Princess Anne, Md. – Dozens gathered at the Maryland State Police Barracks in Princess Anne Friday afternoon to honor TFC Edward “Eddie” Plank, a trooper who was gunned down in the line of duty on October 17, 1995.
On hand for the 20 year anniversary of Planks death were his parents, and the woman he widowed, Lori Collins. Plank’s mother and father called Friday’s gathering a bittersweet day. They say the pain of losing a son is unimaginable but seeing so many people coming together to remember him was an honor.
Not present because of college exams was Plank’s daughter, Hailey, who was 7 months-old when her father was shot and killed instantly during a traffic stop on Route 13 near Princess Anne. Hailey never had the chance to know her father, who her grandfather says was always smiling.
“He was just a great guy,” Edward Plank Sr. said, “He thought the world of his little girl."
Several speakers were on-hand to offer their remarks including Chief David Mitchell, the former Superintendent of Police for the Maryland State Police. Today was not Chief Mitchell’s first time at a podium. 20 years ago he addressed media questions when Plank was killed. Today, his remarks struck a different chord.
"We heard those wonderful words from our national anthem; 'The land of the free and the home of the brave.' We can only be that today because of troopers like Eddie Plank," Mitchell said.
Plank was 28 years-old when he died. According to Mitchell, on this date in history, 58 police officers have been killed in the line of duty in America.
