White Marsh Police Officer Killed Self in Bel Air Home: Officials

BEL AIR, MD — A Baltimore County police officer from the White Marsh precinct killed himself on Monday at his home in Harford County, officials said.

James L. Ward, 42, was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office, which was called to his home in the 2000 block of Stratton Court in Bel Air at 1:34 a.m.

“I was greatly saddened to hear about one of our officers taking his own life after being involved in a barricade situation for the second time," Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said in a statement Monday. "It is fortunate that no one else was hurt."

Harford County deputies were called to Ward's residence for the first time in April, when he got into a confrontation with police, opened fire on deputies posted outside, then was shot by officers and taken by medevac for treatment at shock trauma. He was allegedly drunk and suicidal during that encounter, which officials said started with a domestic dispute.

After the barricade in April, the Baltimore County Police Department suspended Ward without pay. He was charged with assault and attempted murder in Harford County.

Ward was a 19-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department assigned to the White Marsh precinct.

On Monday members of the Harford County special response team were called to Ward's residence for a report of a suicidal person and after being unable to get in touch with him, they entered the residence and found him on the lower level deceased, officials said.

Help for Those Considering Suicide

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources available to help.

The Baltimore County Crisis Response team is available at 410-931-2214.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-SUICIDE (or 1-800-784-2433). Its website offers services including a live chat.

The Kristin Brooks Hope Center provides specific hotlines for suicide prevention, veterans support, teens, grad students and those with postpartum depression.