Maryland Division of Correction, Maryland
End of Watch: Friday, January 27, 2006
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 26, 2006
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Jeffery Wroten succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous morning while guarding an inmate at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland.
The inmate, who was receiving treatment in the hospital, was able to gain control of Officer Wroten's service weapon and shot him once in the face.
The prisoner then fled from the hospital and carjacked a taxicab. The cab driver left his microphone on during the incident, which allowed officers to quickly locate him. The inmate forced the cab driver to cross into Pennsylvania where the driver intentionally crashed the cab. The prisoner then fled on foot back into Maryland where he was taken into custody.
On January 18, 2008, the suspect was convicted of Officer Wroten's murder and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison.
Officer Wroten had served with the Maryland State Division of Correction for 4 years, and was assigned to the medium-security Roxbury Correctional Institution. He had previously served with the Florida Department of Corrections and West Virginia Department of Corrections. He is survived by his son, four daughters, mother, three sisters, and three brothers.