Daughter Of Sarasota Police Chief Likely Hit By Friendly Fire

SARASOTA, FL — The daughter of Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino was in stable condition Friday after being shot by what appears to have been friendly fire from a fellow officer. Baltimore County Police Officer First Class Tabitha Hays was shot Thursday during a confrontation with a 76-year-old man, who pointed what was later found to be an unloaded weapon at officers, saying: “I’m sorry I have to do this.”

Hays, a 13-and-a-half-year veteran of the force with one prior police-involved shooting in 2008, was wounded in her upper body. She is assigned to the Parkville Precinct patrol.

"Sarasota Police Chief Bernadette DiPino was notified that her daughter, an officer with the Baltimore County Police Department in Maryland, was shot in the line of duty," said Genevieve Judge of the Sarasota Police Department.

"She was seriously injured and transported to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center where she remains under the care of doctors," Judge added on Friday.

Cpl. Shawn Vinson of the Baltimore County Police Department told Patch late Friday afternoon that investigators were still trying to determine where the bullet came from that struck the officer.

"We are actively attempting to determine how and who shot Officer Hays, but it is clear that the suspect did not shoot," he said. "Four officers fired their weapons and we are trying to determine which one struck Officer Hays."

In 2016, the Baltimore County Police Foundation honored Officer Hays for her work in the community.

"Officer Hays helped two grandparents raising their six grandchildren," according to the foundation. "Officer Hays and a friend from the Baltimore City Police set up a Facebook event to raise money and made the holidays special for the family. Both officers spent many hours of their own time raising money, planning, organizing and preparing these events."

Watch below as Officer Hays discusses her community work in this 2016 video made by the Baltimore County Police Foundation:

The elderly man who was shot during Thursday's confrontation was identified as Robert Uhl Johnson of the 3000 block of Linwood Avenue in Baltimore County. The confrontation started around 1:37 p.m. Thursday when Johnson apparently placed a 9-1-1 call in which he said there was an unknown person waving a gun at him in his home.

"Suspect Johnson hung up on the 9-1-1 call taker when she attempted to gather additional information," Baltimore County police said. "Multiple attempts were made to contact the caller but he did not answer the phone on any call back."

When officers arrived, they found only Johnson seated in a chair facing the front door.

"One officer initiated conversation with the suspect, who refused to get up from the chair or exit the home," Baltimore County police said. "Suspect Johnson told the officer that he called 9-1-1 and that there was no one else inside the home."

As officers made their way into the home, they directed Johnson to keep his hands up in the air.

"Suspect Johnson lowered his right hand down to his thigh and picked up a handgun, pointing it at the officers as he said: 'I’m sorry I have to do this,'" Baltimore County police explained. "Four officers fired their service weapons in response."

Homicide detectives found that Johnson's gun was not loaded.

"They also discovered that suspect Johnson left his will and last requests for burial out for officers to find," said Baltimore County police.

DiPino, who began her law enforcement career with the same agency, traveled to Maryland to be with her daughter, according to Judge.

"The Sarasota Police Department appreciates the outpouring of prayers, support and thoughts that have been sent for Chief Bernadette DiPino and her family," said Judge.

DiPino has served as chief of police in Sarasota since 2012 but she is well known among Maryland law enforcement officials having served as chief of police in Ocean City, Maryland for nearly a decade.

"The Sarasota Police Department asks for the chief’s privacy to be respected during this difficult time," Judge added.

Baltimore County Police Chief Terrence Sheridan initially told reporters that arriving officers were confronted by a man who started shooting at them. But that proved not to be the case.

"The department provided misinformation shortly after the incident occurred, indicating that the suspect fired a weapon at the officers upon entering the home," said Baltimore County police on Friday. "Further review of body-worn camera footage and additional evidence now reveals that the suspect picked up a firearm, did not follow officers’ commands to put down the weapon and pointed the gun at the officers, causing the officers to fire upon the suspect."

The three other Baltimore County officers who fired their service weapons at Johnson were placed on routine administrative leave. They were identified as Officer First Class J. Hummel, an 18 year veteran with no prior police-involved shootings; Officer First Class A. Burns, a 17-and-a-half-year veteran with no prior police-involved shootings
and Officer First Class J. Deford, a 10-and-a-half year veteran with no prior police-involved shootings.

"The Baltimore County Police Homicide Unit will complete their investigation and submit the case to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for review," police added.

Patch editor Elizabeth Janney in Maryland contributed to this article.