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Danger lurks for police officers Domestic disturbances pose a danger for police officers
RELATED: Chief: slain police officer 'ambushed' .
Officer'S Death First For City In 44 Years RELATED: A list of some of the area's law-enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. RELATED: Police deaths
BY EMILY BATTLE
Fredericksburg Police Chief David Nye on Saturday stated his firm belief that Officer Todd Bahr and the other officers who responded to a woman's call for help after her ex-boyfriend threatened her saved her life on Friday night. "There's not a doubt in my mind," Nye said. He said Gregory Berryman--the man who police believe shot and killed Bahr and later shot himself after exchanging gunfire with other officers--could likely have killed his former girlfriend had she not involved the police. While Nye's comments highlight the aid that law enforcement officers can bring to domestic disturbance situations, Bahr's death in what police believe was an ambush by Berryman shows how dangerous these situations can be for officers. During Domestic Violence Awareness Month last October, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund put out statistics showing that more officers are assaulted or injured during domestic disturbance calls than during any other circumstance. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 30 percent of the assaults on officers reported during 2006 occurred while those officers were responding to disturbance calls. In its "Crime in Virginia" report for 2006, the latest year available, the Virginia State Police reported that of the 1,346 Virginia law enforcement officers assaulted that year, 372 were assaulted while responding to disturbance calls. That's higher than the number of assaults on officers that occurred during any other police activity. A domestic disturbance played a role in an earlier officer death in this region. Stafford County Sheriff's Deputy Ford T. "Toby" Humphrey was gunned down on Oct. 9, 1980, while helping out on a domestic disturbance call. "Domestic disputes are one of the most dangerous calls a police officer can go into," said Tod Burke, a criminal justice professor at Radford University. Burke said there are several factors that make that so. If the call involves entering a home, the officer can find himself in a situation where emotions are running high, the aggressor is much more familiar with the territory and weapons--whether they be guns or ordinary objects like kitchen knives--abound. Friday night's deadly incident did not involve police officers entering a home. It started when a woman called police saying Berryman, her ex-boyfriend, had threatened her and had shown up at her apartment at the Commons at Cowan Boulevard with a gun.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 6/9/2008
No Cats or Kangaroos Allowed!! May you rest in peace Todd. I'm gonna miss ya buddy.,I've known Todd since I was 6 years old. He was easy-going, patient and kind. My deepest heart felt sympathies go out to Todd's wife, family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Your sacrifice will never be forgotten! From all the brothers and sisters in the Prince William County Police Department, we offer our deepest condolences to the family.
My family and I send our deepest condolences to the Bahr family and the entire Fredericksburg police department.
My heart as well as the hearts of my brother officers go out to the family. You can rest assure that as he guarded us down here, he will be honored as he leaves us to guard the gates in heaven. REST IN PEACE BLUE ANGEL
no words available 2 descrbe this senseless tragedy. We know (but often forget) tht police, firefghtrs, soliders, etc. are well aware of the risk they assume whn they wear the badge, uniform or put on gear - but they still choose to do it. Tht alone is a legacy they wil carry on 4ever. I did not know Officer Bahr - but from reading what othrs psted & just seeing his picture - he looks just like every1 has dscribed, kind, gentle, willing to lend a hand 2 ne1. May the hgher pwres look aftr bth of his families
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