Whitehall Police Department, Ohio
End of Watch Friday, August 24, 2001
Add to My HeroesTerry McDowell
Police Officer Terry McDowell was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to serve a traffic citation to a woman at her home for driving without a license.
The woman had driven to the police station earlier in the day to pick her husband up after he had been arrested on a DUI charge. When it was discovered the woman did not have a driver's license, the two officers told her to walk home. Officer McDowell and his partner then went to her home to serve the citation.
While the officers were knocking on the door, the woman's husband fired a .357 caliber handgun through the door without warning, striking Officer McDowell in the chest above his vest. He immediately fired a second time, striking Officer McDowell's partner in the face and eye, seriously wounding him. As Officer McDowell's partner retreated and called for assistance, the suspect stood over Officer McDowell's body and shot him several more times. Backup officers arrived on the scene and shot the suspect in the leg. The suspect then walked to the backyard of his house and committed suicide.
The gun used by the suspect was found to have been stolen from the suspect's neighbor, who had been murdered.
Officer McDowell was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Whitehall Police Department for 12 years. He is survived by his wife, an 8-year-old son, and an 11-month-old daughter.
Bio
- Age 35
- Tour 12 years
- Badge 32
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
- Offender Committed suicide
Most Recent Reflection
View all 177 ReflectionsTerry and I were roommates and serviced with the 555th Military Police company, Ft Lee, Va. I am saddened to hear this news. My heart aches!
Jeff Rametta
District Manager, PEPBOYS Tire and Service Center.
February 14, 2022
Recent LODD Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Andrew Peery
El Paso County Sheriff's Office, CO
EOW: August 7, 2022

Special Police Officer Maurica Manyan
District of Columbia Public Library Office of Public Safety, DC
EOW: August 4, 2022

Sergeant Jèan-Harold Astree
Fairburn Police Department, GA
EOW: July 28, 2022

Sergeant Matthew Fishman
Wayne County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: August 2, 2022

Supervising Fire Marshal John Joseph "Jack" McCauley
New York City Fire Department - Bureau of Fire Investigation, NY
EOW: May 28, 2022

Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz
Elwood Police Department, IN
EOW: July 31, 2022

Deputy Sheriff II Jamie Lynn Reynolds
Spalding County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: July 31, 2022

Mounted Deputy Nichole Shuff
Clare County Sheriff's Department, MI
EOW: July 29, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Lorenzo Bustos
Smith County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 29, 2022