SEABROOK – Prince George’s County Police (PGPD) and Maryland State Police confirmed an off-duty police officer was killed in a multi-vehicle crash while riding his motorcycle on May 29.
According to state police officials, Officer Davon McKenzie, 24, was on his motorcycle, heading south on the Capital Beltway between Route 202 and Arena Drive after 11:20 p.m. in Largo.
A Nissan Altima, heading northbound, struck a commercial street sweeper that was driving on the slow lanes. After contact, the Altima lost control and slid over to the southbound lanes. The car hit McKenzie off his motorcycle, propelling him over the jersey wall and landed into the northbound lanes of traffic.
McKenzie was hit by two oncoming vehicles before emergency officials arrived at the scene of the accident. He transported to University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center and was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of May 30.
State police officials said that all drivers in the accident stayed at the scene. Maryland State Police confirmed that they are still investigating the cause of the accident.
McKenzie grew up in the county and had recently purchased a house at the time of the accident, Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. He was assigned to the Bureau of Patrol after joining PGPD in March of 2017.
“He was an example of the very finest policing in America has to offer,” Stawinski said. “…He was an example of what you can choose to do and how you can succeed.”
Stawinski went to the hospital to check on McKenzie’s status and found over 50 people waiting for news on the officer’s condition. More people began to arrive, leaving no place to sit and going over the capacity of the waiting room. However, “nobody cared” as they waited to learn more on McKenzie.
Moments after his death was confirmed, Stawinski said that members of the FBI, Maryland State Police and the Governor’s Office all reached out to find ways to help the department best.
“The men and women of the police are hurting right now because of this great loss,” Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 89 President John Teletchea said. “The family of Officer McKenzie has suffered a great loss, but a tremendous loss was to Prince George’s County last night.”
According to Stawinski, all his supervisors called McKenzie “respectful, courteous, thoughtful and mature for a 24-year-old.” The department plans to honor him with a funeral appropriate for an officer who died not in the line of duty but expects a large turnout of officers from the county and other jurisdiction as well as members of the community.
McKenzie also worked as a school resource officer at William Wirt Middle School. Principal Rhonda Simley called McKenzie “a ray of sunshine” to the student body and Prince George’s County Public Schools Interim CEO Monica Goldson contacted Stawinski for support.
“My heart breaks for this young officer, and his family, who was taken from us far too soon,” County Executive Anglea Alsobrooks said. “My prayers and thoughts of love, and those of the Prince George’s County community are with each of them.”
McKenzie survived by his parents, Chiquita McKenzie and Errol Walker, one brother and his girlfriend, Jaliyah Royston. A service is scheduled to take place on June 5 at Spirit of Faith Christian Center in Brandywine.