Recruit Officer Roger Dale Cassell Jr.

On November 2, 1994 Recruit Officer Roger Dale Cassell Jr. collapsed following a training exercise in the police academy, he was twenty-eight years old.

Roger was a well respected, enthusiastic police recruit, and the Department had very high expectations for this native son of Howard County.

Recruit Officer Cassell joined the Howard County Department of Police in September 1994 and was on the path to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. Roger’s interest in law enforcement seemed to be a natural development. His father, Roger Sr. is a sergeant with the Maryland State Police, and his brother, Robert, is a police officer with Howard County.

Roger was a decorated war veteran and received the Army Achievement Medal and Maryland Governor’s Citation for his accomplishments in the Persian Gulf war. He was an avid sports fan and an All County football player in high school.

Roger is best described by an academy classmate as "...one of the most unselfish, loyal and dedicated individuals I have ever met. He loved every aspect of law enforcement and wanted nothing more than to serve the community he loved."

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