#6 Act of Kindness and Remembrance: Sgt. Bruce Prothero

Sgt. Bruce Prothero

Baltimore County Police Department

This weeks entry is written by Lee Wiley, Signal 13 Training Instructor

Sometimes our lives are changed by a seemingly insignificant moment. For me, this moment was brief and came when I was a senior in college.  I had no clear goals in life or any role models.  My friend and former roommate, Bruce Prothero, had just completed the Baltimore County Police Academy and shared his experiences as a Cadet and young police officer.  It wasn't necessarily the words, as it was the excitement in between the words that was enticing.  For a senior with no clear path, a light came on.  After 25 years in law enforcement, this light has never burned out.  

      But for my friend, and now role model, his light burned out on February 7, 2000.  The circumstances surrounding his death are typical in our line of work.  While moonlighting at a jewelry store to make extra money to support his wife and 5 children, gunmen entered the store.  As the robbers left, Bruce pursued them and was gunned down in the parking lot.

      This is not a story about Bruce’s death though, but rather about his life and how it affected me.  Engraved on the national law enforcement memorial in Washington D.C. are the words, “it was not how these officers died that made them heroes; it is how they lived.

      Bruce lived life to the fullest and included everyone.  He convinced me to transfer to Towson State my junior year and live with him while he finished his college career.  We got jobs together working on the event staff at the Towson Center.   While working late one night at the Towson Center building a stage for the one hit wonders “The Hooters,” Bruce and I stumbled upon coolers containing steaks for the band.  A large slab of meat was acquired and brought back to our room.  A pair of sunglasses and a fake beard was placed upon the meat and pictures were taken.  This was our first venture into undercover work.  Bruce cut and seasoned the meat and the occupants of the 6^th floor of Tower C at Towson State ate like kings.

       As spring break neared, Bruce began to talk about taking a trip to Daytona Beach.  My first thoughts were how would we get there and where would we stay?  We worked out that we would stay at his uncle’s place, and take my car which Bruce had nicknamed Adam 12.  Adam 12 was a 1980 Ford Fairmount Futura with plaid interior which I thought would never survive the trip.  But Bruce insisted Adam 12 was tough, just like the police officers in the show and it would make it.  And as Bruce, Ann, Amy and I pulled into Daytona it did make it.  

       During this short week, I observed first hand Bruce’s love for Ann, his then girlfriend who eventually became his wife.  What I will always remember is his devotion to her and their 5 children.  But on that spring day with graduation nearing and no clear purpose in sight, it was his excitement that I will remember as he spoke about his police experiences.  Words that spoke of duty, honor and making a difference, however small it may be.  His words shaped me.

        Where do we get husbands, fathers and police officers like Bruce?  Where do people with such compassion, bravery, and unselfishness come from?  Only God knows. But I thank you God.  I thank you for bringing Bruce into my life, and giving me direction and purpose for these last 25 years.   

       Each year on the anniversary of Bruce's death his mother would visit his grave and a memorial in his honor that is located outside the jewelry store where he was killed. She would leave pennies at each location because as a child Bruce collected pennies. For this weeks Act of Kindness/Remembrance, we are collecting pennies that will be donated to the Baltimore County Police Memorial Fund. Among other things, this fund is used to provide scholarships to children of Baltimore County Police Officers who die in the line of duty. Since Bruce's five children are at or near college age now, this seemed like an appropriate thing to do.

     If you would like to make a contribution to the Baltimore County Police Memorial Fund you will find information on how to do so here. If you would like to send Sgt. Prothero's family a letter or card with support and encouragement you can send them to:

Bruce Prothero Family

c/o Detective Lee Wiley 

Special Investigations Division

100 Edison Park Drive

Gaithersburg, MD 20878