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LT Edwin Sierra (U-200)
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Leotta, Noah, PO.
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Bio & Incident Details Age: 24 Tour: 3 years Badge # Not available Cause: Vehicular assault Incident Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015 Weapon: Automobile; Alcohol involved Suspect: Charges pending Police Officer Noah Leotta succumbed to injuries sustained on December 3rd, 2015, when he was struck by a drunk driver near the intersection of Rockville Pike and Edmonston Drive.
He was conducting a traffic stop on Rockville Pike at approximately 9:45 pm while working a special assignment on the agency's Holiday Alcohol Task Force. He had contacted the driver and was getting back into his patrol car when a second vehicle struck his patrol car and then struck him.
Officer Leotta was transported to Suburban Hospital where he remained on life support until passing away on December 10th, 2015.
The driver of the vehicle that struck him was held on suspicious of drunk driving with additional charges pending.
Officer Leotta had served with the Montgomery County Police Department for almost three years. He is survived by his parents and sister.
Comments/Citation:
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. A Maryland police officer who was struck by a driver suspected of driving under the influence has died of his injuries, Montgomery County police said.
Police say Noah Leotta, who was working on the department's Holiday Alcohol Task Force, was conducting a traffic stop on December 3 when the driver of another car -- a 2012 Honda CRV -- struck his police cruiser and then him. Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger was very emotional when speaking about the accident Thursday, telling reporters the driver who hit Leotta had been arrested for DWI twice before. He said police believe the driver was drinking and smoking marijuana in the hours before he struck Leotta.
"It was a preventable, unnecessary loss, said Chief Manger. This hardworking, caring, dedicated police officer was killed by a drunk driver. He was killed by a man arrested twice before for drunk driving.
Leotta, 24, grew up in Montgomery County, was a Sherwood High School graduate, and attended Montgomery College. He interned with the department starting in 2011 and graduated from the academy in 2013.
Noah loved his job and demonstrated a level of enthusiasm that drove a work ethic and professionalism that we can all aspire to. These qualities made him the man and the police officer that he was, said Chief Manger.
Hundreds of people, including many of Officer Leotta's colleagues, lined the road in front of the 4th District Station on Thursday afternoon to pay their respects to Leotta as his body passed in a police procession. Leotta's father, mother and sister then got out where they were embraced by Chief Manger and other members of the department.
"The residents of this county lost a great cop, Manger said. Exactly the kind of police officer that you want patrolling your streets.
Manger said the 24-year-old showed an unbelievable dedication to public service and in keeping his community safe. Officer Leotta was passionate about getting drunk drivers off the road and had volunteered to work on the Holiday Alcohol Task Force. It is an irony that had the chief beside himself.
"The fact that Noah was out trying to prevent that crime, that crime that ended up killing him, I hope that shines a light on this case and shines a light on the fact that the state of Maryland has some of the weakest penalties for drunk drivers, he said. And in fact, as we look ahead to the prosecution of this case, I can tell you that whenever it's done, there is little chance of real justice being done.
