Worcester police search for wife of officer found dead at home: "Presumed to be armed and dangerous"

Police are searching for Karen Solomon as they investigate the death of a veteran Worcester, Massachusetts, police officer who was off duty at the time. Sources tell WBZ-TV that the officer was Solomon's husband.

Solomon, 58, is "presumed to be armed and dangerous," said Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier. She was last seen walking toward Westcott Street wearing pajama shorts and a tank top. Anyone who sees her or has information is urged to call police.

Police responded just before 5:30 a.m. Tuesday to Solomon's home on Wildwood Avenue for a call about a medical situation. The officer, later identified by the police union as 57-year-old Kurt Solomon, was found dead at the home. Investigators have not released his cause of death. 

Patrolman Solomon was a 31-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department and has two adult sons. 

Authorities said they could not share more information about the relationship between the officer and Karen Solomon because of state laws concerning domestic violence cases, but sources told WBZ they were married. 

Officer Thomas Duffy, President of NEPBA Local 911, said Officer Solomon was a distinguished member of the department and was getting close to retirement.

"Kurt was a loved and respected member of our department with 31 years," Duffy said. "When you serve 31 years with an individual you become more than coworkers, you become family and today we lost a member of our family."

Who is Karen Solomon?

WBZ's Louisa Moller interviewed Karen Solomon back in 2016 about her efforts to develop an app for police officers who are in crisis. She also wrote a book called "Hearts Beneath the Badge," detailing good deeds performed by law enforcement.

At the time, Solomon told Moller she was married to a Worcester police officer. 

"I'm going to tell some stories about all the good things people forget they do," Solomon said, referring to police officers. "They buy meals, they save people's lives, they put themselves in jeopardy."  

Karen Solomon is the founder of the organization First H.E.L.P. that addresses the mental health crisis facing first responders.

The organization provides training and family support, tracks first responder suicides nationwide, and advocates for change at the state and federal levels.

Worcester police investigation

A reverse 911 call went out to residents within a 2.5-mile radius of the crime scene. There was a huge law enforcement presence in the area Tuesday, including a helicopter from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and personnel from Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service.

"You got a person in the neighborhood, in the area, presumed to be armed and dangerous, you want to do everything you can to find that person as quickly as possible and also find out what happened in the house that evening," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said. 

The district attorney referred to Solomon as a suspect in the case, saying "we want her for questioning."

In the afternoon, law enforcement moved to a second scene on Mill Street. An ambulance arrived there at about 2 p.m.

Neighbors on Tuesday told WBZ that the couple had been in the neighborhood a long time, and they were shocked by the news. Longtime resident James Samtom said the officer was an "awesome guy."

"I see him walking around all the time, the most awesome person you ever want to meet," he said. "This is crazy."