Maryland Officer Fatally Hit Was Also Firefighter
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A man who served the community in so many ways, is being honored and remembered.
Prince George's County Police Corporal Richard Findley was killed in the line of duty in Bowie Friday morning after he was run over by a car driven by some suspected car thieves, shortly before noon. Corporal Findley was part of the Special Assignment team and by all accounts, had been doing surveillance on what was believed to be a stolen car in Bowie.
When two men returned to the vehicle and took off, police say Corporal Findley pulled them over. Investigators believe the suspects rammed his police cruiser before getting into an altercation.
It appears Corporal Findley fired his weapon before the suspects drove forward and "dragged him a number of yards."
As the man-hunt began for the suspects who initially got away and ditched their car several blocks from the incident on Laurel Bowie Road, word spread that Corporal Findley died of his injuries a Laurel Regional Hospital.
For nearly 2 decades, Corporal Findley was also a volunteer firefighter for the Beltsville Fire Department. Colleagues paid tribute to him by draping the front of the firehouse with black bunting and his fire helmet.
Fire Chief Al Schwartz says "he had 2 different jobs but both involved helping the citizens and that's what Rich was about." Schwartz added, "you could walk into this firehouse and be down and all you have to do is talk to Rich and he would make you smile."
In his home of New Windsor, a small town in Carroll County, neighbors are also mourning a man who made a difference as a husband and father. "It's tragic," says Julie Beatty. "It's such a good family. They have 2 young daughters. It just makes me sick that this would happen," Beatty added.
As of Friday evening, police confirmed 4 people were in custody but so far no charges have been filed. They are described "persons of interest."
Funeral Information
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 2 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Borgwardt Funeral Home, 4400 Powder Mill Rd, Beltsville, Md.
Funeral services will be held Thursday July 3 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 11007 Montgomery Road, Beltsville, Md.
Internment will follow at Lakemount Memorial Gardens, 900 W. Central Ave, Davidsonville, Md.
Republished with permission of WUSA-TV.