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Early on the morning of Sept. 13th, 1975, Officer Edward Sherman parked his car behind the Edgewood Elementary School. He was taking a break from a hard tour of duty on the mid-night shift in the Southwestern District. He backed his car against chain-link fence to guard against anyone approaching from behind. He was perhaps unaware that a thick, deep, undergrowth of weeds covered the exhaust pipes of his car. It is common practice for police to secure the rear of their vehicles, whatever it takes to return home to their families after their shift. He had parked their many times, as had other officers working his district. He had no way of knowing his trunk seal was defective.
He began to feel drowsy as he relaxed, but he was not concerned: after all, the midnight shift has often had that effect. He also did not know that a piece of rubber was missing from the trunk lining of his car, allowing carbon monoxide to creep into the passenger compartment. An unwitting victim of carbon monoxide poisoning rarely has a chance to defeat its deadly effects. In all likelihood, Officer Sherman thought he was just tired as he nodded off. Slowly, the carbon monoxide replaced the oxygen in his body, depriving him of his life. He died peacefully.
When his fellow officers did not hear from him after a while, they tried to locate him. The closer they came to the end of the shift, the harder they looked. It was unlike Officer Sherman to go too long without meeting with someone during the boring hours of the midnight shift. His friends, Officers Martin and Gooden, found him at ten minutes after seven. They beat on the window in an effort to wake him as the engine continued to run. Fearing the worst, they smashed the patrol car's window. Martin pulled him from the car and began CPR, but it was too late. All their efforts were in vain. On Wednesday, September 17, 1975, Officer Edward Sherman, a five year veteran was laid to rest, the victim of tragic circumstance.
It was later learned that the trunk seal on the 1974 Plymouth Satellites was a wide spread defect affecting many police vehicles. One of the most major auto recalls in history took place.
Officer Edward S Sherman, Sr. undoubtedly saved the lives of countless other officers. Three more incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning were reported by at least 3 other officers, as far north as Chicago. Officer Sherman, even in death, remained on duty for his fellow officers until the defects were repaired.
Officer Name: PO Edward S Sherman, Sr.
Officer Department: Baltimore City Police Department, Southwestern District
City: Baltimore City, MD
End of Watch: 9/13/1975
Oolice Officer Edward S Sherman, Sr.
Baltimore City Police Department
July 14, 2010
