This week is National Police Week. It is an annual U.S. observance held in May that honors law enforcement officers who have died or were disabled in the line of duty. Established in 1962 by President Kennedy, it includes Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 and brings thousands of officers to Washington, D.C. for tribute events.

This week in Berks County we remember and honor Officers’ Michael Wise (EOW: 06/05/2004), Scott Wertz (EOW: 08/06/2006), and Deputy Kyle Pagerly (EOW: 06/29/2011) and their survivors.

MICHAEL HARRY WISE, II

Police Officer Michael Wise died of wounds he received when he was accidentally shot by another officer who mistook him and two other undercover officers for suspects during a shootout in the 700 block of Schuylkill Avenue.

Officer Wise and the two undercover officers were conducting a search for a suspect involved in an earlier shooting when they observed a man exit a car in front of them holding a handgun. The man immediately opened fire on the officers when he saw them. Officer Wise and another one of the officers exited the patrol car and exchanged fire with the suspects.

At the same time, another officer came upon the scene and observed the shootout. Thinking the officer still in the car was one of the suspect, he ordered him to drop his weapon. As the undercover officer continued firing at the suspect the uniformed officer fired four rounds. One of the rounds deflected off of the undercover car and struck Officer Wise in the head.

The undercover officer in the vehicle drove Officer Wise to a nearby hospital and he was then airlifted to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he later died from his wounds. The other undercover officer continued chasing the suspect and apprehended a short time later.

The suspect was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to only 13.5 to 27 years in prison.

Officer Wise had served with the Reading Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife and one daughter.

SCOTT ALAN WERTZ

Police Officer Scott Wertz was shot and killed at approximately 2:00 am after he and his partner responded to a fight at a local convenience store at the intersection of 8th and Walnut Streets.

Officer Wertz and his partner were working a plainclothes regional auto theft detail when the call was broadcast and they responded to the scene. When they arrived at the location, they heard several shots in the parking lot and saw a man leaving the lot.

As the officers approached the man he began to flee on foot. When Officer Wertz caught the man, he suddenly fired two shots, fatally striking Officer Wertz in the chest. Officer Wertz's partner immediately tackled the suspect and took him into custody.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Officer Wertz had served with the Reading Police Department for 11 years. He had previously worked as a prison guard and as a part-time officer for the Sinking Spring Borough Police Department and the South Heidelberg Township Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

KYLE DAVID PAGERLY

Deputy Kyle Pagerly was shot and killed while serving a warrant as part of a fugitive task force at a home on Pine Swamp Road in Albany Township.

When task force members arrived at the scene the suspect ran into the woods. Deputy Pagerly and his canine pursued the suspect. When officers located him he opened fire with an AK-47, striking Deputy Pagerly under the arm in the side of his vest. Other officers returned fire and killed the subject. After Deputy Pagerly was struck, his K9 ,"Jynx", tried to pull Kyle to safety by dragging him out of the line of fire.

Investigation revealed that the suspect had written a suicide note two days earlier and it is believed that he shot Deputy Pagerly in his attempt to commit suicide-by-cop.

Deputy Pagerly was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Deputy Pagerly was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Berks County Sheriff's Department for five years. He also served with the Spring Township Fire Department and at the time of the incident was deputized as a special deputy with the U.S. Marshal's fugitive task force. He is survived by his expectant wife and parents.