Police Officer of the Month

January 2004

Police Officer Anthony Nigro has been selected as Police officer of the Month for January 2004.

Officer Nigro regularly demonstrates outstanding police service to the community. In one case, Officer Nigro responded to a call for a suicidal subject and received no answer at the residence. He continued making area checks until he observed the man five hours later driving his vehicle. Officer Nigro initiated a traffic stop and discovered the driver to be heavily under the influence of drugs. He recovered a significant amount of crack cocaine from the vehicle. The man was taken to the hospital for treatment and later charged with possession of CDS and DUI.

While responding later in the month to the Dorsey Hall Mobil gas station for a report of a theft that had just occurred, Officer Nigro observed a subject running from the area and who matched the suspect’s description. Officer Nigro stopped the suspect for questioning and through his interview, learned the location of a second suspect. As a result, all of the stolen property, including lottery tickets, was recovered and both suspects were apprehended.

Officer Nigro later interviewed the two suspects and obtained pertinent information on CDS activity in Columbia. He also charged one suspect with check fraud after obtaining a confession. In addition, Officer Nigro recalled some thefts that had occurred in 2003 and suspected the two suspects may have been involved in those cases as well. He contacted several victims from those thefts and through pawn checks was able to connect stolen items pawned to the suspects, who also were charged with those crimes.

Officer Nigro also investigated a prescription fraud case in which a suspect was using a stolen prescription pad to obtain medication. Officer Nigro planned a surveillance position and the suspect was called in to pick up his fraudulent order. Officer Nigro watched from a covert position as the crime was committed. Once the transaction was complete, he moved in and arrested the suspect. Once again, Officer Nigro interviewed the suspect and obtained a confession.

In another case, Officer Nigro obtained an arrest warrant for a suspect in an assault case. He located witnesses, interviewed involved parties, ran computer checks, developed a photo array and ultimately identified the unknown suspect.

Officer Nigro also worked with the Turf Valley community to resolve neighborhood concerns about citizen responsibility during inclement weather. He volunteered to attend a community meeting and distributed information on local laws governing snow and ice removal on neighborhood sidewalks.

Officer Nigro displays professional qualities and characteristics everyday as he serves the citizens of Howard County. The quality of Officer Nigro’s work during the month of January was exemplary. He encompasses the attributes that are highly prized in a Howard County police officer: professionalism, dedication, thoroughness and community involvement.