Howard County Police Department (MD) goes above and beyond to fix elderly couple’s roof after they were scammed.
WASHINGTON, DC (August 23, 2021) — The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum (NLEMM) is pleased to announce July 2021 Officers of the Month: Patrolmen Matthew Shiplett, Demetrius Fortson, Clayton Pearlman, and Adam Wood; Corporal Won Lee; Police Officers Keenan Black and Jason Sagel; and Sergeant Perry Thorsvick from the Howard County Police Department (MD). These officers worked together to fix the roof of an elderly couple after they were scammed out of their money.
When Sagel took a fraud report from a woman and her blind husband, he was shocked to learn they had been scammed out of $33,000 by an unlicensed roofing contractor who left their roof with no shingles.
Knowing this couple was at a loss, the squad decided to take matters into their own hands and fix the roof themselves. According to ABC 7 News, the squad holds a number of handymen, and a neighbor of the couple is, luckily, a licensed roofing contractor. The neighbor was more than willing to oversee the project to make sure it was completed correctly.
The Home Depot also heard about what had happened, and graciously donated all the tools for the job. With the neighbor’s roofing expertise and guidance, as well as the donations from The Home Depot, the squad spent their off-duty time repairing the roof.
According to the ABC 7 News article, Patrolman Adam Wood said, “Part of the reason we are out here is that we don’t just patrol this community; we are part of this community.”
Not only did the department work off-the-clock to right the injustice, they also found and arrested the scammer.
“We would like to congratulate these officers for this award, as well as thank them for their selflessness and service to their community,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “This is, yet again, a prime example of law enforcement going above and beyond for their communities, whether on duty or off duty, and we are honored to share their stories.”
The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.
About the National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum (NLEMM)
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (LawMemorial.org) contains the names of 22,611 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) expands and enriches the relationship between law enforcement and the community by sharing true stories of service and sacrifice from across the nation. Through immersive, educational exhibitions and insightful programs, we preserve the history of law enforcement for generations to come.
About the Police Unity Tour
The Police Unity Tour is a four-day bicycle ride from New Jersey to Washington, DC, whose mission is to raise public awareness about law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty, and to raise funds for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The Tour is made up of nine chapters consisting of nearly 2,600 members nationwide. Since its inception, the Police Unity Tour has donated more than $30 million to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.