Officer fatally shot during traffic stop in NW Houston

This is a sad day for us in Houston. We just lost one of our local heros and he will be missed.

A Houston Police Department officer died this morning after being shot during a traffic stop in northwest Houston, department spokesman Gabe Ortiz said.

Police have taken a person into custody.

"We believe we have our man," said HPD Captain Bruce Williams.

The shooting occurred about 8:40 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 6000 block of West Sunforest at West Tidwell. The officer was taken to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

The officer's wife has arrived at the hospital, officials said. Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt has met with the family and is expected to make a statement. Several police officers are also at the hospital.

Joslyn Johnson, widow of slain officer Rodney Johnson, also arrived. She said she was going in to offer any kind of help she could to the officer's family.

"Every time it happens, it's just like it's happening to you again," said Johnson, whose husband was shot in 2006. She is also a police officer.

She said the shooting points out the need for Houston police officers to have two-person units. Crime scenes usually end up with two officers and two units, she said.

"Why can't they both be in the same car?'' she asked.

The officer, whose name has not been released, worked in the Northside patrol division. He has been an officer for at least 12 years.

The man taken into custody was picked up at a location in north Harris County. Authorities went there after checking the license plate of the vehicle that was the subject of the traffic stop.

No further information was immediately available

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