On September 29, 2005, Brian Steven Gregg, a 46-year-old male police officer with the Newtown Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania, was tragically shot and killed. Officer Gregg and his partner were guarding a suspect who had been arrested earlier that evening for drunk driving and taken to St. Mary's Medical Center for blood and urine tests. During the suspect's struggle with the officers in the emergency room, the suspect managed to gain control of Officer Gregg's partner's service
weapon. He opened fire, striking Officer Gregg in the chest and then in the head as Officer Gregg lay on the ground. The suspect also shot the second officer in the chest and wounded a hospital technician before fleeing the scene.
The suspect was found hiding in a car in the hospital's parking garage about an hour later and was taken into custody. He was charged with one count of capital murder and two counts of attempted murder. On November 17, 2006, the suspect was found guilty and sentenced to death. Officer Gregg, who had recently transitioned from part-time to full-time duty, is survived by his wife and 4-year-old son. In memory of his sacrifice, Newton Bypass was renamed Officer Gregg Memorial Bypass in April 2014.
The tragic death of Officer Gregg highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the importance of vigilance even in seemingly routine situations. His legacy continues to be honored by the Newtown Borough Police Department and the community he served.
