DC police chief: Officer Jamal Shaw 'spent his life trying to make others happy'

WASHINGTON - The police chief for the Metropolitan Police Department spoke out about the loss one of his officers in a motorcycle crash last Friday in Prince George's County.

Chief Peter Newsham said Officer Jamal Shaw was a highly regarded officer who leaves behind his parents, three siblings and a girlfriend. He joined the force in May 2015 and was assigned to the First District.

"Anybody who will tell you anything about Jamal, they will say he was one of those guys that always tried to put a smile on your face and that is one of the things I will relay to these officers when I go in there and speak to them," the police chief said. "Jamal is looking down on us. I think the last thing he would like to see is to see us be sad because he spent his life trying to make others happy."

Prince George's County police said they are trying to identify the driver who cut off Officer Shaw and forced him to swerve and slide his motorcycle on its side on Piscataway Road near Brandywine Road in Clinton. Another car driving in the opposing direction struck Shaw.

Shaw was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said the driver who hit the officer stayed at the scene and will not be charged.

However, the driver who police say cut Shaw off did not stay at the scene and police want to talk with that person.

"Who knows what was in the mind of the driver that cut off Jamal at the time," said Chief Newsham. "That person knows what happened. We would really appreciate it if they would come forward and let the Prince George's County police know."

It is unclear if any video was captured of the deadly crash.

Anyone with information about the crash or witnessed the incident is asked to call the Prince George's County Police Department's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit at 301-731-4422. Anonymous tips can be left with Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or at www.pgcrimesolvers.com.