Former OC Cop’s Death Mourned

OCEAN CITY – Members of the Ocean City Police Department lamented a loss this week when they learned a friend and former police officer passed away on Monday.

Lieutenant Michael Howe, 55, suffered a massive stroke in his home Sunday. He was rushed to Johns Hopkins, where he passed away on Monday.

“It’s a real loss to Baltimore County, it’s a real loss to the guys here who knew Mike,” said Council member and retired Ocean City Police Officer Jay Hancock this week.

Howe, Commander of the Baltimore County Police Tactical Unit, had just returned home from responding to a murder-suicide in Randallstown Sunday when he suffered the stroke.

Howe was a 30-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department, serving 20 years on the tactical unit. Howe spent his early years with the OCPD as a seasonal police officer from 1974 to 1977, where he had an impact both on the job and off.

“Michael was one of those guys you could always count on,” remembered Hancock.

Hancock recalled his time with Howe on the OCPD in the mid-70’s, when seasonal officers dominated the resort police force. Howe was known to many by his nickname, “Father Howe,” for his way with arrestees.

“We’re all going to miss Mike, it’s a loss,” said Hancock.

Howe’s stepson also got his career start with the OCPD, following in his stepfather’s footsteps and working as a seasonal officer in the resort in 1990, before joining the Baltimore County Police Department.

Hancock remembered Howe as a good police officer and an even better friend to all who knew him.

“We really regret his passing and we salute his service to Ocean City and to Baltimore County,” Hancock said.