"As someone that spent nearly 30 years in law enforcement, I say based on experience having small municipal police departments is counterproductive to the mission of supressing criminal activity and arresting those persons responsible for committing it. Police departments by and large do a pretty poor job disseminating pertinent criminal information and intelligence within their own agency. Patrol officers are often left in the dark about vital information that those in their own criminal investigation section possess. On a much grander scale, the same dearth of informational exchange occurs between agencies coexisting within the same county bounderies. Most times getting credit for improving stats and egos are at play.
Money is a big factor in the effectiveness of a police department in being a serious crime fighting entity. These small five man departments barely have enough money to put a marked police car on the street, or provide the citizens round-the-clock protection. Salisbury Police Department, one of the largest agencies in Wicomico County, doesn't even have its own crime lab. Instead, they must rely on the availability of the Maryland State Crime lab. The Maryland State Police maintains a minimum presence in the county, usually with no more than three troopers on the road to cover the entire county at any one time. And their forte, and what the troopers get evaluated on, is their traffic stats. There's talk about creating one county police agency here in Wicomico. Carroll County has been having this discussion for years. Things are in place to make the Carroll County Sheriff's Department the county's police force.
Concerning middle-management in police departments, law enforcement agencies in most instances are no different than private companies. Folks that have time on the job; showed they can perform their current job; have demonstrated they're a team player; and demonstrate they're familiar with the agency's/company's administrative and operating procedures rise to mid-level and upper management. Only one problem with this: they have absolutely no management skills. Management skills, like learning to hit a baseball or golf ball, must be taught, understood, practiced and assimulated to do it correctly and effectively. Most managers, especially police management, are never taught the essential management skills of strategic planning, how to build a winning team, how to educate not just train employees, how to build winning relationships, how to deal with conflict, how to develop managerial leadership, the art of problem solving, how to motivate, how to negotiate, and, yes, even in police departments, how to create a customer service environment. Morale is often bad in police departments because the managers simply have no clue how to be effective, productive managers. Talk to any disgruntled employee and they'll tell you they don't dislike where they work because of pay or benefits, the do so because they feel their efforts aren't valued. Motivation by intimidation doesn't work.
As a citizen of Wicomico County, I hope the county moves forward and creates a single law enforcement agency to oversee law enforcement in the county. Once that's done, I hope the county executive appoints a chief of police that is both educated and progressive. And that the county commits enough resources to that agency so that they can attract and retain the best and brightest, as well as outfit the agency with crime-fighting technology that has been around for decades. The citizens deserve it, as do the criminals.
And to add to my last comment, after having only a handful left, you have to hire and train more officers, but in order to attract quality people you have to pay more....with a 45 million dollar law suit, I don't foresee any pay increases in the near future!!"
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
23 comments:
lets see hmmmmmmmmmm
Sheriff Lewis
or
The Grand Poo Bah Big Chiefy Lewis
Hmmmm!!!
Considering Mike is a friend of mine and he's only in his mid 40's, it would be hard for him to have spent 30 yrs in law enforcement.
Then again it does nearly 30 yrs..... I could have been a little hasty at first
Let's all just wait for "The Messiah" to create and implement his "civilian military."
That should be good enough.
Nothing like a bunch of black panthers walking the streets carrying full auto weapons.
Don't you just love people who write critical statements but don't have enough guts to sign their name?
Reconciled1,
Now that's a funny statement. Let's see, you speak up about the Mayoir and she sues you. You speak out about the Police Chief and he sues you.
What is it about this picture YOU DON'T GET?
After reading this post, I felt the need to defend the SPD. My husband is currently an officer for the city of Salisbury. He is often frustrated by the higher ups lack of committment to keeping this city safe, the poor moral in general of the department, and the high turnover rate of officers. He and other officers cannot control the administrative side of things. He goes out there everyday hoping to make a difference, and hoping other officers are doing the same. I don't know if having SPD join the Sherriff's department is a good thing or not. Nothing against Mike Lewis. He is a great assett to the community. What we need is a mayor who wants to work for the city instead of against it, and a city council who is actually there for the city, not their own personal agendas. I hope a new Chief can take over and clean things up by improving moral, and I hate to say this, but getting rid of the officers who are only doing enough just to get by, because no one in adminstrative is paying them any mind. There are a a number of officers there who are willing to serve this community the best they can, but they can only do so much with the current administration. I am proud of my husband. Even when someone asks who he works for and then is criticized for it, he will still do his job and hopefully be able to help those same people one day. I will sign this anonymous, not because I am afraid to be known, but afraid for my husband's position with the SPD.
anonymous 2:35, I feel your pain, believe me.
I am very proud of those Officers at the SPD as well. I have spent 4 years fighting battles for them as well as the Fire Department.
Granted, there have been some issues with certain individuals but individuals don't make a TEAM or a BROTHERHOOD.
I'd like to point out to everyone reading this Post and comments, what a shame it is today that the Wife of a Police Officer has to defend her Husband anonymously!
Clearly this Officer loves his job and his Wife is very proud of him. A new Mayor with the right vision and intention will change the lives of 87 Police Officers and that is what I have been driving at for years.
When the Mayor hired Chief Webster, she didn't educate herself on what it means to be a Baltimore Cop. A Baltimore Cop does NOT work with other Police Forces, PERIOD!
You can challenge me all day long as to what I know and what I don't know but let me assure you, in this case, I do know what I'm tlking about. The SPD needs new leadership and let me assure you, this Chief has done NOTHING to help the City of Salisbury, NOTHING AT ALL, just like Barrie Tilghman has done NOTHING for the Taxpayers of Salisbury.
DO YOU GET IT NOW? ARE YOU LISTENING?
A new Mayor will change all of that and I know of one Candidate who will NOT change a thing!
Well they can try do do what-ever they want to me, I dont care. They both are idiots that have got to go. Instead of worrying about what happens come election time they better worry about if they have buried the bones deep enough.
Wow! What a great post. This person sounds intelligent and seems to know what he's talking about. One particular line really sank in with me, though. SPD doesn't have a crime lab!! Now that's a good way to spend money....put the fire department crap back in the pot and if the money can be raised, let's give our police department a crime lab!!
My husband also works at the SPD. When I read this post I felt like the author was expressing exactly how my husband and I feel. I showed him this post but he refuses to comment on the blog and seldom reads it because he does not want the rank and file to think he is a traitor or simply put another way he cant afford to get caught-up and the anti chief rhetoric. He and I both feel this cop’s wife was EXACTLY right.
I am also proud of my husband’s work but I am sick and tired of the stress he and the other officers go through. It is one thing for officers to deal with the stress of being a police officer on the street but when the majority of his stress is coming from within his agency from those who are failing to lead the SPD it is completely different problem. My husband loves the job he does and enjoys working with his co-workers but over the years he has become increasingly discouraged by this agency.
If this continues, Salisbury and Wicomico County residents will suffer. Criminals do not just stay in the city boundaries. They use them to escape from one jurisdictional agency to another. I am sure as soon as other agency’s in the area get the LEOPS retirement we will see another mass exodus of experienced police officers form the SPD leave and go to other agencies. I hope something changes soon.
Thanks to all of the men and women that dedicated their lives for our protection. I commend their families for their sacrifice and support they give their loved ones. It is sad they risk their lives but what is a real tragedy is they get more grief from the people over top of them including the politicians that are elected to office... Again thank you and God Bless you all!!!
County Police force = new legislation and that means money. Just make it a county sheriff's office. You can not get rid of the sheriff's office per MD constitution.
I totally agree with the rest of the post, the communication is horrible, one huge piece is ego, I want the credit and the other, is not wanting your investigation screwed up by someone doing something to soon or telling the wrong people about it. That means hold the people accountable that mess up. This area will NEVER get better unless we work together. That will NEVER happen with separate agencies. So pick your mayor that will help in this function. Now is the time.
If this area had collective bargaining, the officers would not have to have their wives speak for them. They would have an avenue to speak without the worry of retribution like the city has now. We need a new chief and administration that empowers the police and the writer is 100% correct management who knows how to manage.
Thank God! Thanks for telling it like it is. Mike is a great guy but hardly ready for this enormous task. He has alot of drug busting skills and that's it. He just does'nt fit the criteria at this point.
12:55 Neither of them.
There are several candidates right here on the shore to run three police agencies. Mike Lewis is not one of them. No disrespect to Mike, he does a good job for the experience he has but not ready for the leadership of so many. I would love to see it. They would have no choice but work together instead of beating each other up. Many times credit is given to the Sheriff's Department when the credit belongd elsewhere. David Owens ring a bell? He is a very qualified professional and does not look for recognition. He is a man of honor.
Reconciled1 said...
Don't you just love people who write critical statements but don't have enough guts to sign their name?
2:05 PM
I hardly think Reconciled1 is your name. The pot calling the kettle black.
I get sick and tired of hearing how stressful a cop's life is and how stressful their spouses lives are.
You knew what you were getting into.
There are other professions which are just as stressful if not more.
I know cops put their lives on the line every day and I salute them for that. But at the same time, this is what they signed up for.
I will also say that if more cops would do their job seriously, there would be less crime. As to those cops, you know who you are.
7:37 I agree. It's a job you chose to do. Do it and be professional or get out and find something else. I make more than most law enforcement. I chose my proffession and you don't hear me boo hooing all the time.
Alot of cops do it for ego !!! There is NO money in EGO guys. Get Out if you want money!
When I looked at becoming a police officer, I knew the risk from the public that I would put myself in. However, I never saw the risk I put myself in from the management. Just like this article says it is the management that police fear here more than the streets. You know what to expect in the street, you are hated for what you are, we get that. To worry about what the administration is going to do you for doing your job is the stress a police officer should never have, ever. I am not saying if you screw up, you shouldn’t face it. I am talking about being too active and making too many arrests, then being told that you need to slow down your enforcement because billy joe is related to billy council member, and we don’t want to make them mad. Or from exactly what the writer stated, pooooooooor management, that is what stresses police far beyond the streets. Trust us, we knew what we were getting into there, just never saw that the management would be so bad and so behind the times, not wanting to change, not wanting to progress. It wasn't until Mike Lewis became Sheriff that the deputies stopped getting pulled into the office for writing a "voter" a ticket for reckless driving. So, please everyone when you hear the stress from the family and the officers it is not the streets, we knew that, and yes it is heavy.
Just think of this, you go to your computer everyday and have to worry if your computer shuts down and then you can not afford to pay your bills and have to look for another job that you are not trained in nor have the experience in. Welcome to Wicomico County Sheriff's Office. The deputies have to worry if they get hurt, from doing their job, then the county will only pay them a small portion for a few years (if they decide to at all) and then you are on your own, no health benefits for the injury you now have forever, no pay, no nothing but hardship. I know several deputies that are working with injuries that they could retire from if they worked for other local departments. So how stressed do you think they are? Stress from the streets you say, nope not them.
Please be fair and ask yourself something, when you were young and went to work in your profession, how many times did you think about retirement, future planning. It didn't happen until you got a little older right? Well it is the same for us, but in police work, we do not have the ease at moving on to another agency because the retirement and tenure does not transfer. So, to the person that said get out if you don’t like it, not that easy. I’m sure a lot would if they could.
Police work is a little like the professional athletes, when you get injured or can't run as fast as you used to, or fighting with a guy in round two seems much harder than it used to. You start to think about getting hurt and then your family, your kids, your house, your car come mind after your thought of "oh sh&t, am I going to make it out ok", then “am I going to be able to continue to work if I don't". Is that fair?
I hope you understand a little more of our stress. Ask any cop, any working cop, would you rather work the street or go in front of the management and see what they say. If they are not worried about retribution for speaking their mind, they will tell you the streets, because they do know what they are getting.
I challenge all that think the stress comes just from being a law enforcement officer IE: schedule, streets, the pain, the constant negativity, the justice systems revolving door, the family stress from all the above; to ride with a police officer in Salisbury City for a couple times, not once, they will never tell you the truth, it isn't until they see they can trust you are not going to tell the management what they say, will you get the truth.
I have been fortunate enough to work in a unit that led me to meet a lot of different police officers around the country. When I exchange the war stories with them, they are amazed at how this areas management handles it and goes about fighting crime. It is so time for us to make a change.
Now look at where they Sheriff’s Office is, they have a Sheriff that has put some energy back into it, I am sure you have seen that. Then we have a new executive that is trying his best for the county, and then we have a council that is playing a power play and hiring back a person to help fight the executive and the sheriff’s office. Is the effective management, should they have that stress.
Bottom line, do you want an already stressed out cop coming to handle your family matter or life and death situation, or the cop that walks into the situation with confidence that he is going to get the job done with a department standing behind him ready to offer him/her help.
When you have anything happen in your job, business, life, good effective management can get you through. Is that so much to ask for us to have? I sure hope not. I also hope YOUR computer stays running without any problems.
I can not sit back and read the statements about the possibility of a county wide police force without stating the obvious. It does not take a formal degree to lead. Some of our greatest leaders in time of crisishave been the guy next door type.
A leader will lead by example. As a twenty-three year officer I have followed the lead of few, but had total respect and confidence in some of the appointed supervisors I have worked under. One can not teach courage or intestinal fortitude. It is either in you or it is not. Say what you will about Mike Lewis. It was more than drug interdiction that makes hi what he is today. Sheriff lewis had the courage to do what most would not or had the courage to do. I attended his training for the first time last year. It gave me a whole new insight into just what risk this man took for a cause he believed in. That speaks volumes to me as to what he was truly about.
I have arrested suspects on charges ranging from petty theft to rape, robbery, child sex abuse, and homicides. I do recall years ago Sheriff lewis while a trooper had to take the life of a felon. The laboring and toll it took on this man was more than obvious. The risk was there yet day in and day out he worked the state highways looking for the next major trafficer.
I have no issues with any department in this county. I do know that a Sheriff has to answer to the will of the people or he will not last the next election. The common man can come into a Sheriff's Office and he better be heard or the news will travel fast.
Hunter nelms was also a people's Sheriff that is why he lasted as long as he did. Mike lewis will do the same he has the fabric to lead. He does not need the National Academy or a formal degree. The man learned by actually doing the Job. Sheriff Lewis has cop crediabilty that can not be bought or learned in any class room.
I will state, that I was not happy to see a Maryland State Trooper take over the Sheriff's Office. I felt that a Trooper would not have that same mentality a Sheriff would have. I was wrong.
If this county is to suceed as a "County Police Force" it has little to do with what department has better officers. I respect all the officers serving in this county. A leader dedicated to the public is what is needed. If I where not in the position I would still believe in the office of the Sheriff. It just makes sense that the lead enforcer of the law answer to the public.
The logistics make sense for a county department. The pride we all have in our agnecies is what makes us the officers we are. We have to think outside the box and not only what is beat for us, but the public as well. It is very apparent there is plenty of work for all of us. That is a reallity of the society in which we live. Pride can be a powerful tool, but it can also be very foolish if we overlook the obvious.
To spouses of all these brave people who did in fact know exactly what they were getting into to. I salute you, be proud and continue to fight for a safe community and the safety of your loved ones. To my brothers and sisters behind the badge stand tall
there is no better career on earth if the elected officials untie the binds that hold us. God Bless us all.
To those of you that serve you know who I am.
11:16 you have made a good point. honestly, however the reason you are disrepected by many in the streets may be due to those officers who derespect the offenders. if Mike Lewis is Sheriff for much longer we will need to build a few more jails. Think about this..they put a Sheriff's Deputy in all of the schools right? Not a bad idea. A kid makes a few dance passes on his computer to get in free..with me? Okay, the kid should not have done this. It was wrong. It saved a few people $3.00 to get in to the dance. Was it really neccesary to charge this kid for being stupid? Really, back when I was a kid you would have been sent to the office and dealt with accordingly. If you threw a cigarette in the street you did'nt go to court..they simply told you to pick the damn cigarette up. Look, I believe in accountability. I also believe in accountability should be foe all. Kind of like Davis Ruark's mistake. He took that mistake and learned from it . I wonder at times if he would have been caught in Wicomico County if it would have been covered up though. This kind of police ego is what makes people disrepect certain officers. These type of officers are out there to destroy everyone who makes a mistake. This child now has a juvenile record. I hope this ego happy cop sleeps good at night because what comes around goes around. To those of you who are proffessional, thank you for what you do. You are the ones who remember your youth and the stupid things you did as a kid. We have many more problems than the petty crap these deputies are charging people for. If you stop someone for speeding, okay, give them a ticket for speeding as I am sure many of you do. Those of you who add 14 additional charges that never happened, well you will get yours someday.I am sure you will agree there are some not so proffessional officers out there and they certainly are no good for your force or the public. Remember the one we all have to answer to in the end.
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