Fallen Officer "Good Friend"

I have not been able to get onto the site to much since wednesday. I have been filling in patrol to allow our fellow officers to grieve. I became a very good friend of Officer Thomas Portz who lost his lost suddenly to a traffic accident on Wednesday afternoon. This came as a huge surprise to us all. He was a great officer with alot of ambition. Someone to look up to. He was only 32 years old. He left behind a wife and three young children. He was the kind of guy who would come with and defend the terrrible city streets and still go home with a smile and have cheer in his step. He will be truely missed. I am doing a show tomorrow in Pasadena md located at 350 Mountain Road Pasadena Md 21122 in which I am dedicating my car to his honor. I am registering under fallen hero. I will also be taking any donations for his family as they will need it and deserve it. We go out as officers never knowing if we will come home to our loved ones and do it time and time again. Until that unexpected moment comes and that loved one does not make it home. This is the hardest part of this job. We have lost three great officers in such a short time. If anyone is in the area an would like to donate any money to his family please stop by and see me. This has really hit home as I knew this officer and seen the life that he lead. Please help his family.

Very sad to hear. It wasn't until my brother became a Maryland State Trooper that I realized what officers and their families go through on a daily basis. It's very easy to get upset over a traffic ticket but these guys and gals are just like us, love their families, and enjoy many of the same hobbies we do. They put in long hours and risk their lives to protect ours and support their families. RIP Officer Portz


Do you have a paypal account or an address we can mail a check to?

All proceeds can be mailed to Western District attn Officer Teel. The address is 1034 N. Mount Street Baltimore md 21217. Please send a check addressed to Jessica Portz his wife. Thanks... This means alot to me and the Blue family.

RIP

Thanks means alot to us. We take the job for granite and our life for granilte until one of us lose it. He will truely be missed by us.

RIP, so sad we've lost 3 brothers in this short amount of time. Prayers go out to his family.

Droptop306 wrote:All proceeds can be mailed to Western District attn Officer Teel. The address is 1034 N. Mount Street Baltimore md 21217. Please send a check addressed to Jessica Portz his wife. Thanks... This means alot to me and the Blue family.

no problem, glad to help

You know what's crazy, I actually just went through EVOC this week, and they talked about this. It's the bullet your vest won't stop, traffic accidents. So sad.

I hold a briefing every year for my students and staff about how police officers are more likely to be killed by a motor vehicle than a bullet. I tell them that out in the street the most dangerous thing any officer does is conduct a traffic stop or respond to a call. It's not a lie when I say to them " It's slower than a speeding bullet but just as deadly". I will keep them in my prayer and shroud my badge in his honor. I will get a donation out to his family too. Being that I am 32, Married and have three beautiful girls, I felt like I was reading about myself. It's moments like these that let me know I need to live everyday to the fullest and count my blessing.


RIP Officer Portz.

Sorry to hear of this... I wish his family and his coworkers the best during this time.

It happens all too often that the law enforcement/fire-rescue/military go un-noticed or under appreciated as they volunteer themselves to be in harms way day in and day out to serve and protect the rest of us...

Reading this was truely a sombering moment...

I just found out that the Fire and police dept have set up an account with both paypal and pnc bank. here are the details...

On Sunday we are meeting at our firehouse @ 8 am to carpool our member to the Firefighters Union Hall to collect money for Tommy's Family. As of now we have approximately 20 members from our station attending. If the FOP or Western District would like to get involved that would be great. We plan on setting up to booths at the Union Hall and then with the remaining members... Walk the tailgate lots.
We have started a non-profit checking account for the collected funds and any other donations at PNC Bank. Any checks can be made payable to: "Friends of Tommy Portz". There is also a link to a paypal account on Local 734's website for credit card donations.

There link is http://www.baltimorefirefighters.net/

I dedicated our car today to "Tommy" at the local car show. I was able to raise $140.00. I thought that was great. We had a total of a Hundred cars. I will try and post some pics of my car later. Thanks everyone for there support.

very nice, thats an awesome gesture.

I am assuming its ok if we mailed a check to the first address you posted?

Yes that is fine. They set up the paypal and pnc bank thing late last night. I have notified Ofc Teel to keep an eye out. The pics are bad but tell the story.

those pics are just fine. RIP

I just want to say how much this means to me that you would do this for Jess and the kids. To all of you who donated money to Tommy's family you are forever in our hearts. This is just so touching.

Karen Portz
Tommy's sister

You are very Welcome. He was a true friend and one of the most dedicated Police I know working the worst areas of our city. He always had a smile on his face and could always having you laughing. He will be truely missed but never forgotten. Just hold onto the memories and he will forever be with you. Again I am so sorry for you loss.