MD Transportation Authority Officer Struck, Killed

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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/loc...,2659790.story

MdTA officer killed in hit-and-run

Police searching for driver of green Ford Explorer with temporary Delaware tag

By Nick Madigan

Sun reporter

3:19 PM EST, January 1, 2008

Police throughout Maryland and beyond remain on the lookout for the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a Maryland Transportation Authority Police officer in South Baltimore last night.

The officer, Courtney G. Brooks, a 13-year police veteran, was part of a traffic detail near the intersection of Interstates 95 and 395, near Exit 53, when he was struck at about 11:20 p.m., according to a statement released by the authority this morning. A city Fire Department ambulance took Brooks to Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said that the driver sped away from the accident. They are looking for what they believe is a green Ford Explorer with significant front-end damage. The SUV was reported to have a temporary Delaware tag: XB719820.

Brooks was a 40-year-old father of three who lived in Carroll County, according to the police force.

Governor Martin O'Malley's office released a statement saying Brooks' death last night "as thousands gathered to celebrate the New Year is a somber reminder of the courageous work done by law enforcement officers throughout our state -- at the state and local level -- to keep the citizens of Maryland safe."

"My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Brooks, his children, and his entire family, as well as with the Maryland Transportation Authority Police family during this very painful and sad time," O'Malley said.

Brooks was a member of the transportation police force's Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Unit. He graduated from the department's police academy in 1994.

Northbound I-95 was closed at I-395 from about midnight to 4 a.m. today, police said. In the meantime, motorists were detoured to the Washington Boulevard exit.

Police urged anyone with information about the crash or the driver they are seeking to call the transportation police at 410-537-1208.

Copyright © 2007, The Baltimore Sun

[SO explorer]

Rest In Peace Officer Brooks

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Just a quick update - the vehicle was found and a the owner, a "person of interest" in this case, is in custody on unrelated warrants. PD was still looking for witnesses that actually saw her driving the vehicle involved.

That was as of a few days ago. I'm relocated out-of-state for a while, so I'm not up to speed on all the local news now.