City cop nominated as America's Most Wanted All-Star
A Baltimore police officer who was shot last year has been nominated as an All-Star by America's Most Wanted.
Officer Keith Romans and another officer were shot during a car stop in East Baltimore. The officers shot and killed the gunman during the encounter on McElderry Street. Here are some details from a Baltimore Sun story last year:
The shooting occurred shortly after midnight. Three plainclothes officers, including Moore and Romans, stopped a Chevrolet Caprice in the 2600 block of McElderry St. Police said the officers smelled marijuana, ordered the three occupants out and began to search the car.
[Police spokesman Anthony] Guglielmi said the driver broke free, jumped back into the car, grabbed a .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun and opened fire on the officers. All three officers returned fire, police said.
The officers were part of a task force called the Monument Street Initiative that concentrates on the business corridor and neighborhoods along the thoroughfare east of Johns Hopkins Hospital.
People can vote once a day for a cop of their choice. Nominations are being accepted until April 2. Here are some more details on the shooting and on the officer from America's Most Wanted:
While on duty the night of March 21, 2010, Baltimore Police Officer Keith Romans was shot in the face at point blank range by a suspect; Miraculously, he not only survived but he is anxiously awaiting for doctors to tell him if he is able to return to the job he loves. In 2008, Keith left his career as an infantryman in the Marines to be with his daughter, and he soon decided to join the police department to continue serving his community.
His Baltimore Police partner, Officer Moore, describes Keith as "an incredible cop" and "role model." Keith began work directly combatting the city's notorious drug and gang problems when he was moved to the Monument Street Initiative, a group of small task forces that police the main throughway for these criminal activities. On the night of the shooting, Keith, Officer Moore, and their third partner, Officer Wiczulis, were patrolling the area when they pulled over a suspicious vehicle. After identifying drugs inside the car, Keith handcuffed the back passenger.
At this time the driver started pushing and antagonizing one of his partners, so Keith immediately came to his aid and forced the man off him. The suspect quickly pulled out a handgun and shot him directly in the face. Though bleeding profusely, Keith incredibly stayed standing and returned gunfire until the officers were able to end the threat.
Remarkably, Keith not only survived, but he was released from the hospital three days later despite the trauma caused by a bullet passing through his jaw and into his brain. Doctors said his determination to fight for his life is what saved him. Keith had his jaw wired shut for three months, and he attended therapy for the rest of the year.
He continues to have painful headaches because the bullet could not safely be removed and remains in his head, but his positive outlook and determination to make the best of a bad situation has helped him carry on.
For his bravery the night of the shooting, Keith has been nominated by his Lieutenant for a Medal of Honor. Lt. Garrity says there is no doubt "his actions that night were heroic." Keith and his two partners were also named Police Officers of the Year by the Knights of Columbus. Just one month after the shooting, Keith and his fiancée decided to seize the moment and marry, and their family and friends helped them plan a small wedding and party held the very next evening. As Keith says, "I'm happy to be alive."
His Baltimore Police partner, Officer Moore, describes Keith as "an incredible cop" and "role model." Keith began work directly combatting the city's notorious drug and gang problems when he was moved to the Monument Street Initiative, a group of small task forces that police the main throughway for these criminal activities. On the night of the shooting, Keith, Officer Moore, and their third partner, Officer Wiczulis, were patrolling the area when they pulled over a suspicious vehicle. After identifying drugs inside the car, Keith handcuffed the back passenger.
At this time the driver started pushing and antagonizing one of his partners, so Keith immediately came to his aid and forced the man off him. The suspect quickly pulled out a handgun and shot him directly in the face. Though bleeding profusely, Keith incredibly stayed standing and returned gunfire until the officers were able to end the threat.
Remarkably, Keith not only survived, but he was released from the hospital three days later despite the trauma caused by a bullet passing through his jaw and into his brain. Doctors said his determination to fight for his life is what saved him. Keith had his jaw wired shut for three months, and he attended therapy for the rest of the year.
He continues to have painful headaches because the bullet could not safely be removed and remains in his head, but his positive outlook and determination to make the best of a bad situation has helped him carry on.
For his bravery the night of the shooting, Keith has been nominated by his Lieutenant for a Medal of Honor. Lt. Garrity says there is no doubt "his actions that night were heroic." Keith and his two partners were also named Police Officers of the Year by the Knights of Columbus. Just one month after the shooting, Keith and his fiancée decided to seize the moment and marry, and their family and friends helped them plan a small wedding and party held the very next evening. As Keith says, "I'm happy to be alive."
Comments
Another Baltimore police office was nominated as well...Dante Arthur. Why no mention??
Posted by: dee | March 1, 2011 3:59 PM
Another Baltimore police office was nominated as well...Dante Arthur. Why no mention?
Posted by: Dee | March 1, 2011 4:00 PM
Thanks for the heads-up. I just posted on Dante Arthur.
Posted by: Peter Hermann | March 1, 2011 4:28 PM