A Philadelphia police officer died in hospital on Sept. 10, several months after he was shot in the neck while on duty.
Officer Jaime Roman, 31, remained unconscious during the 80 days he spent in intensive care before he succumbed to his wounds at 8:30 p.m., the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) said in a statement.
“Jaime’s unwavering commitment to serving and protecting our community was an inspiration to us all. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire PPD family during this difficult time,” Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said.
An officer of seven years, Roman leaves behind a wife, a 7-year-old daughter, and a 4-year-old son, who were with him during his final hours.
Shot During Traffic Stop
Roman was shot during a traffic stop on June 22 after he and his partner pulled over a blue Toyota Echo on the 3600 block of F Street.
The vehicle’s driver, 36-year-old Ramon Vazquez, was without a valid registration for the car or a valid driver’s license, according to the police.
During the stop, one of the officers picked up an empty gun holster from the floorboard of the car, which triggered Vazquez to take off on foot.
After he fled, he fired three shots at Roman and his partner, striking Roman in the neck. Roman’s partner reportedly returned fire before stopping to render aid to Roman and take him to the hospital, according to police.
Vazquez was later caught while attempting to break into a home on the 800 block of E. Schiller Street. A gun and magazines were recovered from the scene. Vazquez remains in custody with charges expected to be upgraded from attempted murder to murder, according to a Sept. 11 news conference by city officials and police.
“Officer Roman left his wife and children on June the 22nd to go to work protecting and serving the people of the 25th police district during a traffic stop in Kensington, he was shot in the line of duty, a cowardly act, and he never came home after a very valiant fight,” Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said during the conference.
Police commissioner Bethel said Roman’s death was probably one of the hardest he’s faced in 38 years of policing, but it won’t deter police from continuing to do their work.
“We will continue to honor Jaime for everything he gave. It is our duty to do this work. We understand what we accept in that process, but we will not stop doing the work,” he said.
Roman is the 10th police officer who has been shot in the city in recent months, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is the fourth to be killed in the line of duty in Philadelphia since 2020, the paper reported.