Pennsylvania troopers shot down

My name is Paul W. Dittmar. I was a police officer in Leonia, N.J. for 32 years and was the Chief of Police for the last 12 years of my career. I would like to tell you a story of an experience that I had on Sunday, Sept. 14 regarding the two Pennsylvania State Troopers that were shot on Sept. 12, killing one and seriously wounding the other.

As you know or may not know, in the state of New Jersey we have a organization of retired police officers that we call “Police Rangers”. We continue our firearms training so as to stay qualified to carry our firearms. Our main purpose is to stay ready to assist police officers in the event that they are numbered or are overwhelmed with other duties, and upon the request of that agency, we would respond.

On Sept. 13 and 14 I attempted to call out as many retired police officers as I could contact, but to no avail. Most were on vacation or had some other commitments that they could not break from. There was just no one available. So, I decided that I was going alone. I put on my black swat suit and boots which is the required uniform of the Police Rangers. I also put on my regulation leather belt and holster including my 9 mil. hand gun.

I was not familiar with the gun laws of Pennsylvania so I decided to empty my firearm. I removed the magazine and removed the round from the chamber. I now had an empty firearm. I then headed for Pennsylvania. I arrived at the state police barracks at about noon. I walked in the front door, it was a 20’ x 20’ room. To my right was a glass partition. I observed two state troopers in the rear of the large room. They seemed to be very busy talking on the phones and doing other chores. There were four chairs available so I decided to sit down and wait until one of them was free. I just wanted to show them my badge and I.D. card and let them know that I was there to offer my help in any way possible.

About five minutes later the front door opened and a Pennsylvania State Trooper walked in and looked at me. I said "Hi." He did not reply. He was a man about 50 years old and he looked like a poster boy for state troopers, very neat uniform, I believe he was a high ranking trooper. He opened the door leading to the two troopers room. Then I believe that he said in a loud voice to the two troopers, “Who the hell is that guy sitting in that other room?" I don’t think that they gave him an answer.

With that and with a thundering voice he entered my room and drew his weapon and pointed it at me and yelled to me to put up my hands. I immediately raised my hands up. He then said stand up and get over to that wall and lean on it. I complied. The other troopers came out with their guns drawn and aiming at me.They started to search my entire body removing the few articles that I had in my pockets. During the search they ripped my handgun from my holster and gave it to another Trooper telling him to check the weapon and send it to the lab. When he first yelled at me to put up my hands up, I immediately knew what this was all about. This senior trooper thinks that I am the shooter of the two troopers. I stayed very calm because I knew that this was a big mistake and that it would be cleared up as soon as they knew that I am a police officer.

The first question that he asked was, “Who are you?" My reply was my name is Paul Dittmar, I am a police officer from New Jersey. They said what are you doing here? I said, “I came here to help you." They said, “What are you talking about?" I then tried to explain all about our police ranger unit. All of this is going on while my hands are still up and leaning on the wall.

Some how during the search they missed finding my wallet. I then put my left hand down in an attempt to point to my wallet but then the senior trooper yelled to me. Keep your hands up, nobody said that you could put your hand down. So I put my hand back up on the wall. Then I explained to them that my wallet with all of my police identification was in it. They then searched the area that I pointed to and found my wallet and then removed all of the papers, cards and police I.D.

They then continued to ask me many questions all about my life. Where I lived all of my life, where I grew up, all about my married life, how many children I had, schools that I attended, army life. No questions about my police dept. They asked me where my car is parked. I told them it was parked directly in front of the building. They searched my vehicle completely. Then they said that I could put my hands down but keep facing the wall. Then they said put your hands behind you. I did, then I felt that they were putting handcuffs on me, and the cuffs were put on extra tight. Then they said that they were taking me to another room for more questions.

I tried to walk down a long hall to the other room but with my hands in cuffs I was having difficulty. I had a double knee replacement some time ago and this resulted in my walking ability. Two troopers had to assist me in walking to the room. The questions continued over and over. They took photos of me and tried to fingerprint me but the fingerprint/computer was down. I was trying to figure out why that high ranking trooper singled me out as a suspect. Then it dawned on me that when I first arrived at the state barracks there were hundreds of state troopers in the parking lot getting instructions before going out in the field.

Every one of them was wearing camouflage swat suites and heavily armed. I was the only person wearing a black swat suit and I really stood out. In N.J., close to New York City, all N.J. teams dressed in black. In rural areas like Pennsylvania camouflage was the norm.

It was now about 4 p.m. and the thought came up to me that they were going to keep me overnight. That would mean that I was going to stay in a cell. I did not want that. Anyway some big brass came in and said to the troopers “cut him loose”. They then gave me back my weapon and advised me that I was free to go. The next day in the newspaper it was stated that the police were interviewing “a person of interest” but they have interviewed hundreds of other people and stressed that this person is not a suspect.

About two days later state police investigators announced that they have identified the suspect that they believe to have been the shooter of the two state police troopers. A massive search has been going on for a Eric Frein for about 22 days and they believe that his arrest is now imminent.

My hat is off to all the brave troopers of the Pennsylvania State Police who have stood side by side every day walking through the brush and woods looking for this killer and not knowing if they were going to be in his gun sights.

In closing, I am a 84 year old retired police chief and I just wanted to help catch a killer.

Chief Paul W. Dittmar (RET}
Leonia , N.J. Police Dept.