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"You could walk into this firehouse and be down or upset about something and all you have to do is talk to Rich Findley and he will put a smile on your face."

Surrounded by friends of Rich Findley, nodding and smiling in agreement, those were the words of Chief Al Schwartz of the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department Friday evening. One of many tributes to Findley, a life member at Beltsville, who was killed doing his job as a Prince George's County Police officer.

Prince George's County Director of Public Safety and Homeland Security Vernon Herron said, "Today we lost a hero, a hero who was out doing what we asked him to do."

Cpl. Richard Findley died on the same road, just three miles from where his friend and fellow police officer Sgt. Steven Gaughan was shot. Both men were killed in the middle of the day, almost exactly three years apart, while working on the same special assignment team targeting violent offenders and car thieves.

Cpl. Findley was run down and dragged while trying to stop two men in a stolen pickup truck. Four men, all described as "persons of interest" remain in custody.

The 39-year-old Findley was a member at Beltsville for about 20 years. His wife Kelly is also a member of the department. They have two young daughters.

Watch Nancy Yamada's 11:00 PM report

Look at our earlier coverage

Beltsville VFD's website

# posted by Dave Statter @ 2:27 AM