Bike patrolman killed in the line of duty

I am very upset by this. Officer Michael Briggs lost his life today, and I am saddened by so many things about this story.

This first was on our news last night, and at 3 pm the Manchester NH police department announced he had passed away. This was by everything I've read very good person and I truly think it is a huge loss for us all. I have always had a great appreciation for bike cops, even before I was a cyclist. Since becoming a regular rider, I feel like I share something in common with the guys and gals who are willing to respond to dangerous or crowded environments by bike. I am in Manchester regularly (it's as close as Boston) and the city is not known for much crime though like any city it has some troubled areas. I have always thought the officers there seemed friendly (I mostly encounter them at the airport). I fully expect to see some when I am there next week for a concert, and I hope I have the courage to tell them I am sorry for their loss.

The Manchester Police Department had not lost an officer since October of 1976, 30 years ago.

On Monday night, Officer Briggs and a partner responded to a domestic dispute with shots fired. Briggs was talking with a man at the scene who suddenly pulled a gun and shot him. The man fled the scene, and was arrested in Boston less than a day later after a large manhunt along the 93 corridor. Briggs was rushed to the hospital, and died today this afternoon.

Officer Michael Briggs was 35 years old, a husband and father of two small kids who will grow up without their dad, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, and had been a police officer for 9 years (5 with the MPD). He had been honored with three other officers for running into a burning apartment building and rescuing 19 people in 2004. Briggs was assigned to the mountain bike patrol unit.

I hope some of you will take pause to post condolences on www.odmp.org or to the MPD directly. I think these messages are very important to those left behind. I have not posted mine yet, because I want to put some thought into it but I will soon. I also hope you all will take a silent moment on your next ride, thinking of him, the rest of his bike unit, and his family. I may ask the Granite State Wheelmen if they would consider a memorial ride or something. We all lost a good guy today.

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=18543
http://216.204.100.81/CityGov/MPD/Home.html

When I first moved to NH, it was to Manchester. It is such a beautiful city and you are right, next to nil crime. Having moved there from a very high crime city, I was so surprised to see people leaving their homes unlocked; cars running at gas stations; bikes unlocked on the streets.

This is such a horrible, senseless death. He and his family are in my prayers.

i agree with cycl how random and horrible. my thoughts are with his family and friends.

What a tragedy.