The Greenbelt Police Department paid tribute to the life and service of Corporal Christine Peters on November 5 with a memorial sign on Kenilworth Avenue/Route 201, north of Cherrywood Lane. Peters died from injuries on January 14, 2021, after she was struck by a car while attending to a car crash there on January 2.
“Everything that we do to remember Chris is really for the family… and our law enforcement family,” said Police Chief Richard Bowers.
Peters began working in Greenbelt in 1998, after she first started her career in the University of Maryland Police Department. During her 22 years of service, Peters worked as an evidence technician before transitioning to her role as a patrol officer.
Noting that Peters was known for her strong wit and mentorship, Bowers remarked on the thought process he undertook before preparing his speech to present the memorial sign to Greenbelt.
“I sat down and I thought to myself ‘what would Chris do?’ And then a voice hit me – and it was Chris,” said Bowers. “And she said ‘just shut up and get out of the way.’”
Since Peters’ death, Sergeant Scott Kaiser, Traffic Enforcement MPO Scott Yankowy and Captain Mark Sagan were a few voices from the department who contributed ideas to honor Peters.
Outside of work, Peters, who was married with two children, volunteered her time with the Special Olympics of Greenbelt.
“She had such a unique personality and she meant so much to so many. She was a wife, mother and mentor,” said Bowers. The memorial sign stands along Kenilworth Avenue, reminding drivers of Peters’ sacrifice and dedication to Greenbelt.
Shannon Clark is a University of Maryland graduate student in journalism reporting for the News Review.