************************************************************
Police Officer Is Slain; D.C. Colleague Held In Domestic Incident: [FINAL Edition]
Buckley, Stephen. The Washington Post, [Washington, D.C] 01 July 1991: d01.
A District police officer was found shot to death in her Suitland apartment Saturday afternoon, and her live-in boyfriend, also a District officer, was arrested in connection with the killing, Prince George's County police said.
Police said Melissa Nadine Gibson, 24, of the 3200 block of Swann Road, was found dead about 2 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Her boyfriend, Wayne Alexander Coleman, 23, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, a police official said.
Both were patrol officers in the 4th Police District, north of Military Road and east of Rock Creek Park.
Coleman was being held without bond yesterday at the Prince George's County Detention Center, the official said.
Few details of the shooting were available yesterday, but neighbors said Gibson was discovered at the bottom of the stairs of the duplex.
When police arrived, they found paper towels bunched against the door, the neighbors said, apparently placed there to ensure that blood did not seep into the hallway.
The neighbors, all of whom declined to be identified, said Coleman was in the apartment when police arrived.
The weekend shooting follows a March homicide in which an off-duty member of the force's narcotics and special investigations division was killed in his home, allegedly by his estranged girlfriend, an officer in the special operations division. She is charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Last December, a District officer was shot to death with her revolver in the Southwest apartment of a fellow D.C. officer. Police officials said the case has been sent to a grand jury.
Gary Hankins, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee, said that in the last few years it has become increasingly common for officers on the D.C. force to date and marry each other, as it has in most area departments as more women have joined police ranks.
Hankins said the D.C. force also has more young officers than in the recent past.
"During the first two years on the job, you're undergoing tremendous changes," he said. "And at the same time, many officers are getting into serious relationships, sometimes for the first time in their lives."
When young officers date, Hankins said, it can be "a stressful, demanding, volatile mix."
Residents at the Swann Apartments said yesterday that Gibson, who had an infant, and Coleman had lived there less than a year. They described the couple as "private, very quiet."
Tenants said they heard no shots, adding that they were shocked by the slaying.
"You would think we would have heard some arguing or something," one neighbor said. "But nobody heard a thing, nothing at all."
A D.C. police spokesman said that Gibson joined the force in July 1989 and that Coleman had been an officer since April 1989.
Robert A. Dennis, a Fraternal Order of Police shop steward in the District, said he worked with the two officers daily. He called them "exceptional young officers who showed great promise. They possessed the intelligence and ability to move up in the department."
Dennis said news of Gibson's death was "devastating, and not just to me, but to all the people who worked with them."
Dennis, who declined to say whether he knew of the officers' relationship, said: "It did not appear to me that they were having any problems whatsoever."
Hankins said that four years ago the department began to send officials from the force's counseling program to the police academy to talk to recruits and their spouses or friends about the stress officers face.
Dennis also said he regularly recommends that colleagues use the counseling program. "I want them to work out their problems the way they did before they had a gun," he said.
************************************************************
Police Officer Is Slain; D.C. Colleague Held In Domestic Incident: [FINAL Edition]
Buckley, Stephen. The Washington Post, [Washington, D.C] 01 July 1991: d01.
A District police officer was found shot to death in her Suitland apartment Saturday afternoon, and her live-in boyfriend, also a District officer, was arrested in connection with the killing, Prince George's County police said.
Police said Melissa Nadine Gibson, 24, of the 3200 block of Swann Road, was found dead about 2 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Her boyfriend, Wayne Alexander Coleman, 23, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, a police official said.
Both were patrol officers in the 4th Police District, north of Military Road and east of Rock Creek Park.
Coleman was being held without bond yesterday at the Prince George's County Detention Center, the official said.
Few details of the shooting were available yesterday, but neighbors said Gibson was discovered at the bottom of the stairs of the duplex.
When police arrived, they found paper towels bunched against the door, the neighbors said, apparently placed there to ensure that blood did not seep into the hallway.
The neighbors, all of whom declined to be identified, said Coleman was in the apartment when police arrived.
The weekend shooting follows a March homicide in which an off-duty member of the force's narcotics and special investigations division was killed in his home, allegedly by his estranged girlfriend, an officer in the special operations division. She is charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Last December, a District officer was shot to death with her revolver in the Southwest apartment of a fellow D.C. officer. Police officials said the case has been sent to a grand jury.
Gary Hankins, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee, said that in the last few years it has become increasingly common for officers on the D.C. force to date and marry each other, as it has in most area departments as more women have joined police ranks.
Hankins said the D.C. force also has more young officers than in the recent past.
"During the first two years on the job, you're undergoing tremendous changes," he said. "And at the same time, many officers are getting into serious relationships, sometimes for the first time in their lives."
When young officers date, Hankins said, it can be "a stressful, demanding, volatile mix."
Residents at the Swann Apartments said yesterday that Gibson, who had an infant, and Coleman had lived there less than a year. They described the couple as "private, very quiet."
Tenants said they heard no shots, adding that they were shocked by the slaying.
"You would think we would have heard some arguing or something," one neighbor said. "But nobody heard a thing, nothing at all."
A D.C. police spokesman said that Gibson joined the force in July 1989 and that Coleman had been an officer since April 1989.
Robert A. Dennis, a Fraternal Order of Police shop steward in the District, said he worked with the two officers daily. He called them "exceptional young officers who showed great promise. They possessed the intelligence and ability to move up in the department."
Dennis said news of Gibson's death was "devastating, and not just to me, but to all the people who worked with them."
Dennis, who declined to say whether he knew of the officers' relationship, said: "It did not appear to me that they were having any problems whatsoever."
Hankins said that four years ago the department began to send officials from the force's counseling program to the police academy to talk to recruits and their spouses or friends about the stress officers face.
Dennis also said he regularly recommends that colleagues use the counseling program. "I want them to work out their problems the way they did before they had a gun," he said.
************************************************************
************************************************************
Police Officer Is Slain; D.C. Colleague Held In Domestic Incident: [FINAL Edition]
Buckley, Stephen. The Washington Post, [Washington, D.C] 01 July 1991: d01.
A District police officer was found shot to death in her Suitland apartment Saturday afternoon, and her live-in boyfriend, also a District officer, was arrested in connection with the killing, Prince George's County police said.
Police said Melissa Nadine Gibson, 24, of the 3200 block of Swann Road, was found dead about 2 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Her boyfriend, Wayne Alexander Coleman, 23, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, a police official said.
Both were patrol officers in the 4th Police District, north of Military Road and east of Rock Creek Park.
Coleman was being held without bond yesterday at the Prince George's County Detention Center, the official said.
Few details of the shooting were available yesterday, but neighbors said Gibson was discovered at the bottom of the stairs of the duplex.
When police arrived, they found paper towels bunched against the door, the neighbors said, apparently placed there to ensure that blood did not seep into the hallway.
The neighbors, all of whom declined to be identified, said Coleman was in the apartment when police arrived.
The weekend shooting follows a March homicide in which an off-duty member of the force's narcotics and special investigations division was killed in his home, allegedly by his estranged girlfriend, an officer in the special operations division. She is charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Last December, a District officer was shot to death with her revolver in the Southwest apartment of a fellow D.C. officer. Police officials said the case has been sent to a grand jury.
Gary Hankins, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee, said that in the last few years it has become increasingly common for officers on the D.C. force to date and marry each other, as it has in most area departments as more women have joined police ranks.
Hankins said the D.C. force also has more young officers than in the recent past.
"During the first two years on the job, you're undergoing tremendous changes," he said. "And at the same time, many officers are getting into serious relationships, sometimes for the first time in their lives."
When young officers date, Hankins said, it can be "a stressful, demanding, volatile mix."
Residents at the Swann Apartments said yesterday that Gibson, who had an infant, and Coleman had lived there less than a year. They described the couple as "private, very quiet."
Tenants said they heard no shots, adding that they were shocked by the slaying.
"You would think we would have heard some arguing or something," one neighbor said. "But nobody heard a thing, nothing at all."
A D.C. police spokesman said that Gibson joined the force in July 1989 and that Coleman had been an officer since April 1989.
Robert A. Dennis, a Fraternal Order of Police shop steward in the District, said he worked with the two officers daily. He called them "exceptional young officers who showed great promise. They possessed the intelligence and ability to move up in the department."
Dennis said news of Gibson's death was "devastating, and not just to me, but to all the people who worked with them."
Dennis, who declined to say whether he knew of the officers' relationship, said: "It did not appear to me that they were having any problems whatsoever."
Hankins said that four years ago the department began to send officials from the force's counseling program to the police academy to talk to recruits and their spouses or friends about the stress officers face.
Dennis also said he regularly recommends that colleagues use the counseling program. "I want them to work out their problems the way they did before they had a gun," he said.
************************************************************
Police Officer Is Slain; D.C. Colleague Held In Domestic Incident: [FINAL Edition]
Buckley, Stephen. The Washington Post, [Washington, D.C] 01 July 1991: d01.
A District police officer was found shot to death in her Suitland apartment Saturday afternoon, and her live-in boyfriend, also a District officer, was arrested in connection with the killing, Prince George's County police said.
Police said Melissa Nadine Gibson, 24, of the 3200 block of Swann Road, was found dead about 2 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Her boyfriend, Wayne Alexander Coleman, 23, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, a police official said.
Both were patrol officers in the 4th Police District, north of Military Road and east of Rock Creek Park.
Coleman was being held without bond yesterday at the Prince George's County Detention Center, the official said.
Few details of the shooting were available yesterday, but neighbors said Gibson was discovered at the bottom of the stairs of the duplex.
When police arrived, they found paper towels bunched against the door, the neighbors said, apparently placed there to ensure that blood did not seep into the hallway.
The neighbors, all of whom declined to be identified, said Coleman was in the apartment when police arrived.
The weekend shooting follows a March homicide in which an off-duty member of the force's narcotics and special investigations division was killed in his home, allegedly by his estranged girlfriend, an officer in the special operations division. She is charged with second-degree murder in the case.
Last December, a District officer was shot to death with her revolver in the Southwest apartment of a fellow D.C. officer. Police officials said the case has been sent to a grand jury.
Gary Hankins, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police labor committee, said that in the last few years it has become increasingly common for officers on the D.C. force to date and marry each other, as it has in most area departments as more women have joined police ranks.
Hankins said the D.C. force also has more young officers than in the recent past.
"During the first two years on the job, you're undergoing tremendous changes," he said. "And at the same time, many officers are getting into serious relationships, sometimes for the first time in their lives."
When young officers date, Hankins said, it can be "a stressful, demanding, volatile mix."
Residents at the Swann Apartments said yesterday that Gibson, who had an infant, and Coleman had lived there less than a year. They described the couple as "private, very quiet."
Tenants said they heard no shots, adding that they were shocked by the slaying.
"You would think we would have heard some arguing or something," one neighbor said. "But nobody heard a thing, nothing at all."
A D.C. police spokesman said that Gibson joined the force in July 1989 and that Coleman had been an officer since April 1989.
Robert A. Dennis, a Fraternal Order of Police shop steward in the District, said he worked with the two officers daily. He called them "exceptional young officers who showed great promise. They possessed the intelligence and ability to move up in the department."
Dennis said news of Gibson's death was "devastating, and not just to me, but to all the people who worked with them."
Dennis, who declined to say whether he knew of the officers' relationship, said: "It did not appear to me that they were having any problems whatsoever."
Hankins said that four years ago the department began to send officials from the force's counseling program to the police academy to talk to recruits and their spouses or friends about the stress officers face.
Dennis also said he regularly recommends that colleagues use the counseling program. "I want them to work out their problems the way they did before they had a gun," he said.
************************************************************
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
