Today marks eight years since our beloved Corporal Ballard was murdered in a Wawa parking lot, and taken away from his family and loved ones, a day that will stay with us forever. He was not "just" taken away from them, it was a loss to all of us, no matter what our occupation, or where we lived; a deep sadness spread across our small state, reached across the country, and touched all of us deeply and profoundly. There were memorial vigils quickly organized; one in Georgetown and one in Dover I believe; places where we went to gather, stand together, and mourn together, for a life brutally cut short.
Today is one of love and appreciation, so I'm sharing this post again! If this young man's behavior didn't exemplify kindness and caring, I don't know what does. 💙🖤 August 22nd, 2022: Sometimes things happen which remind us again, how blessed we are to have angels nearby.
Tuesday 5/22: Today we remember one of Maryland's Finest, the second officer to be killed in the line of duty from the Princess Anne State Police Barrack.
Trooper Edward Plank was shot and killed during a traffic stop near Princess Ann, Maryland, at 1:09 a.m. Unknown to Trooper Plank at the time, the driver and passenger of the car were returning to the state after a drug re-supply. Trooper Plank called for back-up when he became suspicious of the driver and after conferring with another officer approached the vehicle a second time at which point he was shot in the face and killed instantly. The two suspects fled but were caught later in the day. One of the suspects was caught after breaking into a house. The owner of the house clubbed the suspect with an empty rifle after being shot at and held him until police arrived. Four hundred grams of cocaine were found in the suspect's car.
The shooter pled guilty to first degree murder on May 14, 1996, and was sentenced to death. In July 1998 the suspect's death sentenced was overturned and he now is facing life in prison.
Trooper Plank had served with the agency for 7 years. He was survived by his wife, a 7-month-old daughter, and his parents. Source: ODMP.
Monday 5/21: State police officer Mark P. Groner became the 28th officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore of Maryland. He was 24 years of age at the time of his death.
Trooper Groner was killed in an accident at Routes 392 and 313 near Hurlock while responding to a call. His vehicle was struck by a vehicle, spun around, and struck by a third oncoming vehicle. Trooper Groner had been with the agency for almost five years. Source: ODMP.
Friday 5/18: "Trooper Mills was shot and killed while investigating a domestic complaint involving two neighbors in Brookview, Maryland. While on the scene he was shot in the chest with a .38 caliber handgun and knocked down. As he attempted to draw his weapon he was shot in the chest with a high powered rifle. The man who shot him also shot and killed the neighbor he had been arguing with. On November 6, 1979, the 68 year-old suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to a mental institution. Trooper Mills had been with the agency for almost nine years." Source: ODMP.
Monday 5/7: Today we remember a fallen state trooper, the first line of duty death on the eastern shore to be involved in an airplane incident. From the Aviation Command Fallen Heroes website: "Since the inception of Maryland State Police Aviation Command, there has been one airplane and four fatal helicopter crashes. These crashes have claimed the lives of nine State Troopers and one EMT. "
Today we acknowledge the eighth name on the memorial wall located in Rhodesdale, Maryland. This state trooper is the first motorcycle officer to pass in the line of duty on the eastern shore. Officer Kuhn served 1 year and 8 months of service from August 15, 1932 to April 8, 1934. His motorcycle crashed into the rear of a wagon without regulation rear lights, and it is believed that he was blinded by the bright headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Kuhn's sidecar hit a wheel of the wagon and he was thrown from the motorcycle onto the concrete roadway near Mardela Springs outside of Salisbury. Source: MSP Facebook page
