ever witnessed" The street would eventually become clogged with patrol cars, lights whirling, sirens screaming and more police in the area than was actually needed, but knowing the public and how quickly things could get out of hand, so in situations like this we bring in every available unit. Lieutenant Eilerman went from officer to officer, grabbing them by the shoulders, asking them to make sure they move their cruisers and clear the way for incoming fire emergency units and equipment. Within minutes, paramedics and firefighters were climbing all over the wreckage, clamping air on the injured officer’s face and maneuvering heavy rescue gear into place to make it safe for the jaws of life to come in and tear the roof off that patrol car. It would take an hour to safely extract Officer Gavin from his car, and then another 20 hours of our brother fighting for his life, before the actions of a selfish little boy would take the life of that officer. As all this was going on, and police and medics were working feverously to save the life of Officer Gavin, there were other officers approaching the Bronco, inside of which they found a box of ammunition, a Smith & Wesson 10 mm semiautomatic pistol, a blue baseball cap bearing the logo of the Indianapolis Pacers basketball team and that scrawny little 17-year-old punk named Eric D. Stennett. Stennett’s a record of drug arrests, and gun violence would trace back to his 13th birthday, a record that when printed out would reach further that Stennett could toward the ceiling. There was no one else was in the Bronco, no chance of mistaken identity, and not a shadow of doubt that it was him, and him only that night seen shooting his pistol into a crowd, driving recklessly throughout the city reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, and causing the loss of life, in that of Baltimore Police Officer Kevon Malik Gavin, yet when it came time for a Baltimore Jury punish someone for killing one of their own… they dropped the ball… But like Robert F. Kennedy said, “Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on." Look at Baltimore now… this doesn’t happen in our neighborhoods because we demand better, we demand more… when someone breaks into house of our neighbors we stop them, have then arrested or chase them off… because when we don’t, we end up with this kind of crime in our neighborhood. A jury was blinded by Dwight Pettit...

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Thousands mourn loss of police officer
Kevon Gavin recalled as a man devoted to family, friends, city
April 28, 2000|By Peter Hermann

Yesterday's tearful funeral was not enough to understand how Kevon Malik Gavin policed the dangerous streets of Baltimore. It was at the viewings this week that the residents Gavin so often helped completed his profile.

A man Gavin had twice rescued after falling from his wheelchair. A drug addict he counseled into treatment. A woman Gavin visited three days after her house was vandalized, just to check on her. 

They were among more than 1,000 mourners who came to Loudon Park Funeral Home Tuesday and Wednesday to pay tribute to the 27-year-old officer. He was killed last week when a teen-ager fleeing police crashed into his cruiser in West Baltimore.

"He chose to live a life of honor," said his cousin, Shaun Gavin, during yesterday's two-hour service in a small chapel of the funeral home on Wilkens Avenue in Southwest Baltimore.

Mayor Martin O'Malley said he talked to dozens of residents Gavin had helped during his six-year career. The mother of the man who kicked his drug habit, the mayor said, "smiled like only a mom can smile and told me, `My son has been returned to me. Officer Gavin talked to him.'"

The city's chief executive told mourners that Gavin knew "justice is more important than any fear he may have felt" on the street. "He was called to protect his fellow citizens, and he served with dignity and with honor and with distinction."

Gavin was eulogized at a service attended by more than 3,000 colleagues from virtually every jurisdiction in Maryland and from cities across the region.

The chapel had seats for only 250 people -- most had to stand outside and listen on speakers as a cold drizzle turned to a steady rain by noon.

A procession of more than 600 police cars wound its way around the Baltimore Beltway to Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens in Timonium, where Gavin's wife, Lisa, was presented with the flag that had been draped across the casket, along with her husband's cap and badge.

He was remembered as a loving and devoted family man who grew up in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., and escaped the scourge of drugs that claimed many of his friends. He joined the Navy and moved to Baltimore six years ago when the city department offered him a job.

Gavin left the city force to take a better-paid police job in Prince George's County, but he returned to Baltimore after three months because he felt he could make more of a difference in the city.

He died trying to stop a 17-year-old who police say was wearing body armor when he opened fire on a Southwest Baltimore street corner with a 10 mm handgun, wounding a man in the leg, and fleeing in a Ford Bronco.

Police said the Bronco was going 95 mph when it slammed into Gavin's cruiser -- which he was using to block West Lombard Street -- on April 20. He died a day later, on Good Friday. The teen-age driver has been charged with first-degree murder.

Relatives and friends preferred to remember the good times they had with Gavin, who had a son, Kevon Gavin Jr., 15 months, and two stepchildren, Shawn, 5, and Amber, 8.

They told of how the former military man disciplined his children by making them stand at attention or do push-ups. His partner, Norris Wells, said they were so close they shared a locker. His cousin, Shaun Gavin, said the officer was never happy unless he was eating, and that "he always managed to show up at your door just in time for dinner."

The circumstances of Gavin's death could not be ignored. "How could someone so young so suddenly be taken from us without hesitation and concern," Shaun Gavin said. He added that his cousin "would be the first to forgive."

That was not so easy for O'Malley. "When I was 17, I was just glad to have the keys to the car," he told reporters before the funeral. "I didn't put on a bulletproof vest when I went out for the night."

Inside the chapel, O'Malley told mourners that "we cannot accept what has happened."

Those thoughts were echoed by acting police Commissioner Edward T. Norris, a former New York officer who once worked with Gavin's uncle, Dennis Gavin, who remains with the New York Police Department and attended yesterday's services.

"I still can't make any sense of this," Norris said. "Trying to make sense of madness is never going to happen."

Norris said Gavin was one of the first officers he met when he was named Baltimore's police leader last month.

Thursday night at Maryland Shock Trauma Center, as Gavin stayed alive only with the help of life support, Norris said he turned to O'Malley and shook his head in disbelief: "Why do we always lose the good ones?"

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City's court woes grow
After two big setbacks for prosecutors, trial in mass killing put off
`A kick in the gut'
Previous losses show that jurors distrust police, Jessamy says
January 25, 2001|By Caitlin Francke | Caitlin Francke,SUN STAFF

Having just lost two highly publicized murder cases in the past week, Baltimore prosecutors risk losing another after a judge ordered a long delay yesterday in the trial of suspects in one of the city's worst mass killings.

The case against four men charged in the killing of five women in Northeast Baltimore in December 1999 will be postponed eight months, which could result in its dismissal, the judge said. He acted after prosecutors failed to promptly disclose evidence to defense attorneys.

State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy said during a news conference yesterday that she will take steps to bring the case to trial sooner.

She called the conference to address issues raised by the two recent acquittals of men charged in the killing Officer Kevon M. Gavin and dental student Christian W. Ludwig. She said those cases highlight deep community mistrust of police and a problem of unsophisticated juries.

Jessamy said prosecutors presented "overwhelming" evidence for convictions in both cases, which ended in acquittals. Gavin died after a shooting suspect, Eric D. Stennett, crashed into him while fleeing police at a high speed.

Ludwig was stabbed as he tried to retrieve a purse stolen from his friend. The suspect, David Terry, was acquitted of all charges but one Tuesday. Yesterday, prosecutors dropped the final charge after jurors voted 11 to one to acquit.

Because most of the witnesses in the cases were police officers, the verdicts highlighted a serious distrust of law enforcement, she said.

The verdicts showed "a palpable bias against police officers in the community," Jessamy said. "It reveals to us a belief that police lie, manufacture evidence and are not to be trusted.

"We need to look at the biases that exist and how we can better recognize those so that we can assure that our community which needs justice gets justice," she added.

She said she wants to lengthen jury selection so that prosecutors have more time to ask in-depth questions to determine whether jurors have prejudice, and bring in consultants to train prosecutors how to detect problem jurors. She has also offered to help teach police officers how to build strong cases for juries.

In addition, she wants to educate jurors about the justice system.

"It is crucial, crucial that our community be educated and trained and that people who are called to participate in the jury process understand the role that they are being asked to play," Jessamy said. "These verdicts were a kick in the gut, but we see it as an opportunity to make our system better."

Jurors and police officers, however, may have nothing to do with the fate of the case against four men accused in the Northeast Baltimore mass slaying.

Judge David B. Mitchell, chief of the city's criminal docket, postponed the case for eight months - until Sept. 4 - after it came to light that prosecutors had not disclosed witness statements to defense attorneys in the case.

Mitchell refused to grant what is known as "good cause" for the postponement - essentially his stamp of approval - because he felt that prosecutors could have avoided the delay by disclosing the evidence earlier.

That means the case could be at risk for dismissal on grounds that it violates the defendants' rights for a speedy trial when it comes up again in September. By that point, the defendants will have been waiting nearly two years for a trial. Long trial delays can be excused if a judge approves them, but a large portion of the delay in this case will not have been.

"Unfortunately, the ultimate sanction [may be] dismissal of this case," Mitchell said at the hearing yesterday. "This is ridiculous. This is not a possession-of-marijuana case ... so why didn't we take an ounce of precaution to prevent this horrible result?"

The men on trial are Robert Bryant, Travon McCoy, Tariq A. Malik and Ismail Malik Wilson. Police said the killings were meant to send a message to the women's relatives who were involved in a drug dispute.

The statements at issue were given to police months ago and suggest men other than the defendants as the killers of the women in the Elmley Avenue rowhouse. The judge scheduled to hear the trial ruled yesterday morning that the prosecutors' last minute disclosure of the statements did not amount to prosecutorial misconduct.

But he referred the case to Mitchell, who oversees all postponement requests, so that defense attorneys could have more time to investigate the information raised.

At the postponement hearing, Mitchell said the trial judge thought the statements were "marginally exculpatory" but should have been turned over to the defense.

When Assistant State's Attorney Lawrence Doan suggested to Mitchell that the trial be scheduled for next week to give the defense some time to investigate, the judge criticized him.

"You are not getting it at all," Mitchell said. "You can't expect this to roll over from one day to the next."

 deviders our fallen

We his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department will not let him be forgotten – RIP Officer Kevon Malik Gavin and God Bless - For your service "Honored" the City of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department"

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NameDescription
End of Watch April 21, 2000
City, St. Baltimore City, Maryland, P.D.
Panel Number 14-W: 22
Cause of Death Vehicular Homicide
Weapon - Vehicle
District Worked Southwestern
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:10

Patrolman Franklin Fullum

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Patrolman Franklin Fullum

22 Novemebr 1872 - Patrolman Franklin Fullum of the Southern force, died some weeks since on Friday night 22 Nov 1872. Based on the following – Sun Article dated Nov 26, 1872 - Death of a policeman – Patrolman Francis Fullum, for a long time connected with the police department of South Baltimore, died on Friday night 22 Nov 1872, at his residence number 42 South Oregon St., of smallpox. Deceased was regarded as a very efficient officer. During his term of service he was instrumental in the rescue of a large number of persons from drowning at the docks skirting federal Hill. Some two or three months ago duty brought him in the contact with a man delirious from the smallpox, and notwithstanding the fact that the man was covered with evidence of this dreadful malady. Fullum grappled with him and succeeded in placing him in a place of safety. Fullum did not take the disease at that time, but continued in the service until Tuesday last 19 Nov 1872 when he was confined with the smallpox, which resulted in his death. His remains were interred one Saturday. (*1)

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NameDescription
End of Watch 22 Novemeber, 1872
City, St. City, St.
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death LOD Illness
District Worked Southern
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:07

Patrolman Charles W. Frizzell

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Patrolman Charles W. Frizzell

Patrolman Charles W. Frizzell

5 May, 1939 - On this day in Baltimore Police History 1939, we lost our brotherPatrolman Charles W. Frizzell due to injuries from a line of duty assault:


Patrolman Frizzell Succumbs In Hospital

The Sun (1837-1989); May 6, 1939; pg. 17

Patrolman Frizzell – Succumbs In Hospital – Was Operated On Several Days Ago – Injured a year ago When Attacked By Prisoner

Patrolman Charles W. Frizzell, of the Eastern District, died last night [Friday – 5 May 1939] at University Hospital. His condition had been serious after an operation. Several days ago, and emergency calls for blood donors had been issued several times within the last two days.

Patrolman Frizzell was assaulted about a year ago as he was taking a prisoner to as police call box. His fellow-officers said the injuries that led to his death appeared at that time.

Eastern District police said, however they have not definitely connected the assault with Patrolman Frizzell’s Death. An investigation will begin today.

Patrolman Frizzell was 41. He was appointed to the force and assigned to the Eastern district in October, 1932. He had been commended at least once and was injured several times in the line of duty.

Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th St., Baltimore, MD.
Emergencies: 9-1-1  Non-emergencies: 410-396-2037
BALTIMORE POLICE Web Site: http://www.baltimorepolice.org 

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Again please contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll if you have pictures of you, your family, or other members of the Baltimore Police Department and wish to see them remembered here on this tribute site. We are anxious to honor the fine men and women who have served this fine police department. Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Like us on Facebook, or contact us for a mailing address 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll

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NameDescription
End of Watch 5 May 1939
City, St. 4940 Eastern Ave, Baltimore, MD 21224
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death Surgery
District Worked Eastern
Published in Fallen Heroes
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Tuesday, 21 January 2020 17:03

Honorary Policeman Simon Fried

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Honorary Policeman Simon Fried

Honorary Policeman Simon Fried

On 24 Aug 1946 Simon Fried, 38, a tailor from the 100 block Aisquith street, was shot and seriously wounded by the assailant that resisted arrest of and assaulted.

Patrolman Edwin J. Humphries reported that he had attempted to arrest a young man that had been following two women threatening them with a brick, as Officer Humphries went to arrest him, he pulled a gun, and buffaloed the officer knocking him to the ground, while on the ground the young man turned the gun and aimed it at the Officer’s head. The officer had drawn his weapon while he was falling to the ground but the assailant immediately kicked at it, knocking it from the grasp of the officer, and into the middle of the street. Now unarmed, and unable to fend himself, the officer was suffering the early stages of a concussion, weak and far from being a threat to anyone at this point. Still, the young man turned his pistol and pointed it at the officer's head, cocking the hammer back, ready to take a life.

At this time a 38 year old tailor by the name of Simon Fried, who lived in the 100 block Aisquith street, ran toward the suspect and the officer. Unable to just stand by and witness an execution of the officer, he picked up the gun that had been kicked from the officers hand, pointed it at the young man and yelled, "Drop That Gun," The suspect quickly turned his gun on Mr Fried as he fired three shots, the Tailor returned fire but not being someone that was familiar with guns laid down what amounted to nothing more than suppression fire. Don't get me wrong, this suppression fire was was not a bad thing, it missed the suspect, but in the process, it did two, or three things, missing may have prevented Mr Fried from having to deal with shooting a man, but more importantly were th next two things, first it chased the shooter away, and most important it stopped him from shooting his gun directly into the head on the near unconscious officer, saving the officer's life.

So while these actions saved the life of Patrolman Edwin J. Humphries, other than a minor head injury Patrolman Humphries would be OK.  Mr. Fried however would not be so lucky, in the exchange, he took a round i his spine, a spine that would make him  a hero and a paraplegic all within the speed of a bullet. Never to walk again. While Mr. Fried never applied to become a police officer, and was never sworn in, he knew what it meant to lay down his life, for another, he was made an Honorary Policeman by many of the Unions, and organizations of the day.  He was presented a Bronze Star, and several other Commendations from area law enforcement agencies for his bravery.

The assailant was later caught, and sentenced to 22 years for assault with intent to murder.

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TAILOR SHOT GOING TO AID OF POLICEMAN

Patrolman Disarmed and Felled at Aisquith and Lexington
23 Aug 1946

While attempting to aid a policeman who had been knocked to the ground, and disarmed late last night [22 aug 1946] Simon Fried, 38, a tailor of the 100 block Aisquith street, was shot and seriously wounded by the assailant. Patrolman Edwin J. Humphries reported that he had attempted to arrest a Negro for following two Negro women and threatening them with a brick at Lexington and Aisquith Streets.

When he tried to search the prisoner, the patrolman said, the man pulled a revolver, struck the policeman on the head, knocking him to the ground. As he fell, the policeman attempted to pull his service revolver from his holster but the assailant immediately knocked it from his grasp and to the middle of the street.

"Drop That Gun," Mr. Fried orders, as the man stood pointing his revolver at the policeman's head. Fried, who had been sitting on his front steps, ran up and snatched the patrolman’s gun from the ground.

Pointing it at the armed assailant, witnesses were quoted as having heard him say; "Drop that gun. Don't bother that policeman."

Instead of dropping it, the man turned the gun toward Fried and fired three shots... one of which struck the young tailor in his right side.

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As he fell, Fried fired a shot, and then two more from the street where he lay. The man fled down Aisquith Street and escaped. Fried's Condition was marked as "Serious". Taken to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Fried underwent an emergency operation early that morning - [23 Aug 1946].

His condition was described as "serious." Patrolman Humphries was treated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for contusions of the head received, he said, when his assailant struck him with the butt of his revolver. "The last thing I remember was reaching for my gun and the man hitting me on the head. Then I must have been stunned for a moment," he said.

When the man attempted to Shoot Fried. his first shot apparently misfired according to the patrolman, who said that he heard the gun click once before the shot. He said that he was notified by the Northeastern Police Station that the two women had telephoned complaining that the husband of one of I he women, had been following them for several blocks and threatening them with the brick.

When he arrived at the corner, Patrolman Humphries said, the omen pointed out the man who was standing in a store doorway, The search for the man. following the shooting, was extended over Northeast Baltimore under the direction of Lieut. John B. Kenealy. Meanwhile six members of the Fifth Ward Democratic Club, of which Fried is vice president: appeared at the hospital and were standing by early this morning to offer their blood for transfusions They were Nathan Silverman, of the 2500 block Quantico avenue: Joseph Davidson, of the 2200 block 1 Park Hill avenue: Sidney Feldman, of the· first block West Oliver street; Earl Stelmae, of the 1200 block East Lexington street; Samuel Heilpern, of the 100 block Aisquith street. and Sam Fried, of the 1700 block Delaware avenue.

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The Tailor Died from Complication that Aroused from the Injuries he Received that day 20 years ago.
14 February 1966

Today in Baltimore Police History we lost an honorary police officer, Good Samaritan and genuine police hero based on the following: While under attack out drawn on and buffaloed by a young black male, Officer Edwin J Humphries had attempted to draw his weapon to defend himself, but the blow to the head by the young man pistol was more than he could handle, and it was he could do to keep from passing out, still the young black male began to point his gun at the officers head when Mr. Fired, ran to where the officer had dropped his gun, picked it up and yelled to the suspect to leave the officer alone. Hearing Mr. Fried’s voice the suspect quickly turned and fired 3 shots in his direction, one striking him in his spinal cord paralyzing his left leg/foot and causing severe pain in that leg. Mr. Fried fired three rounds in return, missing with all three, but still chasing the suspect off, thereby saving the officer, and himself from further injury. Other than a head injury Patrolman Humphries was ok, Mr. Fried would never walk again. While Mr. Fried never applied to become a police officer, and was never sworn in, he knew what it meant to lay down his life, for another, he was made an Honorary Officer many of the Unions, and originations of the day, and was awarded Bronze Stars, and several other Commendations for his bravery.  

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Policeman’s helper dies – Simon Fried succumbs as a result of here with him in 1946 Simon Fried, and unassuming closing cutter who saved a policeman’s life, died last night at Sinai hospital, paying for his heroism with his life.

Mr. Fried, who was 58, was shot in 1946 while defending a Baltimore city policeman. A single bullet lodged near his spine causing paralysis of his left foot and leaving it vulnerable to infection.

Despite the pain of his injury Mr. Fried continued working at the more robust Inc. at 501 East Preston St. During the blizzard cold and wetness caused frostbite in his vulnerable foot and gangrene set in.

Infection spread

Medical authorities said the infection spread, affecting his kidneys. Uremic poisoning developed and, as a result his heart failed at 7:30 PM last night.

Mr. Fried or deal of pain began on the rainy night of August 22, 1946 when returning home from the fifth Democratic club. He stopped at the corner of Asquith in Lexington Street to watch a disbursement between policeman Edwin J Humphreys and a young man. Suddenly the man pulled a pistol and struck the patrolman. The patrolman’s pistol fell into the street and the assailant held his own gun at the semiconscious officer’s head. Picked up the policeman’s gun

Mr. Freeman ran over and picked up the policeman’s gun and said “leave that policeman alone.” The assailant world. Fired three shots at Mr. Fried hitting him once and fled as the falling Man returned three shots that missed. The policeman was uninjured and the assailant was later caught and sentenced to 22 years for assault with intent to murder.

Mr. Fried said later “I would do it again I thought the man was going to kill the policeman”.

Metals and citations for his heroism Mr. Fried received a bronze medal from the Carnegie commission, a Maryland medal of honor and other citations, honorary membership into several police associations, funds and columns of newsprint.

He also received operations and much of the medical treatment. But the pain continued. He suffered frostbite while going to work during the blizzard. Working, he said helped distract him from the pain.

Mr. Fried lived alone in his apartment at 6930 Brookmill road.

Two daughters and five grandchildren

His survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Natalie Schreiner of Baltimore, and Miss Sonia Perry of Chillicothe Ohio, and five grandchildren.

Also surviving are three brothers, Samuel, Jack and Goodman Fried. All Baltimore and two sisters, Mrs. Bertha Turk and Mrs. Dora Abrams, both the Baltimore funeral arrangements are incomplete

Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th St., Baltimore, MD.
Emergencies: 9-1-1  Non-emergencies: 410-396-2037
BALTIMORE POLICE Web Site: http://www.baltimorepolice.org 

Devider color with motto

Again please contact Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll if you have pictures of you, your family, or other members of the Baltimore Police Department and wish to see them remembered here on this tribute site. We are anxious to honor the fine men and women who have served this fine police department. Ret. Det. Kenny Driscoll can be reached at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Like us on Facebook, or contact us for a mailing address 

Copyright © 2002 Baltimore City Police History - Ret Det Kenny Driscoll

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 14 February 1966
City, St. 1700 block Delaware avenue.
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
Published in Fallen Heroes
Read more...
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