Montgomery County Police Officer Involved in Fatal Vehicle Collision in Wheaton

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 4, 2010	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Montgomery County Police Officer
Involved in Fatal Vehicle Collision in Wheaton

Updated Information

See the 2010 Traffic Fatalities Map

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit are investigating a fatal collision that occurred early this morning in Wheaton.

At approximately 2:21 a.m., 4th District officers were responding to a large fight in progress. An officer who had arrived on the scene of the fight needed assistance and requested that additional officers respond. During the response to this call, an officer was involved in a single-vehicle collision.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a 4th District patrol officer was traveling on westbound Randolph Road approaching Denley Road. For reasons still under investigation, the officer’s 2003 Ford Crown Victoria left the roadway and struck a tree in the 3000 block of Randolph Road. Other officers responding to the fight call stopped to assist him and summonsed Fire/Rescue personnel. The officer was transported to Holy Cross Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The officer was a seven-year veteran and was assigned to the midnight shift.

Detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Unit are asking anyone who was on the scene and may or may not have witnessed the collision to contact them at 301.840.2435.

3000 Block of Randolph Road in Wheaton

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 5, 2010	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

Police Identify 4th District Officer Killed in Wheaton Crash

Updated Information

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continue to investigate a single-vehicle fatal collision that involved an on-duty Montgomery County police officer. The officer is identified as Police Officer 3 Hector Ayala.

On Sunday, April 4, at approximately 2:21 a.m., 4th District officers were responding to a large fight in progress. An officer who had arrived on the scene of the fight radioed that he needed assistance and requested that additional officers respond. While responding to assist his fellow officer, Ayala was involved in a single-vehicle collision.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Officer Ayala, a 4th District midnight officer, was traveling westbound on Randolph Road approaching Denley Road. For reasons still under investigation, the officer’s 2003 Ford Crown Victoria left the roadway and struck a tree on the right side of the roadway in the 3000 block of Randolph Road. Other officers responding to the fight call stopped to assist him and summonsed Fire/Rescue personnel. Officer Ayala was transported to Holy Cross Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives from the Collision Reconstruction Unit are asking anyone who was on the scene and may or may not have witnessed the collision to contact them at 301.840.2435.

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 7, 2010	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

In Remembrance Officer Hector I. Ayala

Updated Information

Photos
Donation Address

The Montgomery County Police Department is deeply saddened to announce the death of one of our officers. Officer Hector Ismael Ayala died in the line of duty at 3:19 a.m. on Sunday, April 4. He was responding to a call to provide officer assistance for a fight in progress at a restaurant/bar at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Randolph Road in Wheaton. For reasons still under investigation, Officer Ayala’s police cruiser left the roadway and struck a tree in the 3000 block of Randolph Road. He was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to the injuries he received in the crash.

In the department’s history, he is the 16th Montgomery County Police Officer, and first Hispanic officer to die in the line of duty.

Officer Ayala was a seven-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department and was assigned to the Montgomery County Police 4th District in Wheaton. He worked the midnight shift whose officers serve from 8:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. He was fluent in Spanish and frequently served as a translator for the department and the many Hispanic community members we serve, particularly in the greater Wheaton neighborhoods.

Officer Ayala was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in January of 1979. He attended Passaic County Community College in Paterson, New Jersey, and graduated with honors from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. There he majored in Political Science and Sociology and received a Bachelor of Arts degree.

He became a member of Police Officer Training Session 42 on February 3, 2003, and graduated from the Montgomery County Police Academy Entrance Level Training Program on July 27, 2003. He spent his entire career working in the Montgomery County Police 4th District. He attended a Basic Investigator School and served as a Field Training Officer to newly graduated officers. In his spare time he enjoyed working on cars and collecting tiny toy cars and trucks for his son. He was generous in offering his time to help baby sit for other officers’ children when they had a special need. He also enjoyed boxing and had taught many of his fellow recruits how to box. During his career he was nominated for several awards and commended for many examples of his excellent police work. Promoting traffic safety was very important to him. In one year he wrote 800 traffic citations, and only one person complained about receiving a ticket. He was always polite and explained what the driver had done wrong. In 2005, he was particularly instrumental in helping to save the life of a man who was attempting to commit suicide by jumping from the roof of the Glenmont Metro Station. It was Officer Ayala and two back-up officers who were able to physically subdue the victim and prevent him from jumping.

Officer Ayala was devoted to his wife Melissa, their 14-month-old son Hector, Jr., and was proudly looking forward to the birth of triplets this coming June. He is also survived by his parents, Hector and Luz, a 20-year-old brother Geovani, and a 12-year-old sister Jenny Marie.

His District Commander Nancy Demme said, “The department has lost a true asset. Officer Ayala was always helpful to his fellow officers and devoted to serving the Hispanic community. He will be deeply missed.” Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said, “Officer Ayala gave his life doing what he loved--being a police officer serving the people of Montgomery County. A select few raise their right hand and take the oath of service, an oath that puts their life second to those they protect. Officer Ayala took his oath and served proudly since his first day at the academy. I ask all of you to join me in praying for his family.”

Viewings for Officer Ayala will take place on Thursday, April 8 between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church located at 2900 Olney-Sandy Spring Road in Olney, Maryland. The Funeral Mass for Officer Ayala will take place on Friday, April 9 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Immediately following the service he will be laid to rest at the Delaney Valley Memorial Gardens located at 200 East Padomia Road in Timonium, Maryland. The viewing, funeral, and burial are only open to members of the family and the public safety family.

Donations to the Ayala Family may be made to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund (MCLEORF). Checks should be made payable to MCLEORF. Please list “Ayala Family” in the memo line of the check. Send to:

MCLEORF
c/o: FOP Lodge 35
18512 Office Park Drive,
Montgomery Village, MD 20886

Police Officer III Hector I. Ayala

Cruiser at Wheaton/Glenmont Station

[Howard Hartman]

	DEPARTMENT OF POLICE MEDIA SERVICES DIVISION 2350 RESEARCH BOULEVARD ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850-3294
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2010	FOR MORE INFORMATION:                         Media Services Division, 240-773-5030

Update        Update        Update      Update

Anonymous Business Makes $20,000
Dontation to Ayala Family Fund

Challenge Issued for Other Businesses to Donate
$50,000 Donated To Date

Fundraising efforts continue in support of Montgomery County Police Officer Hector Ayala’s family, with a challenge from a local businessman.

On April 4, 2010, Officer Hector Ayala was on duty and responding to a call from a fellow officer for assistance when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Officer Ayala died in the line of duty. Officer Ayala is survived by his fourteen-month-old son and his wife who is pregnant with triplets, due in June.

The Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund (MCLEORF) has been collecting monetary donations and organizing fundraisers. MCLEORF is a 501 (c) (3) corporation and all donations are tax deductible, and 100% of the donations received will benefit the Ayala family.

We are grateful for an extremely generous donation to benefit the Ayala family in the amount of $20,000.00 from a Montgomery County automobile dealership. This business owner desires to remain anonymous, but has issued a challenge to other business owners to make a donation to the fund for the Ayala family.

The Directors of the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund wish to thank the many community members and businesses who have generously contributed over $50,000.00 to Officer Ayala’s family.

Board Chair Melanie Eberly said, “This continues to be an emotional, challenging and difficult time for the Ayalas. Mrs. Ayala, Hector Jr., and the expected triplets will have significant needs for the foreseeable future. The sincere support from the community has been overwhelming and greatly appreciated.”

The Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officer Relief Fund was founded after September 11, 2001 to provide and promote relief, benevolence, and emergency assistance to law enforcement officers, their families and survivors.

Your contribution can be made to “MCLEORF” and sent to 18512 Office Park Drive, Montgomery Village, Maryland 20886. Please write “Ayala” in the memo portion of the check.