From News Services and Staff Reports
Tuesday, August 13 1996; Page C07

An off-duty Prince George's County police officer was shot and wounded early yesterday during a robbery in a Hyattsville park, police said.

Bruce Howard, 28, a two-year officer assigned to the bureau of patrol and a former county firefighter, was treated for a gunshot wound in the lower back and released from the hospital.

Police said Howard and a female acquaintance were approached in Avondale Community Park by a gunman about 3:45 a.m. When the robber put a pistol to the woman's head and demanded money, she complied. But police said Howard struggled with the robber and was shot once.

The gunman ran, police said, and Howard called for help on his portable police radio.

Police said that Howard was not in uniform and that his private car was parked nearby. His handgun was in the car and had not been fired, they said.

Police spokesman Royce Holloway said he did not know why Howard was in the park, which is closed at night.