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Patrolman Frank L. Latham

Friday, 24 January 2020 06:08
Patrolman Frank L. Latham

Patrolman Frank L. Latham

On this day in Baltimore Police History (2 March 1924), we lost our Brother, Patrolman Frank L. Latham to gunfire based on the following from the Baltimore Sun 3 March 1924: Headline - Patrolman Latham Dies from Wounds  - Policeman Shot by Man in House Succumbs to Johns Hopkins Hospital

Schmidt Sought as Killer
Harry Worth, who took Officer to Residents in Automobile Tells of Shooting - Patrolman Frank Latham, shot while on duty Friday night, died yesterday morning 2 March 1924  - police and detectives working on the case were roused by the news to a great figure in the search for the killer. Miss Ethel last him the murdered patrolman’s wife, and Mrs. Sophia Latham his mother, were at his bedside at Johns Hopkins hospital when the end came. The night before doctors had pronounced the patient out of danger, following a blood transfusion from motorcycle patrolman Lewis Zulauf. An internal hemorrhage of the wound near the heart set in early yesterday. Patrolman lath him lapsed into a coma and died without regaining consciousness. Informed of her husband’s death, Miss Latham fainted. Latham’s mother, who was ill herself, was present against her physician's advice seemed stunned.


Alleged a Murderer Sought
The murder, police say is Leon Schmidt five of 11 South Collington Ave. no trace of him has been found. It was believed that first that he had escaped in his automobile. Lieut. Michael Ward and Sgt. Charles Davis located the machinery yesterday at the garage of CW Weller at 2016 E. Madison Avenue Weller according to the police said Schmidt had left the machine there a few days before the shooting to be repaired.

Friday night about an hour after the shooting, Weller said Smith came to the garage and tried to get his car. At that time he was dressed in a ragged coat and Weller was uncertain whether he wore a hat or cap. Smith, Weller said appeared excited.

Harry worth, of 418 North Gay St. went to the Eastern police station yesterday and identified himself as the man who drove lath them and Smith’s home on the night of the shooting. He told police he will come forward sooner, but did not think his statement was of importance. He was told he would be one of the most important witnesses in the prosecution of Schmidt when he is caught and charged with the shooting.


Gives account of shooting
worth gave an account of the shooting as follows “I was approached Friday night at Patterson Park Avenue and Baltimore Street by a policeman who asked me to drive him to five of 11 South Collington Ave. He said there was some trouble there.”

“We went to the side alley and up the back stairs. With the aid of his light, the patrolman’s searched in the front room and then the back room but found nothing.”


Tells of four shots
“in the middle room, the man stepped out as the policeman opened the door. The officer told him he was wanted” “you don’t want me the man said and with these words the door was partly closed. I heard four successive shots and then another and then someone said “you would’ve done the same for May” I did not have a pistol or a light and I’d groped my way down the stairs and out front.”

An inquest will be held at 9 o’clock tonight at the Northeast police station by Dr. J. AIDS. S. Potter coroner.

Detectives asserted farms 
A party of four headquarters detectives armed with riot guns and wearing bulletproof vests left Baltimore in automobile yesterday morning for Wilmington Delaware on information that Schmidt was hiding on a farm near there. Those who made up the party were detectives Robert Bradley, Frederick Carol, Charles

Birmingham, and Frank Coleman

Failing to find any trace of Schmidt in or near Wilmington, the party went to Hillsboro Caroline County where they searched in the form of Alexander Kurtinski. They returned last night empty-handed after a trip of more than 375 miles

May he never be forgotten

 "His service "Honored" the City of Baltimore and the Police Department"

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 2 March, 1924
City, St. 2016 E. Madison Avenue
Panel Number 6-E: 3
Cause of Death Gunfire
District Worked Eastern
Published in Fallen Heroes

Patrolman John Christopher

Friday, 24 January 2020 06:01
Patrolman John Christopher

Patrolman John Christopher

On this day in Baltimore Police History, 18 August 1872 we lost our brother, Patrolman John Christopher. To gunfire based on the following:

Patrolman Christopher was lost to gunfire. It started out as a cloud of dust being thrown up by two young wagon men as they raced their team's neck and neck down a dirt road near Catonsville’s Railway Park. The drivers cursing their horses, and one another in a race where friendly competition quickly ended as both James Ford, and James Dorsey cracking the reins from their wagons into their animal’s necks, and backs in order to gain speed. Each struggled more and more to go faster, each had nothing more in mind than to win that race, and to try to overtake the other. The race had begun at, “Kelly’s Woods” in Catonsville, and was nearing the City/County line near Western District. It was in that park, near the old Western, that the two men stopped, and an argument ensued. The two young men argued like they raced, they were loud, and each wanted nothing more than to win. They each wanted that win so much so, that their actions drew the attention of Baltimore City Patrolman, John Christopher. As Patrolman Christopher neared Ford and Dorsey; they began to physically fight, each throwing blow, after blow at the other. Baltimore Police have not changed much in the 141 years since this incident; police were strong, often relying on the use of brute strength to overcome the situations they find themselves in. On this particular day in 1872, things were not much different, Patrolmen Christopher single-handedly separated the two combatants, and forced them back into their wagons and on their way. To keep the peace, Patrolman Christopher climbed into James Ford’s wagon with him and rode with him toward his destination with efforts to maintain peace.

Despite Patrolman Christopher’s best efforts, the two drivers resumed their argument which escalated quickly into a fight. Dorsey began throwing stones at Ford and warned him that if he bumped into his wagon again, he would shoot him. The fisticuffs resumed, and Dorsey started to live up to his promise of shooting Ford as he pulled a pistol. Patrolman

Christopher saw the weapon, and once again gained control over the more violent of the men by forcefully throwing him from his wagon to the ground. That momentary separation was lost when Ford dove onto Dorsey and went for his gun. Before Patrolman Christopher could regain control over either of the men the pistol was fired once. Even while Dorsey’s anger was focused on Ford, the bullet left his weapon and found its way into the stomach of Officer Christopher, causing severe pain, and what would become a fatal injury. Patrolman Christopher felt the burn in his stomach as he fell to the ground.

Our Brother Patrolman John Christopher was quickly taken to the house of “Justice Pilot” where he was treated by “Dr. Worsham”. “Justice Pilot”, and “John Young”, responded to the scene of the shooting where they were able to apprehend, and arrest both, “James Dorsey” and “James Ford”. Patrolman Christopher made a positive ID, and was taken to his home located at, 14 South Fremont St. where he was cared for by, “Prof. J. H. Butler”. His injuries were painful and they were fatal, leaving the medical professionals in a place where no matter what they could have done they were unable to save his life. Patrolman Christopher lay in pain from the night of the shooting on 18 Aug, until the day he passed away on 23, Aug. 1872 at approx. 3:30 in the afternoon.

As his brothers and sisters, of the Baltimore Police Department it is up to us to make sure he is never forgotten. For his service honored the City of Baltimore and Baltimore Police Department. May God be with him, so that he may rest in peace.

#‎BPDNeverForget‬

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 18 August 1872
City, St. City/County line near Western’s District
Panel Number 21-W: 10
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Western
Published in Fallen Heroes

Patrolman Joseph C. Clarke

Friday, 24 January 2020 05:54
Patrolman Joseph C. Clarke

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1871 (22 May 1871) We lost our brother Patrolman Joseph Clark to gunfire based on the following: 

24 May 1871


Patrolman Joseph C. Clarke

The wonton and cold-blooded shooting of Patrolman Joseph C. Clarke on Monday night (22 May 1871) by Frederick M Kusey as detailed in the Monday night May 23rd Sun-Paper yesterday gave rise to considerable feelings during the day in the community. The body of the deceased was at an early hour removed to his late residence number 172 is for Avenue Policeman Clark was a very worthy citizen, and a good officer. He leaves as before stated a wife, and nine children as well as his grandchildren. The alleged murder Frederick M. Kusey said to belong to Philadelphia was arrested about 6 AM yesterday by policeman Bradley, McGuire and Chew and on the warrant of Coroner Spacer was committed to jail to wait the selection of the grand jury Kusey is a young man about 23 years of age rather spare, and about 5’8” in height. It appeared that on Monday night after committing the deed to see escaped from the premise number 28 Center St. by a gate leading out to Holliday Street without his hat. He first went to the labor house By Voechell on the corner of Franklin and North Streets where he procured a hat, and about midnight when all the spare men of the police force were searching for him, he appeared at that lighter beer saloon of Mr. Johnson under the mansion house corner of St. Paul and Fayette Streets and asked for and obtained a drink. He here said that he had gotten himself into a scrape, that he had shot a policeman, and then displayed the pistol with which he alleged the shooting was done he then complained of being tired and having no money he borrowed $.50 with which to pay for a bed at the mansion house. Mr. Johnson had not learned of the murder, and was disposed not to believe Kusey, to see but early hour yesterday morning on reading the account of the affair in the Sun he at once gave information to Policeman Bradley, who calling to his assistance acquire and chew proceeded to the room of Kusey and arrested him as he was about leaving the bed.

The accused made no resistance. He had in his possession a cold seven shooter, three chambers on which had been discharged and three were still loaded. The four female witnesses against the accused were Annie Lawrence alias Chenoweth, Molly Rogers, Sally Cain and Lizzie Shirley, were also committed to jail by corner Spicer but for the latter being in delicate health was sent to Washington University hospital. Corner Spicer held a postmortem examination of the body of policeman Clark yesterday previous to the removal from Mr. Weavers. He found that the ball which had entered the mouth of the deceased had buried itself in the left jawbone, the second ball penetrated the left breast pass through the long and out the back cutting the spinal ulterior and causing instant death from internal hemorrhage. The other ball passed through his hat grazing in his head.

Kusey is a bartender and has been employed in several public houses in the city. After his committal to jail and in fact from being the time of his arrest he said nothing as to the motive that led to the commission of this fearful crime with which he stands charge except when questioned by Capt. Mitchell of the middle district who asked the prisoner when induced him to slay the policeman Kusey  then answered, “I don’t know what I must have been drinking or crazy.” Capt. Mitchell replied “your subsequent conduct did not indicate that you are either drunk or crazy.” The prisoner answered, “then I wish it had been myself that I had shot.”

From conversations with the four women witnesses, as well as from the testimony before the corner, the concise of Mount of the murder is made Annie Lawrence alias John Willis is the keeper of the house number 23 Center St. and Frederick M Casey lives there that is the Shirley, Sally Cain and Molly Rogers were roommates of the house the accused have given the ladies much trouble by demanding money from her when intoxicated, about three weeks since C caused his arrest and committal to jail in order to avoid his annoyance. On Monday night he again became troublesome in his demands for money, and was so threatening that she ordered Sally who had charge of the bar to close it would she did taking the money from the tour with her and locking it herself in her room Mrs. Lawrence then went out the back gate to look for an officer.  Kusey followed her and locking her out he then ran out to the light and went to her bedroom on the second floor and when she returned with policeman Clark and on knocking was let in by one of the girls, everything was dark on getting upstairs she proposed to get a light when Clark told her he had a match on going into the room Kusey was found standing with his boots and hat off clerk told him to put his boot one as he must go with him Kusey replied with an raids when he was again told he must go Kusey Casey then told Lizzie Shelley to go downstairs for his hat. When he’s soon thereafter fired two shots the third as she was going up the steps with the hat the three women made their escape the murdered man fell to the floor of the steps and Kusey then went up to the room of the female bartender and demanded whatever money she had which she had locked up in her trunk and refused to give him the key Kusey then ran downstairs over the body of Clark made his escape and was arrested as above stated. All the witnesses concur in the statement that Kusey had a great antipathy to all who wore the police uniform and invariably calling them “speckled ones”.

The house number 23 Center St. in which the tragedy occurred is a three-story brick the lower floor being used as a barroom it is in position of the police authorities a policeman being stationed on the premise day and night numbers of morbid curiosity hunters visited the spot yesterday, but no one was permitted to enter the premises except officers. Msgr. Fusselbaugh, car and Morris of the police commissioners and Mr. M Boswell, their clerk work early at the scene of the murder, and during the entire night worked with the police and looking up the perpetrator. It was at first suggested that the murder had escaped to the top of the home and Mr. Carr obtained a ladder made a personal examination of the roof the police authorities were greatly aided by Mr. John W Davie Esq. late police Commissioner. Who subsequently acted as foreman of the coroner’s jury. Marshal gray and deputy Marshall free were also very active during the night as in fact were all officers and men to the middle district the funeral of policeman Clark takes place at 3 PM today and will be attended by the police board and all of the police force that can be spared from duty the deceased was a strict member of the Roman Catholic Church

While he is no longer with us, we his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department will not let him be forgotten. RIP Brother

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 22 May, 1871
City, St. 28 Center St.
Panel Number 47-E: 14
Cause of Death Gunfire
Weapon - Handgun
District Worked Central
Published in Fallen Heroes

Watchman George Workner

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:55
Watchman George Workner

Watchman George Workner

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1808 we lost our brother Night Watchman George Workner – Ofc. Workner was stabbed to death during a jail break of nine inmates from the Baltimore Jail. The inmates made a set of keys and picked the locks to their cell doors. Then they attacked the guards with a small knife one of the inmates had obtained. Watchman Workner was stabbed in the side during the escape and died from the wound the following day. Four of the nine inmates were apprehended and sentenced to death for Watchman Workner's murder. Their execution date was set for April 22, 1808, but they again attempted to escape two days beforehand. That escape attempt failed and they were hung in the jail's courtyard at noon on April 22, 1808

We his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department will not let him be forgotten – RIP Officer George Workner

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 15 March, 1808
City, St. Baltimore Jail
Panel Number 33-W: 24
Cause of Death Knife
District Worked Central
Published in Fallen Heroes

Officer Thomas J. O'Neill

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:17
Officer Thomas J. O'Neill

Police Officer Thomas J. O'Neill 

On this day in Baltimore Police History 1949 we lost our brother Police Officer Thomas J. O'Neill based on the following:

Officer O'Neill suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage after escorting an emergency Polio patient to Sydenham hospital at approx. 10PM. Officer’s O'Neill, Kemmerzell, and Newman, leapfrogged their motors from intersection, to intersection in order to get the patient to the hospital as quickly as possible without interruption. The escorted ambulance carrying the Polio patient to the hospital made it their safely, and in record time without incident. After the ambulance arrived at the hospital, the officers left to return to their posts. Officer O'Neill had trouble starting his bike (in 1949 they didn’t have electric starters, he had to kick-start his bike), he managed to catch up to the others and told them about his bike troubles and then made his way back over to his post near Lake Montebello. There can be a lot of stress in police work, often causing high blood pressure, and heart trouble from the fast paced lifestyle we as police have to live. In O'Neill case his body was found face down in the parking lot by a doctor, who realized he had an emergency medical condition so he rushed him to the ER where doctors determine that his medical condition was more serious than they were equipped to handle so they arranged for him to be escorted from Sydenham to Mercy Hospital.

A combination of factors, including the stress of the escort and the effort made to restart his motorcycle, induced a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. Doctors worked for hours to save the Officer O’Neill’s life, but at 6:45 AM on October the 16th 1949 Officer O'Neill died. Investigation reviled his death was duty related, and so his wife Helen was awarded his LOD pension.

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.

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Any request for official police information should first be made directly to:

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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More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 16 October, 1949
City, St. Baltimore, Md
Panel Number 14-W: 26
Cause of Death Heart Attack
District Worked Motors
Published in Fallen Heroes

Nightwatchman John O'Mayer

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:14
Nightwatchman John O'Mayer

Nightwatchman John O'Mayer

13 November 1856


On this day in Baltimore Police History 1856 we lost our Brother, Patrolman John O’Mayer to gunfire based on the following: When a call came in to stop the violence at Belair Market, city police found themselves fighting both sides of an argument leading to what would become a difficult attempt to quash the disagreement. Ten of our brothers were shot in action during the conflict; most of them suffered minor injuries. O’Mayer’s wound was accidental, as he shot himself in the hand. For several days after; the men of the Eastern District slowly recovered from their “ugly but non-too dangerous” wounds; all but John O’Myer’s, his condition worsened, infection spread, and spread quickly… until it had become so apparent that the infection threatened the watchmen life the treating physician, Dr. Yates had no choice but amputate Patrolman O’Mayer’s hand. This seemed to be the only answer, and even then it was only an attempt to stop the infection in its tracks… it would be a few days before Doc Yates would know if his efforts would be successful, or he had failed. On 13 November 1856, with his family (a wife and child) by his side, Patrolman O’Mayer would draw his last breath, as Doc Yate’s surgery was a valiant effort, but an effort that was but too late, as the infection grew into a severe case of lock jaw, and nothing could be done. The funeral was held on November 15, and he was given the honors bestowed upon a soldier when “the military fired three volleys over the grave and cortege retired.” The leaders of the city mourned the death of the watchmen by flying the flags at half-staff.


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 13 November, 1856
City, St. City, St.
Panel Number N/A
Cause of Death Gunfire
District Worked Eastern
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published in Fallen Heroes

Detective Thomas G. Newman

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:09
Detective Thomas G. Newman

Detective Thomas G. Newman

CLICK HERE FOR AUDIO

On April 21, 2001, Detective Newman drove his Chevy S-10 pickup into an Amoco gas station in South Baltimore. While there, he encountered four men who began to taunt him. Newman identified himself as a police officer, believing that would diffuse the situation. The men walked away, but not before one of them boldly reached and touched his back to indicate he had a weapon. Detective Newman used his cell phone and called 911 from his vehicle, as he followed the dark red Mazda MPV the men got into. Believing at least one of the men was armed, Newman did no approach them, nor did he want to lose sight of the red Mazda. Newman alerted authorities and gave the 911 operator his location in an attempt to summon sufficient police units. Before police could get to Newman’s location, the men exited their vehicle, all-running in different directions. Unbeknown to Newman, one of the men doubled back and approached the rear of his truck. Newman was on his cellular phone with the 911 dispatcher when the man fired five shots. Newman was wounded as a result of the attack. Despite his injuries, Detective Newman remained committed to the job he loved. Tragically, Detective Thomas G. Newman, a twelve-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, was shot and killed on Saturday, November 23, 2002 at approximately 1:50 a.m. He was leaving Joe’s Tavern, located in the 1000 block of Dundalk Avenue. The painful loss of Detective Newman sent shock waves through the police department. The investigation into his murder led to an eerie and devastating conclusion. Detective Newman was ambushed by three men that planned to take his life in retaliation for his testimony in the April 2001 shooting that left him wounded. Investigators learned one of the suspects responsible for Newman’s murder was the half-brother of the suspect who was convicted and imprisoned for the attempted murder of Detective Newman in April of 2001. Detective Newman is survived by his son, daughter, mother, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews. Detective Newman was a key part of his family unit; his strength and love are a painful loss. His death has also saddened his squad members in the Check and Fraud Unit. Sorrowfully, Tommy’s desk is as he left it. His jacket hangs on the back of his chair. Photographs of his children hang on the surrounding wall and slips of phone messages are neatly stacked one on top of the other.


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From the Baltimore Sun

City officer, 37, shot to death during ambush; Three men are charged in apparent retaliation for testimony on 2001 attack; `Flat-out execution'; Detective was off duty, leaving bar with girlfriend when gunfire erupted 23 Nov 2002.


An off-duty Baltimore police officer was shot and killed early yesterday as he stepped outside a bar in apparent retaliation for testifying against two men convicted of wounding him during an ambush last year. Detectives, who described the shooting as a "flat-out execution," arrested three men in the killing of Detective Thomas G. Newman, 37, and charged them with first-degree murder. The death of the 12-year veteran sent waves of fear and anger throughout the city Police Department as officers tried to cope with the brazen attack on an officer who did nothing more than testify against those who had tried to kill him. It is the third incident in eight days in which city officers have been hit by gunfire; five were wounded. "This has been a really rough stretch for us," Mayor Martin O'Malley said. "This is a horrible loss for the city." Speaking at a news conference yesterday afternoon, Baltimore Police Commissioner Edward T. Norris said detectives were "strongly" looking at the link between Newman's death and the previous attack.
Norris declined to discuss specifics of the shooting. But police said one of the three men in custody was the half- brother of Andre A. Travers, 25, who was convicted of attempted second-degree murder in the near-fatal shooting of Newman in April last year.
Police identified Travers' half-brother as Raymond Saunders, 22, whose last known address was in the 800 block of Fifth Ave. in Halethorpe.


Police sources could not say what role Saunders played in yesterday's shooting. They identified the other two suspects as Jovan J. House, 21, of the 2000 block of Dorton Court and Anthony A. Brown, 34, of the 1000 block of N. Chappel St. All three have been charged with first-degree murder and were being held at the Central Booking and Intake Center last night. Saunders' other half-brother, Larry Travers, 27, said last night that Saunders has been accused of a crime he did not commit. "That just doesn't sound like my brother," Larry Travers said. "He doesn't have that type of mentality." Saunders, Brown and House have been convicted of minor drug offenses, court records show. It does not appear that they had been charged with any violent crimes before yesterday's shooting. Police sources said that Saunders spotted Newman in Joe's Tavern in the 1000 block of Dundalk Ave. in Southeast Baltimore - one of the officer's favorite hangouts.

Saunders then went to find friends, police sources said. As Newman left the bar with a girlfriend about 1:50 a.m., two men approached him and opened fire without uttering a word, police said. Newman fell to the ground, police said, and the gunmen stood over his body, aimed and continued to shoot. Three bullets struck the officer's chest, and at least one was found lodged in his heart, Norris said. The girlfriend was not injured, and police declined to provide more details. Norris, who had visited Newman in the hospital after the officer was wounded last year, said he was allowed to see Newman's body early yesterday. "That confirmed my worst fears," Norris said. "This is awful. It looked like he had been executed."

After yesterday's shooting, the two men jumped into a waiting car and sped away, police said. A man working as a security guard near the bar watched the shooting, grabbed the officer's gun, jumped into a car and followed the three men, police said. The security guard fired at the men during the chase but did not hit anyone, police said. As the fleeing men entered the O'Donnell Heights housing complex, police said, they spotted the security guard, jumped out of their car and scattered. One of the men was found cowering in a shed, and investigators tracked down the other two men by mid-morning, according to detectives. Police recovered a 9 mm handgun and a .32-caliber handgun, both used in the shooting of Newman, and obtained tape-recorded statements from the suspects. "There is no doubt they knew what they were going to do," said one police source close to the investigation. "We have a clear indication that they knew he was a police officer.

They knew he was the police officer involved in the other incident." Gary McLhinney, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, said prosecutors should seek the death penalty because Newman's killing was clearly linked to his law enforcement duties.
"There is no wiggle room here," McLhinney said. "He was killed because he was a cop, and these scum deserve the death penalty." A spokeswoman for State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy said yesterday afternoon that her office could not comment on death penalty deliberations because charges had not been filed at that time.

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The shooting was eerily similar to the one Newman barely survived on a dark street in April last year. About 2:30 a.m. April 21, Newman was off duty and driving south on Baltimore-Washington Parkway when he pulled off to get gasoline and sodas at an Amoco station at Cherry Hill Road and Waterview Avenue. As he got out of his car, several men began taunting him, and an argument broke out. During the confrontation, one of the men hinted that he had a handgun. Newman told the men that he was a police officer and that he also had a weapon. The argument seemed to peter out, so Newman went inside the station to buy sodas. But one of the men entered the store and told the off-duty officer that he had guns and knew where to find him. The incident shook Newman, as he was trying to leave, the men taunted him again from across the street before driving away in a Mazda MPV. As Newman left the parking lot, he spotted the van. Worried that the men might be dangerous, he called 911 dispatchers to ask for backup and began following the Mazda. He spotted it about parked at Salerno Place near Norfolk Avenue in the Westport community. Newman had no idea that two men had slipped away from the van and were waiting for him. A few hundred feet from the Mazda, Newman stopped and was talking to 911 dispatchers when shots rang out. The two men had silently approached Newman, who was hit twice in the back of the neck but managed to scramble out of his car and fire one shot that missed his attackers. Police said at the time that as many as five men were involved in the shooting, but they were able to identify only two - Travers and Marcellus Henriques, 22. Both were convicted in March of attempted second-degree murder and were sentenced three months later to 30 years in prison. "He still had the bullets in him" when he testified this year, said Ahmet Hisim, an assistant state's attorney who prosecuted the case. "He was in pain." After the shooting, Newman impressed many of his colleagues by overcoming his injuries and returning to work. He was a member of the Warrant Apprehension Task Force, a demanding unit that requires detectives to hunt for dangerous suspects accused of violent crimes. But he did not let the physical labor deter him from returning to the job, said Maj. George Klein, the unit's commander. "He was a hard worker and conscientious," Klein said. "He almost died the first time he was shot, and he survived it and had a rough recovery. He pushed himself to come back." The physical and emotional toll of the shooting and his long recovery pushed Newman to seek a less demanding job. He transferred to a small unit that specializes in fraud investigation. Newman, who lived in Baltimore and has family in Prince George's County, was a frequent customer at Joe's Tavern for about four years. Sometimes, he even acted as a security guard. Patrons and workers described him as a friendly guy willing to help a friend or offer advice. "You couldn't find a better person," said Tom Townsend, 59, who runs the package goods section of the bar. "He never drank very much, and he liked to smoke a cigar now and then. I'm telling you, he was a prince." Newman is survived by a 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.
Credit: SUN STAFF

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Police mourn death of detective

`Officers are devastated'

3 men charged in ambush to appear in court today

November 25, 2002|By Del Quentin Wilber | Del Quentin Wilber,SUN STAFF

Baltimore police mourned the death of Detective Thomas G. Newman yesterday and struggled to comprehend the execution-style killing that authorities have linked to an earlier ambush of the veteran officer.

Throughout the department, officers said they felt deflated, depressed and vexed at the brazen attack on Newman, 37, who was off duty and walking out of a city tavern when two men approached him and opened fire Saturday morning, police said.

"My officers are devastated," said Maj. Antonio Williams, commander of the Western District and a former supervisor of Newman. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I spoke to my people about it yesterday, and they just had this glazed look over most of their faces. It's a shock. Just the idea of hearing one of our own was gunned down under these circumstances is tough."

Newman's death comes during a rough stretch of violence directed at city police officers and others battling crime in one of the country's most dangerous cities.

The ambush marked the third time in eight days that a city officer was shot, a period in which five were wounded. It also follows a fire-bombing last month that killed seven members of an East Baltimore family who had refused to ignore drug dealing in their neighborhood.

Mayor Martin O'Malley said that he, too, was trying to make sense of the recent shootings, even as the city's violent crime rate continues to drop.

"We are more accustomed to reading about this sort of thing in Colombia or some other place than in the United States," the mayor said. "With each of these, we need to become more resolute and not less. ... The best we can do is to send these sociopath predators to jail for as long as possible."

Despite pleas from the city police union to seek the death penalty, O'Malley is not likely to push the issue because he opposes capital punishment.

A spokeswoman for State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy said prosecutors will review evidence and other factors before deciding what punishment to seek.

Three men have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing: Raymond Saunders, 22, of the 800 block of Fifth Ave., Halethorpe; and city residents Jovan J. House, 21, of the 2400 block of Dorton Court and Anthony A. Brown, 34, of the 600 block of W. Franklin St. All were being held yesterday at the city jail and are scheduled to appear at a bail review hearing today in Baltimore District Court.

City police linked the killing to an ambush of Newman in April last year, when Saunders' half-brother participated in the shooting of Newman on a dark South Baltimore street. The half-brother, Andre A. Travers, 25, and another man were convicted of attempted murder for shooting the off-duty officer; they were sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Police said Saunders spotted Newman in a Southeast Baltimore tavern and realized that he was the officer involved in the previous shooting. He left, found two friends and returned, police said.

It was unclear what role Saunders might have played in the shooting. Police said he gave a tape-recorded statement that implicated himself but "laid blame" for the shooting on the other suspects.

About 1:45 a.m. Saturday, Newman left Joe's Tavern in the 1000 block of Dundalk Ave. with a girlfriend and was approached by two men who began shooting without saying a word, police said. The woman was not injured.

The men stood over Newman's body, police said, and continued to fire. Newman was hit several times, suffering three wounds to the chest. Newman, a 12-year veteran, died a half-hour later at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Within hours, police had arrested House, Saunders and Brown. They found on House a Glock handgun that firearms examiners said they determined was used in the shooting.

House and Saunders are longtime friends who grew up in the city's Westport neighborhood. Both dropped out of high school and have drug-related convictions, but relatives said the young men would never have committed such a violent crime. Brown's family could not be reached.

"He's a very nice person," Catherine Williams said of House, her grandson. "He is not violent. ... He was really struggling hard to do the right thing."

Said Marjorie Dixon, Saunders' mother: "Through thick and thin, I taught them a lot of things. And one of them was not to kill. He would not have done this."

When Saunders was 13, his father died and the boy never recovered, his family said. He eventually quit school and took up drug dealing, following the path of his older brothers, relatives said. But last year, he turned a corner when his girlfriend got pregnant. He got a job and seemed to be on the right track, they said.

But on Nov. 11, Ories P. Cole, 17, a close friend who is an uncle of Saunders' 3-month-old daughter, was shot and killed in South Baltimore. That death and the killings over the years of several close friends seemed to derail Saunders' efforts to reshape his life, the family said.

Devider. black


Norris urges seeking death penalty in officer killing

By Del Quentin Wilber Sun Staff

Baltimore Police Commissioner Edward T. Norris said last night that prosecutors should seek the death penalty for three men charged in the execution-style killing of an off-duty detective who was ambushed early Saturday outside a city tavern. 

The three - Jovan J. House, 21, Anthony A. Brown, 34, and Raymond Saunders, 23 - were denied bail yesterday during a brief hearing in District Court. All are charged with first-degree murder. 

The motive, prosecutors and police say, is clear: retaliation against Detective Thomas G. Newman for testifying against Saunders' half-brother, who was convicted of shooting the officer during a similar ambush in April last year. 

"This is the most outrageous thing I have seen in my career," Norris said in an interview. "I can't even put it into words. I can't articulate how searing this pain is for the Police Department to have an officer killed like this." 

Norris said that he plans to meet with State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy and U.S. Attorney Thomas M. DiBiagio to discuss whether federal authorities should take the case. 

City prosecutors have said they need time to weigh evidence and evaluate other factors before deciding what punishment to seek. 

Prosecutors said yesterday during the bail hearing that the men clearly intended to kill the veteran officer. 

"They planned this shooting," prosecutor Barbara Richmond said. "They laid in wait, and they executed him." 

Contrary to earlier reports that Saunders saw Newman in the tavern, police sources said yesterday that Brown first noticed the off-duty detective sitting in the bar. Brown entered Joe's to buy a 40-ounce beer, police sources said. 

Detectives are investigating how Brown recognized the detective and are looking closely at whether he might have played a role in last year's shooting of Newman. Brown likely was friends with Saunders' half-brother, Andre A. Travers, 25, police sources said. 

In that shooting, which occurred April 21 last year, Newman and several men got into an argument at a South Baltimore gas station. Worried the men might have weapons, Newman trailed their car and was shot during an ambush as he requested backup from 911 dispatchers over his cellular telephone. 

In large part because of Newman's testimony, Travers and another man were convicted of attempted second-degree murder and sentenced in June to 30 years in prison. 

After seeing Newman at the bar Friday night, Brown went to the O'Donnell Heights housing project where he ran into Saunders and House, police sources familiar with the investigation said. 

A plan was hatched to "settle the score" with Newman for sending Travers to prison, said a police source close to the investigation. After waiting about two hours for Joe's to close, two men approached Newman as he left the tavern, police sources said. 

The men opened fire without saying a word and continued to shoot after Newman fell to the ground, police said. The detective was hit by several bullets from two guns, police said. 

Detectives strongly believe that House and Saunders were the gunmen and that Brown was the driver of the getaway car, according to police sources. 

After shooting Newman, the two gunmen turned and began firing at a security guard who was standing in the bar parking lot, the sources said. The men then jumped into the waiting sedan and fled. 

The security guard, whom detectives declined to identify, grabbed Newman's gun, jumped into a car with another witness and chased the sedan, police said. When the men bailed out near the O'Donnell Heights housing project, the security guard fired several rounds at them but missed, police said. 

Authorities first arrested House, who implicated himself during an interrogation and told detectives about two other men he said participated in the attack, police said. 

Police arrested Saunders and Brown soon afterward. Detectives recovered a 9 mm Glock handgun from House, and said firearms examiners linked it to ballistics evidence recovered from the crime scene. Examiners have not been able to link another handgun recovered in the investigation - a .32-caliber revolver - to the shooting. 

An autopsy revealed that Newman was hit by .32-caliber and 9 mm bullets. Medical examiners also recovered the .38-caliber slugs that struck Newman during last year's shooting. Surgeons had not removed those for fear of further harming the officer. 

It is unclear how long thoughts of revenge simmered, authorities said. The prosecutor who handled last year's shooting recalled some subtle words and possible threats lodged at Newman by relatives and friends of Travers. 

But, the prosecutor said, Newman was not that concerned about them. 

"I know he had some confrontations and problems," said Assistant State's Attorney Ahmet Hisim. "Tommy wasn't that worried about them." 

Copyright © 2015, The Baltimore Sun


deviders our fallen

We his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department will not let him be forgotten – RIP Detective Thomas G. Newman and may God Bless You - For your service "Honored" the City of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department" #BPDNeverForget

More details

NameDescription
End of Watch 23 November, 2002
City, St. 1000 block of Dundalk Avenue.
Panel Number 27-W: 23
Cause of Death Gunfire
District Worked Criminal Investigation Division
Published in Fallen Heroes

Officer Robert Nelson

Wednesday, 22 January 2020 03:05
Officer Robert Nelson

On this day in Baltimore City Police History 1958, we lost our Brother Police Officer Robert Nelson based on the following;

On 16 Sept 1958, Motors Officer Nelson entered the intersection of Broadway and Gay Streets; at the same time Richard Bishop also entered the intersection causing a collision between the two (Bishop was operating a truck as he just moved to Baltimore from New Jersey). Officer Nelson’s motorcycle was struck so hard that he was ejected from it; airborne, his body was thrown more than 20 feet across the street, causing his head to hit a pole, and curb upon landing. He was immediately taken to St Josephs’ Hospital where doctors worked feverously to try and save his life. His supervisor immediately sent for Officer Nelson’s wife, Emma Nelson. Emma was brought to the hospital from the couples Williams Avenue home. Upon her arrival to the hospital doctors were still working to save her husband’s life; they would eventually have done everything they could, ending by putting a steel plate in his head, they were at a place where all they could do now was to wait. With Emma by his side, three days would pass before Officer Nelson would succumb to his injuries.

Richard Bishop, had only been in Baltimore for two days before he would end the life of our brother with his reckless driving, he was charged with vehicular manslaughter. On 4 October 1958, two magistrates from Baltimore County dealt leniently with the New Jersey man that was involved in the accident that would end the life of Officer Nelson.

Nelson was on the department for a year and half, having served our country in the Korean War 1950-1953. Oddly enough he transferred to motors after hearing of the loss of, Patrolman John Andrews; of the BPD Motors Unit, also struck by a reckless driver nearly a year earlier on Oct 9 1957.

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 19 September, 1958
City, St. Broadway and Gay Streets
Panel Number 5-W: 2
Cause of Death Auto Accident
District Worked Motors
 
 
 
 
 
 
Published in Fallen Heroes

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