Officer Alfred Bobelis

Officer Alfred Bobelis 
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On this day in Baltimore Police History 14 Feb 1954 we lost our brother, Police Officer Alfred Bobelis, to an auto accident based on the following;

On February 14, 1954, Officers Alfred Bobelis, and Marvin March, were dispatched to an accident at the intersection of Hanover and Randall Streets. Upon arrival at the scene, one of the drivers of the vehicles (Calvin Lucky) fled the scene for lack of a driver's license, Officer Marvin gave chase. Officer Bobelis stayed back to handle the accident and to direct traffic due to the inclement weather, and low visibility. While directing traffic at that intersection, Officer Bobelis was struck by an automobile that was being operated by Earl L Kirkley Sr., a 46-year-old Baltimore florist living in the 3400 block of Greenmount Avenue. Officer Bobelis was struck hard enough to throw him through the air with such force that when he landed, the impact was so strong it would fracture his skull and both legs.

Officer March succeeded in catching, and arresting Calvin Lucky, and he was on his way back to the accident scene when he saw that his partner had been struck and mortally wounded. Knowing his partner was probably dead and there was little he could do, he rushed him to South Baltimore General Hospital, where he would be pronounced dead on arrival.

Kirkley would eventually be convicted of manslaughter, and numerous other traffic violations. He was sentenced to three years in prison.  Over the next few months, he would lose several appeals to overturn his conviction, but in December of 1954, Judge Michael J Manley in criminal court noted that he had received a number of letters attesting to Kirkley’s good character, and that defense attorneys had disclosed that a civil settlement approaching $50,000 had been made to the Bobelis’ family. With this, Judge Manley reduced Earl L. Kirkley’s sentence to time served, and imposed a $1000 fine with court costs for vehicular manslaughter in the death of Patrolman Alfred Bobelis.

Officer Bobelis was survived by his wife, Emma Bobelis, and their daughters, 21-year-old Constance, and six-year-old Emily.

We, his brothers and sisters of the Baltimore Police Department, will not let him be forgotten. God bless you and rest in peace.