Police Chief John J. Mooney III confirmed this morning the line of duty
death of Atlantic City Police Officer Kevin Wilkins, 31 years of age and
a 2 ½ year veteran of the Atlantic City Police Department.
“Our agency has suffered a tragic loss,” Chief Mooney stated, “Officer
Wilkins had dedicated himself in a career of service to the people of
Atlantic City.”
A preliminary report of the investigation reveals that on this date,
Officer Wilkins was on patrol in uniform and operating a marked patrol
vehicle. He was in the area of Stanley Holmes Village at Kentucky and
Baltic Avenues along with other patrol units. At approximately 1:27 AM,
while parked on the roadway and seated inside his patrol unit, Officer
Wilkins suffered a single gunshot wound to the face as a result of the
accidental discharge of his semi-automatic service pistol. Other
officers on scene summoned immediate medical assistance for Officer
Wilkins; however, the officer was pronounced dead at the scene via
telemetry at 1:46 AM.
Based
upon a compilation of witness statements and forensic examination of the
evidence, it has been established that Officer Wilkins removed his
service pistol from his duty holster and was attempting to install a
rubber sleeve on the pistol grip. The officer had removed the loaded
magazine from the pistol but apparently failed to clear the pistol
chamber of a live round of ammunition, which unintentionally discharged
as the officer manipulated the pistol to install the rubber sleeve.
According to established protocol, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s
Office Major Crime Squad was requested to respond along with the
Atlantic County Medical Examiner. The official cause and manner of death
is pending autopsy results and a review of the case file by County
Prosecutor Ted Housel.
Officer Wilkins was a 1996 graduate of Atlantic City High School and
attended Tallahassee Community College, Seton Hall University and the NJ
Juvenile Justice Commission Training Academy prior to his service with
Atlantic City. He was a January 20, 2008 graduate of the Cape May County
Police Academy 25th Basic Course for Police Officers and assigned to
foot patrol prior to his present assignment on general patrol duties on
Charlie Platoon ( midnight to 8AM shift.)
Officer Wilkins is survived by his father, three siblings and his
fiancé. Funeral arrangements with Departmental Honors are pending and
will be released when available.
Authority: Police Chief John J. Mooney III
