35th District police officer critically injured en route to anti-violence event

A 28-year-old police officer assigned to the 35th District, which covers portions of West Oak Lane and East Germantown, remained in critical condition at Hahnemann University Hospital on Sunday, two days after he was involved in a crash while en route to a Midnight Run for Peace event.

According to NewsWorks content partner NBC Philadelphia, Officer Milan Merke was riding a motorcycle when he was hit by a car at Broad and Master streets.

“We’re just asking that you continue to keep Milan and my family in your prayers,” the officer’s mother, Tonya Merke, told NBC10, “because prayer changes things.”

The report stated that dozens of officers on motorcycles signed up to participate in the Midnight Run for Peace in which they patrol through North Philadelphia, to talk to people and gather information on crimes.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Merke is a four-year veteran of the force.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal