Orange Police Department

((pictured from left to right) Orange Police Director Aric Webster, Chatrian Shields-widow of 2006 Valor Award Recipient Detective Kieran T. Shields/Orange Police Department, Eneida Camacho-widow of 2006 Valor Award Recipient Sergeant Tommaso Popolizio/Newark Police Department, Newark Police Chief Anthony Campos and Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura.

Detective Kieran T. Shields
Orange Police Department

Shortly before midnight on August 7, 2006, Detective Kieran Shields and his partner, Detective Dave Thompson, arrived at Taylor Street to investigate reports of shots fired. When the detectives arrived at the scene they observed a known Bloods gang member, toting a shotgun. Just prior the arrival of the officers, the suspect had discharged his weapon, inflicting non-life threatening wounds on a rival gang member. Upon spotting the officers, the suspect fled and Shields chased him into the trash-filled backyard of an abandoned row house while his partner stayed out front.

It was then that the suspect, standing on the second-floor landing of a rear exterior staircase, fired his shotgun, this time, at Detective Shields from close range. Shields’ bulletproof vest could not stop the shotgun blast that tore into his neck and collarbone. Despite being rushed to University Hospital, Detective Shields was pronounced dead at midnight.

Shields’ alleged killer was arrested a few hours later and charged with murder and weapons charges. He faces 30 years in state prison for his crime. The suspect had been free on bail on robbery and weapons charges. Since his arrest for Detective Shields’ murder the suspect has subsequently been sentenced to 14 years in state prison on those charges.

Detective Shields was the son of Orange Police Officer Christopher Shields. Upon applying for the force, the elder Shields advised his son that the job was dangerous. Kieran Shields, however, replied, “I like helping people. You did it, I’ll be fine.”

Detective Shields was a highly decorated officer. Among his many contributions to the people of his community it should be remembered that in 2004 he recovered a 5-year-old girl who had been kidnapped.

For his distinguished career in law enforcement, for his role as a mentor to the youth of our community and for making the ultimate sacrifice, The 200 Club was both saddened and proud to have posthumously presented its Valor Award to Detective Kieran T. Shields.

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