Essex MD SRO commits suicide inside school office
ESSEX, Md. November 14 2018
The school resource officer at Eastern Technical High School in Essex is dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound he suffered at the school, police said.
Baltimore County Police Officer Jennifer Peach said faculty members heard a sound come from the SRO’s office, which is located in the basement of the school, and found the officer there suffering from a gunshot wound inside his office.
Police said they received emergency medical calls around 12:23 p.m. from Eastern Tech.
“Preliminarily, we believe it is a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Peach said. “The officer was transported here to Franklin Square Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.”
Peach said Officer Comegna was found alone and one gun was found in his office.
Officials said they believe it was Comegna’s department service weapon. Police said video shows the officer entering his office alone and no one else was in the office.
Comegna was a 21-year veteran of the Baltimore County Police Department. Officials said he had children.
“He has been an SRO for 12 years and has been an SRO at Eastern Tech for four years,” Peach said.
The motive is under investigation.
“We investigate the circumstances in his life to try to discover a motive for this action and that is the next step that we will be taking,” Peach said.
While Comegna was wearing a body-worn camera, it was not activated at the time of the incident.
Authorities do not believe students were close enough to witness or hear anything.
Interim Superintendent Verletta White released a statement to 11 News, saying, “I am saddened to learn about the death of Officer Joseph Comegna, the school resource officer at Eastern Technical High. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, BCPD and Eastern Tech’s students and staff. We will be sure to have the traumatic loss team at the school to support students and staff Tuesday.”
The school was initially put on lockdown but dismissed students at the regular time.
Neither police nor school officials told students, parents or the public what happened, but parents received text messages from their children speculating what was going on.
“They just said, ‘We are in a lockdown right now.’ Everyone just locked the doors, and after, like, 15 minutes, they let us know no one was in danger,” said Emanual Forakis, a student.
“It was kind of weird. A lot of us thought it was a drill, and then we realized it wasn’t a drill,” said Nicholas Hemlig, a student.
“So many people knew him and you (saw) him here every day. You know, you drive down and you wave to him. People always talked to him. It’s just very sad to see what happened,” said Melissa Melpignano, a parent.
The Eastern Tech PTSA released a statement, saying, “I pray Officer Comegna realized how much he was cared for and the IMPACT he had on our students’ lives day to day. He was such a sweet, caring, kind and thoughtful man, always smiling and will truly be missed.”
Baltimore County Public Schools canceled afternoon and evening activities Monday at Eastern Tech.
The school made counselors available Tuesday to talk to students.
Adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Mahmood Jahromi said students can still be affected by the trauma.
“Some children have immediate impact, immediate response to these traumas. It depends on the intensity and all that. Some children have a more delayed reaction,” Jahromi said.
Jahromi said it’s important to let teens express their emotions and work through them. Parents should talk to their kids honestly.
“Parents cannot and should not assume anything about their teenagers — how they feel, what they think. The only way for adults to learn about our children and adolescents is simply to ask how they feel,” Jahromi said.
Parents told 11 News they have already addressed the issue with their children.
“He really is OK. He was not that affected,” said Tommy Bittini, a parent.
“I have talked to him I told him there was counseling here if he needs it and to talk to somebody if he needs it,” Melpignano said. “I’m sure the kids and the staff are going through a lot, you know, so it’s just heartbreaking.”
There is help available when it comes to suicidal thoughts. You can call the National Suicide Hotline 24/7 at 800-273-8255.
WBALTV
