National Police Week: 2 Maryland Officers Killed In Line Of Duty

PIKESVILLE, MD — Two Maryland law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2018 will be honored as part of the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, and local observances are planned, as well. Tens of thousands of law enforcement officers converge on Washington, D.C., for the national event, which will be held Wednesday, May 15.

The names of local, state and federal law enforcement officers nationwide who died on duty will be read. Here are the officers who will be recognized from Maryland:

• Officer 1st Class Amy Caprio
  • End of watch: May 21, 2018
  • Caprio, 29, of Fallston, was the first female Baltimore County police officer ever killed in the line of duty. She died after she was hit by a Jeep while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle in a Perry Hall neighborhood where burglaries had also been reported. The driver of the vehicle, Dawnta Harris, 17, was found guilty last month of felony first-degree murder and other offenses, including burglary, related to Caprio's death. Harris will be sentenced on July 23.
• Corporal Mujahid A. Ramzziddin
  • End of watch: Feb. 21, 2018
  • Ramzziddin was slain at the scene of a domestic disturbance call in Brandywine when a neighbor came to his home to ask for help, and he found himself in confrontation with a man armed with a shotgun. Ramzziddin was a 14-year veteran of the Prince George's County Police Department, a Medal of Valor recipient, and a former U.S. Marine. He was a husband and father to four children.

President John F. Kennedy in 1962 designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week as Police Week. The Memorial Service began 20 years later with about 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement gathering in Senate Park, according to the event’s website. Since then, it has grown to attract up to 40,000 attendees every year. The event, best known as National Police Week, features a series of events, including seminars and a candlelight vigil.

A memorial service to honor Baltimore County police officers who died while performing their duties took place at 10 a.m. Friday, May 10, at Patriot Plaza, 401 Bosley Ave. in Towson.
County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan, government dignitaries and the families of the fallen attended the service.

Ten wreaths were placed at the memorial by the Police Department Honor Guard in memory of the county's ten fallen officers over the years. Officer Caprio's family placeed a wreath at the site in her honor.

Fallen Maryland state troopers and others were honored at the annual Maryland State Police Fallen Heroes Ceremony, held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, at the Maryland State Police headquarters, 1201 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville.

Gov. Larry Hogan joined State Police Col. William Pallozzi and police survivor families to honor state troopers who gave their lives in the line of duty, according to a news release. The ceremony honored the 43 state troopers who died serving in Maryland, two troopers killed while on active military duty in World War II and one fallen deputy state fire marshal. Speakers included Gov. Hogan, Pallozzi and Circuit Court Judge Mickey Norman, who served in the state police from 1971 to 1983. In addition to the families of fallen heroes, the ceremony was attended by current and retired state troopers and deputy state fire marshals, there to honor their fellow troopers and deputy.

D.C. events included a 5K race held Saturday, the first day of National Police Week, along with the annual police dog memorial service. Sunday events included the Law Enforcement United Bike Ride, the Police Unity Tour and the DC United First Responder Night.

Those events were followed by a candlelight vigil Monday night on the National Mall and the annual Steve Young National Honor Guard and Pipe Band competitions Tuesday.

The two-hour memorial service will begin around 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 15. Annual Tent City events, featuring music, food and adult beverages, will be held Monday through Wednesday at RFK Stadium.

Patch staffer Dan Hampton contributed to this report.