Officer Down

Police department officials assert that a clothing law that governs plain-clothed officers to wear the color of the day or week may be implemented so that other officials can identify them. This law is prominent in other cities and states. However, on duty officers are forced to remain in uniform at all times until the further review of the prospective law is taken place.



“We want to make sure that we’re using plainclothes officers in the safest manner possible” said the Baltimore Police Department’s chief spokesman, Anthony Gugliemi.


The police officers who opened fire on Officer William Torbitt Jr. , 33, mistaking him for a armed civilian, have been identified as Officer Latora Craig, nine - year veteran; Harry Dodge; 11 year -veteran; Harry Pawley; a 17-year veteran; and Toyia Williams; a 13-year veteran.


Police state that Officer Torbit was on duty, and responded to a fight call that was taking place outside of the club. It is said that Officer William was the first to respond to the call. Torbit strived to break up the brawl and was attacked and forced to the ground. Torbit then retrieved his gun and shot one of the civilians. As soon as Torbit wounded the civilian, four uniformed officers opened fire on him. Though these officers work in the same district as Torbitt, they did not recognize him. 41 shots were fired in total by the officers. The gun ramble ended in the death of Torbit, and a 22-year old civilian, Sean Gamble, and four others wounded. Police believe that Gamble was killed by the eight shots that Torbit fired.


Police are striving to decipher if Officer Torbit was in the right for opening fire on Gamble. However, Gulgielmi asserts that surveillance cameras reveal Torbit being attacked by civilians. Police supervisors also said that it is not certain whether Gamble is the initiator of the brawl. However, it is known that Torbit and Gamble did have an altercation.


Nonetheless, the shooting has served as a disastrous and tragic shock to the police department and the city of Baltimore. Mayor Rawlings-Blake has referred to the shooting as “a tragedy that shook us to our deepest core."










The funeral services for Officer Torbit will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.