Timothy A. “Tim” Holt, Baltimore police officer, volunteer firefighter and veteran, dies – Baltimore Sun

Timothy A. “Tim” Holt, a retired Baltimore police officer and Harford County volunteer firefighter who was an Iraq War veteran, died of a stroke at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center on July 3. The Bel Air resident was 57.

“Tim never stopped working. That was his lifestyle,” said Eric Janik, a retired Baltimore police officer and colleague.

“His dedication was tireless. At the end of the day, he would get out of a police car and then jump on a fire truck,” Mr Janik said. “He was a man with a big heart and from the first moment we met, I considered him a brother.”

Dave Anderson was friends with Mr. Holt for 16 years.

“Being a police officer and volunteer firefighter, he always wanted to help people and was always there when you needed help,” Mr. Anderson said. “He had a heart of gold. That was Tim.”

Chris Gibbons, also a firefighter and police officer in Harford County, described him as a “humble and great person.”

Timothy Andrew Holt, son of Richard Holt, an air traffic controller at Grumman Aerospace, and Shirley Holt, a homemaker, was born in Baltimore and raised in Fallston.

After graduating from Fallston High School in 1985, where he played lacrosse, football and swimming, he joined the Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, South Carolina, where he worked as a recruiting officer and warehouse worker. After completing active duty, he became a reservist.

He studied criminal justice at what is now the Community College of Baltimore County Essex and at Harford Community College.

In 1982, Mr. Holt joined the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. 13. After serving in the Marine Corps, he worked as a firefighter at the Veterans Administration’s Perry Point.

He was enrolled in the Baltimore County Police Academy but was unable to graduate in 1991 because he was recalled to active duty in Iraq during Operations Desert Storm and Shield. During his stay, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

He remained in the reserves until 1993, when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant and returned to the police academy, from which he graduated in 1993.

Mr. Holt began his career with the Baltimore Police Department in 1993 and was assigned to the Eastern District. Due to his experience as a firefighter, he was appointed as a detective in the police department’s Arson Investigation Unit.

One of his most spectacular cases was the arson attack on October 16, 2002, on the home of Carnell Dawson Sr. and his wife Angela Marie Dawson, who lived at 1401 E. Preston Street. The fire resulted in the death of the family and their five children.

The firebombing was in retaliation for Ms Dawson’s call to police reporting drug dealing in the area of ​​East Preston and Eden Streets.

Darrell L. Brooks was convicted of the deaths of the Dawson family and sentenced to life in prison. Today, the Dawson Safe Haven Center is located on this site.

In 1995, while off duty as a security guard at the Escape Night Club in White Marsh, Mr. Holt confronted a man with a knife who had stabbed another patron at the bar.

The attacker, Michael McLaughlin, threatened him with a knife. Mr. Holt then shot him. He later died at the R. Adams Cowley Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

“This had a tremendous impact on Tim for the rest of his life,” his brother Jim Holt of Fallston wrote in an email. “The man’s mother wrote Tim a thank you letter that was very dear to his heart.”

Mr. Holt was also a member of the Baltimore Police Department Honor Guard, which travels the country to honor police officers killed in the line of duty.

“We buried a lot of brothers and sisters,” said Mr. Janik, who was also a member of the honor guard. “And of course we built a bond with other honor guards across the country, and Tim was a guy who always made new friends along the way.”

Mr. Holt, who retired in 2015, received numerous awards throughout his career.

Even in retirement, he remained busy, delivering auto parts for Fisher Auto in Bel Air. He also worked in security for two private companies, Centennial Protection Group and Operational Police Protective Services, which Mr. Janik founded 16 years ago.

“He worked side by side with me when I started this company,” Mr. Janik said.

Mr. Holt continued to work for the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co. where he served as a firefighter, paramedic and safety officer, reaching the rank of Captain.

“He was especially proud of the activities he and Company 13 organized for the children in the community, including birthday parties and Santa runs,” his brother wrote in the email.

“Tim was all about public service and he loved children,” Mr Janik said.

Mr. Holt also enjoyed his role as a mentor to new firefighters.

Mr. Gibbons has been involved in many runs over the years and has taken many calls along with Mr. Holt.

“When I joined in 1989, Tim was already there,” said Mr Gibbons. “He trained me on the equipment and how to drive the ambulance and the aerial ladder truck. He was a very patient teacher who explained things carefully and worked in a pleasant environment and I liked that.”

“He was a very popular figure at the Emerald Society’s bull and oyster roast and at the annual firefighters’ convention held in Ocean City,” Mr. Janik said.

“Tim was an icon at the conventions,” said Mr. Gibbons.

“Tim lived a selfless life of service to others and never boasted about his actions,” his brother wrote. “He was a true patriot. He would appreciate it if we all thanked our military, fire departments and police whenever possible.”

Mr. Holt was a member of the American Legion.

Mr. Holt’s philanthropy has benefited the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a breast cancer survivor, according to his brother.

He enjoyed visiting Ocean City, sunrises, collecting hats and country music, and making annual pilgrimages to Kenny Chesney’s concerts.

A viewing will be held on July 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Co., 2210 Carrs Mills Road, Fallston. A second viewing is scheduled for the next day from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the station.

Later in the day, a service with honors will be held at the train station from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Funeral services take place privately.

In addition to his brother, Mr. Holt is survived by his mother, Shirley Holt of Bel Air, his half-brother, Thomas DiFrancesco of Ellicott City, and numerous nieces and nephews.