Incident
Corporal Edward Toatley was shot and killed while conducting an undercover narcotics investigation in Washington, DC. He had been deputized as a federal agent as part of a regional narcotics task force conducted in Maryland and Washington, DC.
As Corporal Toatley attempted to purchase narcotics from the suspect, he was shot in the head at close range while sitting in a car in the 2000 block of Douglas Street, NE. After the shooting, the suspect fled on foot. Corporal Toatley was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries approximately two hours later.
The suspect, 23, was later arrested in New York and extradited to Washington, DC, where he entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to life without possibility of parole.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MD-60A3213E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Toatley gave the Maryland State Police 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Maryland. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Toatley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Edward M. Toatley is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Maryland State Police, 14 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward M. Toatley's cause is highlighted.
How Edward M. Toatley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward M. Toatley is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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