Tweet
Cop pulls Brass Knuckles; is shot by another cop
baltimoresun.com
Off-duty officer shot, killed by city police
3 city officers, including one who fired gun, on administrative duties during probe
By Gus G. Sentementes
Sun reporter
2:28 PM EDT, April 24, 2008
An off-duty Baltimore police officer fatally shot during a fight outside a club by a fellow officer early this morning was identified as Norman McLeod Stamp, who celebrated his 44th anniversary on the city force yesterday.
The 65-year-old officer was shot in the parking lot of Haven Place strip club at North Haven and Orleans streets in Southeast Baltimore, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said at a news conference this morning.
"He was a mentor to some and a friend to many," Bealefeld said. "This is an incredibly difficult time. The men and women of this police department will remain focused, vigilant and undaunted."
Three Southeast District police officers, including the one who fired his gun, were placed on administrative duties during the investigation. Bealefeld identified them as Officer Raymond D. Buda, a 16-year veteran; Officer Jason J. Rivera, a 7-year veteran; and John E. Torres, a 5-year veteran.
Bealefeld said Stamp was inside the strip club when a fight broke out involving several groups of men and some women who were trying to apply for jobs. The fight spilled into the parking lot about 12:30 a.m., and police were called.
The commissioner said the three officers, all in uniform, tried to break up the altercation and that Torres stood by the bar's front door to prevent others from joining in the fight. Bealefeld said Stamp emerged wearing brass knuckles. Torres ordered him to stop, and Bealefeld said Stamp refused.
Torres fired a Taser at Stamp, which knocked him to the ground. While on the ground, Bealefeld said that Stamp withdrew his service weapon and that Torres fired two shots, hitting Stamp at least once in the upper body.
Stamp was rushed to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead about 1:30 a.m. Bealefeld said that at no time did Stamp identify himself as a police officer or heed the warnings of his colleagues. It was unclear whether Stamp had been drinking or was impaired.
While breaking up the fight, police said a bar patron suffered a broken leg when he was tackled by an officer. Police also said they expect at least one person involved in the fight to be arrested. Off-duty officers are required to carry their weapons but are also required to exercise sound judgment.
Stamp joined the city force on April 23, 1964, and worked a variety of assignments, including many years in the motorcycle unit. He was most recently assigned to the Harbor Patrol. He lived in Essex.
He made news in 1974 when, at 33, he broke his leg when his police motorcycle was hit by a police cruiser in East Baltimore.
gus.sentementes@baltsun.com
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
Off-duty officer shot, killed by city police
3 city officers, including one who fired gun, on administrative duties during probe
By Gus G. Sentementes
Sun reporter
2:28 PM EDT, April 24, 2008
An off-duty Baltimore police officer fatally shot during a fight outside a club by a fellow officer early this morning was identified as Norman McLeod Stamp, who celebrated his 44th anniversary on the city force yesterday.
The 65-year-old officer was shot in the parking lot of Haven Place strip club at North Haven and Orleans streets in Southeast Baltimore, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III said at a news conference this morning.
"He was a mentor to some and a friend to many," Bealefeld said. "This is an incredibly difficult time. The men and women of this police department will remain focused, vigilant and undaunted."
Three Southeast District police officers, including the one who fired his gun, were placed on administrative duties during the investigation. Bealefeld identified them as Officer Raymond D. Buda, a 16-year veteran; Officer Jason J. Rivera, a 7-year veteran; and John E. Torres, a 5-year veteran.
Bealefeld said Stamp was inside the strip club when a fight broke out involving several groups of men and some women who were trying to apply for jobs. The fight spilled into the parking lot about 12:30 a.m., and police were called.
The commissioner said the three officers, all in uniform, tried to break up the altercation and that Torres stood by the bar's front door to prevent others from joining in the fight. Bealefeld said Stamp emerged wearing brass knuckles. Torres ordered him to stop, and Bealefeld said Stamp refused.
Torres fired a Taser at Stamp, which knocked him to the ground. While on the ground, Bealefeld said that Stamp withdrew his service weapon and that Torres fired two shots, hitting Stamp at least once in the upper body.
Stamp was rushed to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead about 1:30 a.m. Bealefeld said that at no time did Stamp identify himself as a police officer or heed the warnings of his colleagues. It was unclear whether Stamp had been drinking or was impaired.
While breaking up the fight, police said a bar patron suffered a broken leg when he was tackled by an officer. Police also said they expect at least one person involved in the fight to be arrested. Off-duty officers are required to carry their weapons but are also required to exercise sound judgment.
Stamp joined the city force on April 23, 1964, and worked a variety of assignments, including many years in the motorcycle unit. He was most recently assigned to the Harbor Patrol. He lived in Essex.
He made news in 1974 when, at 33, he broke his leg when his police motorcycle was hit by a police cruiser in East Baltimore.
gus.sentementes@baltsun.com
Copyright © 2008, The Baltimore Sun
Comment