Holly MatkinLaurel, MD – DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Reserve Officer Brian Bregman was found dead inside his home during a burglary investigation on Wednesday.
The 43-year-old reserve officer’s death is being investigated as a homicide, WRC reported.
At approximately 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday, the Laurel Police Department (LPD) received a repot of a possible burglary at a residence located in the 500-block of Main Street.
Reserve Officer Bregman, who was also a defense attorney, lived above his law office at that location, WRC reported.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the reserve officer dead inside his home.
Investigators have not released details regarding how Reserve Officer Bregman was killed, and LPD Chief Russ Hammill told reporters they are still working to identify both a suspect and a motive, WRC reported.
The 16-year MPD veteran was also a forensic evidence technician for the State Medical Examiner’s Office and a longtime member of the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department (GVFD), according to the news outlet.
He previously spent time serving as a volunteer firefighter in West Lanham Hills and Landover Hills, The Washington Post reported.
Criminal defense attorney David Zwanetz said he cannot imagine anyone wanting to harm Reserve Officer Bregman, who he described as a kind, gentle person with no enemies to speak of, The Washington Post reported.
“He was nothing but a pillar in the legal community,” Zwanetz said. “A young star, somebody that everybody knew was bright.”
He said his longtime colleague was a “statutory wizard” who was well-known as a go-to resource among his fellow attorneys, The Washington Post reported.
“His personality was one that he made everybody genuinely feel like we were his best friend,” defense attorney Andy Jezic told the paper. “He was a true gentleman. Someone that genuinely cared about the other person, wanted to give his time and expertise often times for free, just because he thought that was the right thing to do.”
Reserve Officer Bregman was not married and did not have any children, The Washington Post reported.
His younger brother, Jason Bregman, said Reserve Officer Bregman started volunteering as a firefighter as a teenager, and went on to become an emergency medical technician and paramedic.
“He did a lot of good for a lot of people,” Brian told The Washington Post.
#Breaking Homicide Yesterday, police responded for the report of a possible burglary in the 500 block of Main Street, Laurel, MD Upon arrival officers found Mr. Bregman deceased inside of his residence. Brian Bregman was a reserve officer for MPD. Photo below from MPD pic.twitter.com/6fYRSH2xGI
— Ryan Sprouse (@RSprouseNews) February 4, 2021
The suspicious death investigation is now a homicide investigation. Detectives are still on scene and we will release further information upon notification of next of kin If you have any information contact us at 301-498-0092 or [email protected] @LaurelPIO @cityoflaurel https://t.co/pymd9HTkBI
— Laurel Police (@LaurelPD) February 4, 2021
.@LaurelPD are asking for your help to find the person who killed Brian Bregman in his home. He was a local attorney, a @DCPoliceDept reserve officer, and a member of the Greenbelt Volunteer FD (@GVFD35). (@WUSA9) pic.twitter.com/ocTQptINgF
— John Henry (@JohnHenryWUSA) February 5, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of DC Metropolitan Police Department Reserve Officer Brian Bregman, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
