In the summer of 1979, a dedicated Baltimore city police officer, William D. Albers, found his life tragically cut short in the very place he was working to protect. The 47-year-old officer, a veteran of the force since 1968, was also employed part-time as a security officer at the renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital, a role he had held since 1972. It was in the supposedly sterile and safe environment of the hospital's emergency room area that a violent encounter would seal his fate.
On July
30, Officer Albers was assisting hospital staff with a 34-year-old man named Willie M. Shaw, who had voluntarily sought treatment as a mental patient. Suddenly, the situation escalated dramatically. Shaw became violent and managed to overpower the seasoned officer, gaining control of his. 38-caliber service revolver. In the ensuing struggle for the weapon, Officer Albers was shot five times, sustaining wounds to his abdomen, arm, and legs. Despite being grievously wounded, Officer Albers managed to fire the final round from his revolver, striking Shaw in the chest and killing him instantly.
For the next three weeks, Officer William D. Albers fought for his life in the intensive care unit of the same hospital where he had been shot. His condition remained critical and fluctuated, with moments of improvement followed by periods of decline. His family maintained a constant vigil by his side as he underwent extensive medical treatment, including receiving an unusually large amount of blood during a lengthy surgery. However, despite the valiant efforts of the medical staff and his own will to survive, his condition took a final, irreversible turn for the worse. On August 19, 1979, three weeks after the violent struggle, Officer William D. Albers succumbed to his injuries. The officer, described by his colleagues as 'easy-going' and 'good-tempered,' left behind a wife and three children. The incident concluded with the death of both the officer and the man who shot him, leaving a somber mark on the history of the Baltimore City Police Department and the hospital he served.
