Fred and Janet Wheeler, the parents of Cpl. Scott Wheeler, the Howard County
police officer who died June 18, hold a
replica of a highway sign that will be
erected on Route 32.
Portion of Route 32 dedicated to fallen officer
10/25/07
By MIKe Santa Rita
For Cpl. Scott Wheeler's family, the four months following his death have understandably not been easy.
"It's been tough," Tracy Wheeler, his widow, said Oct. 23 in a community meeting room at the Howard County Police Department headquarters in Ellicott City. "We have our good days and our bad days."
Scott Wheeler, 31, a 6-1/2-year veteran of the department, was working with two other officers on a speed enforcement detail on Route 32 near Savage on June 16 when he was struck attempting to flag down a speeding Nissan, police said.
Wheeler, of Millersville, died of his injuries two days later.
On Oct. 23, Tracy Wheeler, along with Scott's parents, Fred and Janet Wheeler, joined County Executive Kenneth Ulman and police Chief William McMahon in unveiling a new sign to honor the officer that will be erected on the stretch of Route 32 where Wheeler was killed.
Also present was Larry Blickman, a private citizen who organized a petition drive that led to this portion of the road being dedicated to Wheeler.
Following the ceremony at the Howard County Police Department, Tracy Wheeler said her husband would have been proud.
"I don't think Scott would believe this," she said. "He loved his job and this is a great honor," she added. Wheeler's parents Fred and Janet Wheeler were also at the ceremony.
Dedication was sought
Blickman, former candidate for the register of wills and current vice chairman of the River Hill Community Association, sent an application July 30 to the Maryland Transportation Commission along with letters of support from Ulman and McMahon to dedicate the portion of Route 32 to Wheeler.
The commission recommended to Transportation Secretary John Porcari that the sign be erected and Porcari approved the sign Sept. 5, said Chuck Gischlar, a spokesman for the State Highway Administration.
The 17-member Maryland Transportation Commission is appointed by the governor to serve a three-year term advising the secretary of transportation on issues affecting transportation in the state.
The sign which reads "Dedicated to Cpl. Scott A. Wheeler Howard County Police Department," will be erected by the State Highway Administration by Oct. 26, Gischlar said.
Practice was ended
In response to Wheeler's death, McMahon ordered that police stop using the ''stop team" practice on roads that have a speed limit of 35 miles an hour or higher. The Maryland State Police and the Anne Arundel County police also suspended the practice in response to Wheeler's death.
Howard County police are still investigating the incident and no charges had been filed as of Oct. 23, said Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokeswoman.
McMahon said Oct. 23 that he hoped the new sign that would stand on the median of Route 32 between Route 1 and Route 95 would remind people to slow down on the stretch of road where Wheeler was killed.
"It's more than ironic that Scott lost his life trying to save other lives," McMahon said.
Ulman meanwhile said that he was pleased with the sign, which will be flanked by cherry trees on either side.
"This is an important tribute to Scott's legacy," he said.
Meanwhile Tracy Wheeler said she continues to struggle without her husband.
"I miss Scott, very much so," she said.
She added that she hoped that the sign in her husband's memory would serve as a precaution to other motorists.
"I hope that when people do ride down Route 32 they see this and think of what happened that day," she said.
"It's been tough," Tracy Wheeler, his widow, said Oct. 23 in a community meeting room at the Howard County Police Department headquarters in Ellicott City. "We have our good days and our bad days."
Scott Wheeler, 31, a 6-1/2-year veteran of the department, was working with two other officers on a speed enforcement detail on Route 32 near Savage on June 16 when he was struck attempting to flag down a speeding Nissan, police said.
Wheeler, of Millersville, died of his injuries two days later.
On Oct. 23, Tracy Wheeler, along with Scott's parents, Fred and Janet Wheeler, joined County Executive Kenneth Ulman and police Chief William McMahon in unveiling a new sign to honor the officer that will be erected on the stretch of Route 32 where Wheeler was killed.
Also present was Larry Blickman, a private citizen who organized a petition drive that led to this portion of the road being dedicated to Wheeler.
Following the ceremony at the Howard County Police Department, Tracy Wheeler said her husband would have been proud.
"I don't think Scott would believe this," she said. "He loved his job and this is a great honor," she added. Wheeler's parents Fred and Janet Wheeler were also at the ceremony.
Dedication was sought
Blickman, former candidate for the register of wills and current vice chairman of the River Hill Community Association, sent an application July 30 to the Maryland Transportation Commission along with letters of support from Ulman and McMahon to dedicate the portion of Route 32 to Wheeler.
The commission recommended to Transportation Secretary John Porcari that the sign be erected and Porcari approved the sign Sept. 5, said Chuck Gischlar, a spokesman for the State Highway Administration.
The 17-member Maryland Transportation Commission is appointed by the governor to serve a three-year term advising the secretary of transportation on issues affecting transportation in the state.
The sign which reads "Dedicated to Cpl. Scott A. Wheeler Howard County Police Department," will be erected by the State Highway Administration by Oct. 26, Gischlar said.
Practice was ended
In response to Wheeler's death, McMahon ordered that police stop using the ''stop team" practice on roads that have a speed limit of 35 miles an hour or higher. The Maryland State Police and the Anne Arundel County police also suspended the practice in response to Wheeler's death.
Howard County police are still investigating the incident and no charges had been filed as of Oct. 23, said Sherry Llewellyn, a police spokeswoman.
McMahon said Oct. 23 that he hoped the new sign that would stand on the median of Route 32 between Route 1 and Route 95 would remind people to slow down on the stretch of road where Wheeler was killed.
"It's more than ironic that Scott lost his life trying to save other lives," McMahon said.
Ulman meanwhile said that he was pleased with the sign, which will be flanked by cherry trees on either side.
"This is an important tribute to Scott's legacy," he said.
Meanwhile Tracy Wheeler said she continues to struggle without her husband.
"I miss Scott, very much so," she said.
She added that she hoped that the sign in her husband's memory would serve as a precaution to other motorists.
"I hope that when people do ride down Route 32 they see this and think of what happened that day," she said.
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