Police Officer of the Month

March 2004

Police Office Bryon Dietzel was selected as the Officer of the Month for March 2003. He was awarded this recognition for his initiative and performance.

In one unusual case, Officer Dietzel and other officers were dispatched to a possible abduction. Officer Dietzel met with the complainant, who reported that her boyfriend had been drinking alcohol at a party when someone slipped a "drug" in his drink. She said the boyfriend had been taken from the home and was being driven around and beaten by unknown suspects. She reported that the suspects were demanding money from her for his release.

Officer Dietzel contacted the suspects by cell phone to determine their location and initiated a trace. Officers responded to the address of the cell phones's owner and found the subjects hiding inside the residence. The suspects and the boyfriend had staged the abduction in order to extort money from the woman.

In another serious case, Officer dietzel and other officers were dispatched to a domestic fight. upon arrival, the officers learned that the male subject was trying to get his intoxicated wife home safely. As the officers prepared to leave the woman picked up a knife and threatened to hurt herself. Officer Dietzel acted quickly and closed a storm door as a barrier between the woman and the officers. The woman refused to comply with the officers' requests to drop the knife and she tried to break the glass in the storm door to get at the officers. In addition, the woman stabbed herself several times in the leg and chest. After a struggle, the officers were able to secure the woman and transport her to Howard County General hospital for an evaulation.

In one traffic case, Officer Dietzel observed a vehicle driving erratically on Route 108. He intiated a traffic stop and discovered that the driver was intoxicated. In two other separate incidents, he observed vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving. In each case, he stopped the vehicle and found that driver's license had been suspecnded. Later in the month, Officer Dietzel assisted in the arrest of two shoplifters at the Kohl's Department Store in Ellicott City.

Officer Dietzel did an exceptional job enforcing criminal and motor vehicle law throughout the month. He demonstrated sound judgement during routine calls, as well as in stressfull, high rish situations.

SL