Officer Edward S. Sherman

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, September 17, 1975 for Southwestern District Officer Edward S. Sherman who died September 13^th as the result of a unique and tragic set of circumstances. Officer Sherman, 28, a 5-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, was found unconscious in his patrol car by two fellow officers who were on routine patrol. The following excerpts from investigative reports shed light on what caused the officer to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning. “At about 0710 hours this date, Officer Gary Martin and Officer R. Gooden working 812 car, responded to the rear of Edgewood Elementary School…to try up same. Upon arrival they found 811 car…on the rear lot with the motor running and all the windows rolled up tight…” “The car was butted against a chain link face with a deep undergrowth (of weeds). …After attempting to arouse the officer by beating on the windows…Officer Martin broke the right front window and pulled Officer Sherman from the vehicle. While on the scene Officer Martin checked Officer Sherman’s vital signs and could find none…” Investigation of Officer Sherman’s vehicle revealed that a piece of rubber molding was missing underneath the trunk lid. Combined with the facts that the vehicle was butted against a chain link fence with thick undergrowth, all the windows were up, the engine was left running and the heater was not in use caused the carbon monoxide level to become fatal.

On September 13, 1975 in Baltimore City Police History 1975 we lost our brother Police Officer Edward Sherman based on the following – South Western District’s Officer Edward S. Sherman a 5-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, was found unconscious in his patrol car by two fellow officers who were on routine patrol. The following excerpts from investigative reports shed light on what caused the officer to succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning. “At about 0710 hours 09/13/1975, Officers Gary Martin and R. Gooden were working 812 car, responded to the rear of Edgewood Elementary School…to try up same. Upon arrival they found 811 car… it was parked on the rear lot with the motor running and all the windows rolled up tight…” - “The car was butted against a chain link fence with a deep undergrowth (of weeds and grass). …After attempting to wake the officer by beating on the windows…Officer Martin broke the right front window and pulled Officer Sherman from the vehicle. While on the scene Officer Martin checked Officer Sherman’s vitals and finding none he and Godden rendered first aid/CPR” Investigation of Officer Sherman’s vehicle revealed that a thin rubber seal was missing underneath the trunk lid. Combined with the facts that the vehicle was butted against a chain link fence with undergrowth, all the windows were up, the engine running caused the carbon monoxide level to become fatal.

Investigators felt that due to his working a midnight shift, Officer Sherman would have backed his car up to the curb near a chain link fence to guard against anyone approaching from the rear. At the time 1974/1975 officers were being targeted and attacked by members of the Blackpanthers; we lost many of our brothers to them by ambush… so he may have felt this was his best line if defense against attack. He wouldn’t have known about the thick deep undergrowth of the weeds that were covering his exhaust pipes on the 1974 Plymouth Satellite he was using as his patrol car that night. He would have begun to feel drowsy, but who hasn’t on a midnight shift. He unwittingly became the victim of an odorless poison which would have given him no chance of defeating this silent killer. In most cases people under the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning just feel extra tired and think they are falling asleep, this happens while the carbon monoxide is replacing the oxygen in his body, eventually taking their life. There is only one positive to an ugly and tragic situation such as this, and that is, carbon monoxide poisoning is said to be painless, so we know he didn’t suffer.

Officer Edward S. Sherman was a 5 year veteran Baltimore police officer, the father of two children, and husband to his beautiful wife. According to the Sun Paper 6 Nov 1975, City Hall offered his widow and now fatherless children, just 25 per cent of his pension pending a Pension Board Hearing to determine whether she should get full benefits. I am not sure of the outcome of that hearing, I can only hope they did the right thing. Because, not only was he our brother, but based on this incident, it was learned that the trunk seal on nearly all of the 1974 Plymouth Satellites in patrol were defective, allowing Carbon Monoxide to enter the vehicles. Many officers during that period were suffering severe headaches, and never knew why until Officer Sherman lost his life due to carbon monoxide poisoning. All of the vehicles were removed from service, inspected and repaired. Officer Sherman lost his life, but his death saved many of his brothers and sisters from serious illness, or death.

As his brothers and sisters, we will not let him be forgotten. His service honored the city of Baltimore, and the Baltimore Police Department. RIP Officer Edward Sherman and may God bless you and your family on this day.