Officers recall
slain comradeThe accused shooter
of an ex-HPD officer is due
in a Seattle-area courtroom today
Former Honolulu police officer Patrick Maher, fatally shot Saturday in the line of duty in Washington, was known for his willingness to help others, including his fellow officers, according to those who knew him.
CORRECTION
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003>> Waikiki police Sgt. Mark Cricchio remembered slain former Honolulu police officer Patrick Maher as intelligent, soft-spoken and humble. In a story on Page A3 yesterday, Cricchio's last name was incorrectly spelled as Cricchios.
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Maher, a seven-year Honolulu Police Department veteran, received a certificate of merit in 1998 for risking his life to prevent a suicide.
He and his partner had pulled a despondent person to safety over the railing of a high-rise hotel after the person tried to jump, according to a news release by the Federal Way Police Department in Washington.
The 46-year-old Maher, who had been with the FWPD for about seven months, was shot in the abdomen with his own gun during a scuffle after breaking up a fight in front of a convenience store near the border of Federal Way and Kent, Wash.
A 28-year-old suspect was arrested and is due in court today, with charges expected by Wednesday, officials said.
Waikiki Police Officer Kin Chung recalled how Maher helped him when he was a rookie.
"He was a great help to me when we were fresh on the road and we didn't know a lot," Chung said.
Sgt. Mark Cricchios remembers a "very intelligent officer who did his job well.
"Soft-spoken, just real humble."
Lt. Dwight Rodrigues said, "He did us proud," noting that Maher was "very intelligent, dedicated and well respected."
Maher had been called to the AM/PM store Saturday morning and found the suspect fighting with his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend and his brother, 24.
Federal Way police said that when the suspect ran across the street into Kent, Maher pursued him while the other two followed.
Maher caught the suspect while he tried to climb over a fence, and during a scuffle the suspect took Maher's gun, police said.
Police said the suspect then pointed the gun at his ex-girlfriend and brother, threatening them.
Maher tried to disarm the man and was shot once in the abdomen below his bulletproof vest, police said.
The suspect's brother then jumped on him and held him until backup officers arrived, police said.
Maher was taken to a Seattle hospital where he died at about 4:15 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities released no information about the suspect other than his age. Police also would not say what kind of gun Maher carried -- only that Federal Way officers carry a Glock 9 mm or .45-caliber handgun.
Police said members of Federal Way's 116-officer department are required to wear high-security holsters.
Before joining the HPD, Maher retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after serving 20 years.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
