Police Officer of the Month

December 2002

Officer Scott Wheeler was selected as Police Officer of the Month for December 2002. He is a dedicated officer who has demonstrated his true commitment to the Howard County Police Department. Officer Wheeler consistently handles cases with efficiency and is very deserving of this recognition. Several notable examples of his dedication are listed below:

In December, Officer Wheeler assisted in the apprehension of three armed robbers. The three suspects participated in an armed robbery of the Bennigan’s Restaurant in Columbia. One of the suspects produced a handgun and advised that he had two accomplices outside waiting with shotguns. The suspect threatened that unless he received cash, he would kill the restaurant manager.

When the manager refused to cooperate, the suspect fled to a waiting blue truck-tractor. The manager called 911 and within minutes, patrol officers responded to assist. The officers followed the suspects’ vehicle into the Columbia Crossing Shopping Center. When the vehicle was in a secluded portion of the parking lot, away from pedestrian and vehicle traffic, a felony stop was initiated.

Officer Wheeler was part of a team of officers who professionally deployed on both sides of the suspects’ vehicle. Two male suspects were called out of the vehicle into prone, handcuffing positions and taken into custody. The remaining suspect, a pregnant female, was called out and taken into custody. Officers

located a handgun inside the vehicle. The restaurant manager from Bennigan’s responded to the scene and positively identified the male passenger as the person who had produced the handgun and threatened to kill him. The manager also identified the recovered handgun as the one used in the robbery.

Detectives responded and determined that the same suspects also had committed an armed robbery of a Baltimore County Pizza Hut earlier in the day.

Officer Wheeler was commended for his teamwork, superb observation skills and professional deployment and execution of a high-risk felony stop. Officer Wheeler’s actions, along with the other responding officers, resulted in the capture of three dangerous armed felons responsible for numerous violent crimes.

The intelligent tactics and courage used by these officers to successfully resolve this dangerous event reflect highly on themselves, their units and the Howard County Police Department.

In addition to Officer Wheeler’s exceptional investigative work, he effected a total of 26 arrests during the month of December, five of which were DWI arrests. Officer Wheeler also documented 124 total traffic contacts, 93 of which were Maryland State Citations.

Officer Wheeler has shown consistent good judgment and dedication as a member of this police department. He is commended for his fine work and great effort.