Media Release:
On Friday, June 3, 2022, just before midnight, Washington County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a residence in the 16900 block of Longfellow Court, Hagerstown, Maryland, for a 911 hang-up call. During the 911 call, a female was heard stating a male was threatening her, and then the phone line disconnected.
Upon arrival, deputies attempted to get an answer at the front door with no success. The deputies then approached a side door and could hear a male—later identified as Gerald Wayne Koogle, 42–yelling from inside the home. The deputies tried to get Koogle’s attention and get him to come to the door, but he refused.
Koogle proceeded to fire numerous rounds thru a window at the deputies while they were only several feet away. The deputies were able to retreat to cover and were unharmed. Shortly after, a female exited the home and was taken to a safe location while additional units arrived and set up a perimeter.
Thru negotiations, two other residents in the home were safely removed, and Koogle ultimately surrendered to police without further violence. It was learned that rounds fired by Koogle struck and entered a neighboring home, and a resident was in the house; the resident was unharmed.
As part of the investigation, deputies executed a search and seizure warrant for Koogle’s residence. They recovered 23 spent shell casings inside the bedroom from which the suspect fired at the deputies. The spent casings found in the bedroom were for a .300AAC Blackout rifle. Deputies also recovered a short-barreled AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, chambered in .300AAC Blackout, inside a safe in the home. There was a live cartridge in the rifle’s chamber and one remaining live cartridge in the magazine still loaded in the rifle. Upon its recovery, the rifle’s safety selector was set to “fire” as well. Numerous other firearms and ammunition were seized from the home.
Koogle is currently being held at the Washington County Detention Center with bond. He has been charged with three counts of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, 2nd Degree Murder, Assault 1st, and 2nd Degree, possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle, and other related offenses.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office gives public notice of its policy to uphold and assure full compliance with the non-discrimination requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related Nondiscrimination authorities. Title VI and related Nondiscrimination authorities stipulate that no person in the United States of America shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or Limited English Proficiency be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Any person who desires more information regarding the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Title VI Program can contact its Title VI Program Coordinator, Major Pete Lazich, VI Program Coordinator — at the address noted below.
Any person who believes they have, individually or as a member of any specific class of persons, been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, income level or Limited English Proficiency has the right to file a formal complaint. Any such complaint must be in writing and submitted within 180 days following the date of the alleged occurrence to:
Washington County Sheriff’s Office/Major Pete Lazich
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
500 Western Maryland Parkway, Hagerstown, MD 21740
240-313-2165
plazich@washco-md.net
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is now hiring a Building Maintenance Mechanic, please go to the employment tab of the webpage, under civilian positions for more information.
The Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a One-Day Entry Level Patrol Deputy Processing Event on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 8:00 A.M. Applicants are to arrive at 7:30 A.M. for pre-registration. The written test will begin promptly at 8:00 A.M. No late entries will be permitted. Applicants who pass the Written Test will continue with the Physical Fitness Test. Applicants who pass the Written Test and Physical Fitness Test will continue to the Oral Board Interview beginning at 1:00 P.M.
All testing and interviews will be conducted at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, 500 Western Maryland Parkway Hagerstown, MD. 21740.
Applicants who plan on attending the Processing Event must submit their Employment Application to the Sheriff’s Office by Friday, March 4, 2022. Employment Applications may be dropped off any time at the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division or by U.S. Mail. Electronic submissions cannot be accepted at this time.
The Release of Liability and Physician’s Certification must be completed and submitted on the testing date, March 12, 2022. The Physician’s Certification must be completed within 30 days of the Physical Fitness Test date to be considered valid. Valid government-issued photo identification is required at the time of testing.
Appropriate attire for this event is:
Written and Physical Fitness Test – Athletic Attire
Oral Board Interview – Business Attire
Please visit the employment section of our website for applications and forms.