Off Duty

A Baltimore man accused of shooting an off-duty police officer in the foot was convicted this week by a city jury of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and two handgun counts. On July 18, 2005, Reginald McKever, 20, of the 4700 block of Greencrest Road and another man approached Baltimore Officer Kevin Simmons, who was sitting on a split rail fence talking on his cell phone in the 5300 block of Goodnow Road, prosecutors said. Simmons was off duty but had his police identification and department-issued handgun.

An off-duty Baltimore police officer was shot early today outside his home in North Baltimore in an apparent attempted robbery, police said. The Northwestern District officer, whose name was withheld, was shot at least once in the back in the 5700 block of The Alameda about 12:30 a.m., police said. The officer, who was wearing his uniform under an overcoat or jacket, was stepping from his private vehicle when he was approached by at least one gunman. The officer was shot after a brief struggle.

An off-duty Harford County sheriff's deputy was shot late last night while driving near Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood, police reported.The bullet wound was not serious and the deputy was expected to be released from a hospital today.City police said Deputy Scott Davis, 24, was driving east in the 900 block of E. Pratt St. with a companion around 10:30 p.m. when he saw two men arguing at the corner of Albemarle Street.Deputy Davis later told police he continued on when he heard what sounded like a gunshot.

A veteran city police officer who was robbed of his service revolver and a $100 bill in front of police headquarters earlier this month by a couple he met on The Block now is facing an internal investigation, the department said.Police Agent Gerard J. Hogan, 44, has been removed from patrol duties and placed in an administrative position at the Southern Police District to await the outcome of the probe by the department's Internal Investigation Division, police said.They said Agent Hogan, while off duty, went to The Block on East Baltimore Street the evening of Nov. 7 and had a "few beers."

Some residents in Baltimore's affluent Bolton Hill community are actively discussing hiring armed off-duty city police officers to patrol the streets around their townhouses and apartment buildings.Brooks Bosley, secretary with the Mount Royal Improvement Association, said the private guards will be hired if enough money can be collected to pay for the service. He said the plan calls for hiring off-duty city police officers -- who would be armed with their service weapons and would have the power of arrest -- and paying them through a collective fund.

An off-duty Baltimore City police officer shot and wounded a bank robbery suspect in the parking lot of a busy shopping center near Carney yesterday morning, county police said.The suspect, identified as James Austin Outten, 47, of the 3600 block of Southern Ave. was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with gunshot wounds in his chest, arm and leg. He was stable in serious condition yesterday, according to hospital officials.Police took into custody a second man who waited in the car's back seat during the robbery, said Baltimore County police spokesman Sgt. Kevin B. Novak.

A city councilwoman wants police leaders to explain the disciplinary process for officers involved in off-duty incidents, a hearing spurred by concerns over the recent shooting in which an off-duty officer has been charged with first-degree murder. Councilwoman Belinda K. Conaway, a Democrat whose district includes parts of West and Northwest Baltimore, is requesting a hearing in which she also wants to explore possible changes to policies requiring officers to carry their weapons while off the job, and will request that the commissioner compile a report on the number of incidents over the past five years in which "civilians or officers have been harmed or killed by off-duty officers."

Two months after a melee broke out at the city-owned Brokerage building, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke recommended yesterday that entertainment promoters manage their events with uniformed off-duty police officers or professional security companies.Schmoke made the suggestion after meeting recently with the promoter of the Brokerage event, Phillip Crump of Two Fierce Productions. Crump could not be reached for comment.The disturbance on June 14 began at 34 Market Place when 3,000 people showed up for a party called "Millennium '98."

BLAMING SKATELAND for Monday night's high-speed car crash into a Carney bar would be unfair. But mere mention of the roller rink in the Loch Raven-Baynesville community produces groans from residents and business owners, and with good reason. Skateland needs to review its security policies, and tighten where necessary to help prevent these kinds of problems. For years, Skateland has attracted packs of teen-agers to its Friday night public skating sessions. Youths up to age 19 can skate until about 12:30 a.m. After closing, they flood the parking lot and nearby streets.

The Baltimore police commissioner's recent order putting two officers in every patrol car is leaving other city agencies and private companies struggling to find off-duty officers to work security jobs. Officers who once competed for opportunities to make extra money at city swimming pools or walking posts downtown are suddenly in short supply. The Police Department is paying them more to work longer hours at their jobs, leaving them little time for secondary employment. Police officials acknowledge the problem, but defend the practice, saying curbing crime on city streets is their first and most important priority.