Steven F. Gaughan

Steven Francis Gaughan (June 16, 1964 – June 21, 2005) was an American policeman from Prince George's County, Maryland, assigned to the Beltsville District, Special Assignment Team of the Prince George's County Police Department.[1] In June 2005, he was shot and killed by Robert M. Billett (born March 6, 1962)[2] following a traffic stop in Laurel, Maryland.

Steven Francis Gaughan
A memorial at Gaughan's childhood home
Born(1964-06-16)June 16, 1964
Hyde Park, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJune 21, 2005(2005-06-21) (aged 41)
Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, Maryland, U.S.
Other names"Steve"
Police career
Country United States of America
Allegiance State of Maryland
Department Prince George's County Police Department
Service years1990–2005
Rank Sergeant (posthumously promoted from corporal)
Badge no.1734

Death

On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, Gaughan and his partners, Michael Eubanks and Shawn Phoebus, pulled over a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Maryland Route 197 and South Laurel Drive in Laurel, Maryland.[3] The three men in the car fled when the car was stopped. While chasing one of the men, Robert M. Billett, shots were exchanged, and during this exchange both Billett and Gaughan were hit. Gaughan took a fatal hit and died at Prince George's Hospital Center several hours later.

Billett was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[3]

Legacy
Street sign denoting the Steven F. Gaughan Corner.

Street corner dedication

On July 14, 2007, the City of Boston dedicated the street corner where Gaughan grew up to his memory by renaming it Steven F. Gaughan Corner. A portion of the street on which he was killed was also renamed Steven F. Gaughan Drive.[4] Gaughan's name is also engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial[5] in Washington, D.C.

See also

References
  1. "Shooting Death of Prince George's County Police Officer". pub. June 21, 2005. Archived from the original on December 28, 2005. Retrieved December 28, 2005.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Maryland DOC Inmate Locator". dpscs.state.md.us. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020.
  3. "The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers Steven F. Gaughan". The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on August 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-17.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. "MANEKIN CONSTRUCTION COMPLETES OLD GLORY HARLEY-DAVIDSON" (PDF). MANEKIN. May 21, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2007-11-17. It also installed three times the landscaping as required by the county and relocated access points off S. Laurel Drive onto a private road renamed after a fallen Prince George’s police officer. Traffic now moves on Steven F. Gaughan Drive.
  5. "NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES 14TH ANNUAL WREATHLAYING DAY CEREMONIES". National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-07. Retrieved November 17, 2007.
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