Lower Police Observe Officer’s Death

VILLAS — Lower Township Police Department marked the 15th anniversary of the line of duty death of Officer David C. Douglass Wednesday Feb. 18.
His widow, Debbie attended the ceremony as well as his son, David Douglass Jr.
A wreath was placed in front of Township Hall’s flagpole while a flag was flown at half mast.
Lower Township Police Chief Edward Donohue addressed those who would question memorializing Douglass 15 years after the tragic event. He said half the police force has retired since 1994.
“As long as I am police chief, I’m going to make sure that this department and this community never lets it go and that we never forget Dave’s sacrifice that night,” said the chief. “This isn’t about rehashing an old incident, it’s about honoring a sacrifice.”
The crowd applauded.
Donohue said the event honored all the police officers that lost their lives in the line of duty in Cape May County as well as Philadelphia police officer John Pawlowski, 25, who was shot and killed Feb. 13 at Broad and Olney streets responding to a report of a fight.
Donohue said a contingent from Cape May County would attend the funeral.
Douglass was shot and killed on Feb. 18, 1994 after he responded to a suspicious person call in North Cape May. He was pursuing a burglary suspect on foot when the suspect turned and shot him.
Douglass returned fire. He struck the suspect in the hand and was able to make it back to his patrol car to call for assistance, but he did not survive the attack.
Following an intensive investigation, Lower Township police arrested the actor in New York City in April of that year.
A number of retired officers were present for the ceremony along with representative of the other area police departments and staff from the David C. Douglass Memorial School.