Imclain.....usually I agree with you. This time I don't. A little background. Maryland towns, counties, etc., don't get any money from traffic tickets. Delaware does.....Maryland doesn't. Not one penny.
That being said Berlin Police department has been short changed by their Mayor and Council for several years now. Berlin and Delmar police departments are among the lowest paid in Maryland so certified officers aren't rushing to work there. When positions become vacant - if they are permitted to fill them - they must hire new recruits and pay their salaries for 6 months while they attend the police academy. Once they gain experience they move on to agencies that pay higher salaries and offer better benefits. Agencies and communities that can least afford it must pay the most.
Unfortunately for Berlin P.D., when officers leave for higher paying positions elsewhere or retire, the Mayor is not allowing the Chief to fill the vacant positions. The lack of patrol is not due to donut shops, radar traps, or seat belt patrols. It is due to unfilled vacancies and/or young, inexperienced officers. It is repeatedly and all too often the case that the law enforcement agencies plead with their mayors and councils for the resources they need but until the crime rates go up, these pleas fall on the deaf ears of councils who are being penny wise but dollar foolish. The recent rash of burglaries in Berlin is a perfect example of what happens when these pleas are ignored. Another example is the recent shooting, burglary, and rape in Delmar. Again, the result of a former Mayor and council who underestimated the needs of a law enforcement agency for too long. Fortunately for the citizens of Delmar, they have a new Mayor and Council who are very well aware of many of the problems faced by their police department and are well on their way to addressing them. Fruitland P.D. picked up their efforts at addressing similar problems when their new Police Chief came aboard some time ago and are further down the road to addressing the needs of their community as well. Chief Downing and the Berlin Police Department need the support of their governing body as well. The safety and security of their community needs to be given priority.
Imclain, law enforcement agencies cannot be lumped together. One cannot compare the police function of small towns such as Berlin, Delmar, and Fruitland, with larger agencies such as Salisbury Poice Department, Wicomico County Sheriff's Office, etc. Larger agencies are insulated from their respective communities and are, therefore, not as affected by the voice of the voters. Salisbury is pre-occupied by the political goings on and Wicomico County is pre-occupied by the wasteful spending by the BOE, etc (not finger pointing, just giving examples of issues that tend to draw the attention of the people). The results of an effective proactive police agency often cannot be accurately measured. But the results of an under paid, under staffed police department become completely apparent AFTER the safety of the community has been compromised - often after it has been neglected for a long time. It then costs much more to gain control and put it back in the hands of the community. Small police departments are much more likely to be aware of the needs of the communities within their town and how to effectively address those needs with the help of those communities. They, at the direction of their administrations, are more likely to remember that their mission is one of "protect and serve" rather than "seek and destroy" as is often the case with larger law enforcement agencies that are insulated from the will of the people by out of touch elected officials (MSP?). Small towns are the perfect model of what America is supposed to be about. Elected officials carrying the voice of the people forward (without the input of special interests) from top to bottom. Most police administrations in small towns remember the oath they took and, to the extent possible, impress upon their staff the importance of that oath as they exercise discretion when enforcing the law within their jurisdiction. It is, after all, the spirit of the law that must be enforced rather than the letter of the law. I'm not saying that members of small law enforcement agencies don't go astray. I know that they can and do. But in a small town, elected officials and their law enforcement administrations can address small problems as they arise, regardless of the nature, provided they maintain an open channel of communication.
Chief Downing is an intelligent, articulate young Chief of Police. He Started in Berlin as a recruit and worked his way up through the ranks. He is a resident of the Town of Berlin and is very familiar with the law enforcement needs of the town and its communities. I know that he has expressed his concerns relating to the salary shortcomings, the lack of benefits, and the lack of adequate staffing to the elected officials. They now shoulder the blame for the resulting spike in crime perpetrated against the citizens. The power to fund the police department to adequately serve the town is in the hands of the Mayor and Council of the Town of Berlin. Let's hope for the sake of the citizens that they will do the right thing.
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21 comments:
Crisfield is the SAME way! Have you looked at their department, cars and staff? Seems like the mayor and the council are working against their communities everywhere.
Hold on just a second! Don't poor mouth it at the expense of Delaware. Delaware has their State Police and, in some cases, a local cop or two in small towns such as Fenwick Island. Maryland has their State Police, PLUS their County Sheriff, PLUS a Town Police in OC. You are complaining that YOUR police organization in Berlin is underfunded and short of staff compared to who? There are 3 separate police departments to cover Berlin for crying out loud.
Please tell the rest of us why 2 departments (State & County) are not sufficient for Berlin and why you need your own. Is law harder to enforce in Maryland?
A reasoned and articulate reply. Enlightening, too. Thank you for the information. I grew up in a small town, where everyone knew and LIKED the police. You KNEW they were there for our protection and benefit and just as likely to tell you to "don't do that anymore", or "slow down", or "quit being so loud/rowdy", rather than body slam you, show up with 15 other cops to "enforce their will", pepper spray everyone in sight, handcuff you and begin to beat you, and all the other tough guy bravado they so like to perform nowadays. Further, I resent the police, especially the State Police (to me, the epitomy of the storm trooper tough guy (when there are 7-8 of them), my way or else type A thug) telling us that we NEED their PERMISSION to buy guns, carry them or use them to protect ourselves. I've said it before--- they don't stop crime or protect anyone. They show up and REPORT crime. I also have said they don't "protect and serve" as they so often tell us. They generate REVENUE for the state and do so in a quasi-military mode. I don't like being monitored and controlled by a paramilitary force who's main mission is to make money for the state. If Berlin is having a problem with break-in's, why won't the State Police assign some troopers to help? Some kind of polictical/jurisdictional issue I'm sure (which NEVER stops them from writing TICKETS in the town of Berlin, huh?), but in the end, it (to me) comes down to protecting citizens and the State Police need to generate REVENUE and if your property is stolen or you are beaten to death in a robbery, they ain't losing much sleep. There are "checkpoints" to man. Speed traps to set-up, and donuts to eat. Safety of the citizenry? Not even CLOSE to their top priorities. Police are a necessary evil in our society but they are out of control and have, long ago, forgot who they work for and don't "serve" anyone but themselves. But I DO thank you for the exposition....
Well stated. Arnold Downing is doing everything he can with what he has to work with in Berlin. I often see him walking a foot beat on Main street to show a police presence in the town. Only other town I've seen that in is in Snow Hill. And they have similar issues.
Many of the Berlin officers could leave for better pay/benefits but choose to stay because of the trust they have in Chief Downing.
Craig Theobald
Ironshire
There's a BIG difference in covering, and patroling. Yes, MSP and WCSO are available to "cover", calls for service when the lone Berlin PD Officer is committed. Such as when the officer has to provide taxi service for "mental patients" from AGH to PRMC.
But, there is usually little "patrolling", as the Trooper or Deputy also has to cover the rest of the county. Not the level of Law Enforcement service the taxpayers of Berlin or Delmar are paying for.
Chief Downing for many years has been able to insure at least two Officers were on duty at least 20 of the 24 hour day. This is no longer the case to not being able, or allowed, to fill open positions.
Hold on 5:25 (in MD) county and state police do not patrol towns and cities that have their own police. The local police does. If that local police needs help they get it through mutual aid agreements. In towns with no police incorporated towns are actually FORCED to pay extra for county and state patrols.
"(in MD) county and state police do not patrol towns and cities that have their own police."
That's my point. Get rid of them and all of their administration. Why do these towns need their OWN?Remember, the entire State pays for State police so, if they need 2 more troopers for Berlin, Berlin citizens won't need to fund that all by themselves. I would say that a Chief and 2 local cops cost Berlin about $300K minimum. How much would it cost Berlin taxpayers to have additional County/State patrols?
The boom times are over.
8:25....you obviously have no clue as to what it takes. We're talking about proactive law enforcement here. Slow patrols in neighborhoods to start. The state police are revenue generators. True enought, they do supply law enforcement when called upon - but not until then. They are a highway patrol. An investment by the state that generates a return. Top ticket producers are given unmarked cars, etc., as an incentive to be high producers of tickets, DWI's, etc. Sheriff's patrols have vast areas to cover - often with only 2 or 3 people on duty. Berlin is a town with a high concentration of people requiring a higher saturation of police patrol. If state troopers and deputy sheriff's were to spend all of their time in one town proactively patrolling, who would patrol the other towns if there were no local law enforcement? I was speaking to a Delaware trooper just yesterday. He stated that there are only 2 - 3 troopers on duty at a time in Sussex county and that they could use 8. Also....delaware towns DO have their own law enforcement agencies...Look at Seaford, Laurel, all of the towns on the ocean. And how is my comment crying poormouth at the expense of Delaware? I never mentioned Delaware. I think we were discussing Berlin - MARYLAND.
Imclain - The Berlin Barrack don't have sufficient manpower to assign a special patrol in a permanent mode. They have in the past assisted local PD's and the sheriff's offices with short term patrols in problem areas but the problem that small towns have due to under funding affect the day to day operations. I agree with you about the revenue generation mission of the state. The troopers will do their jobs and carry out their assignments as instructed by the higher ups. Unfortunately for the citizenry, the focus is money, not protecting and serving. That mentality starts at the top of that agency - the governors office. Totally out of touch with the needs of individual communities.
9:37 it would never work out to where the Town of Berlin would receive the same level of protection/coverage they currently need. It simply doesn't work like that. Two more troopers for Berlin? Really? Try two per shift. Remember, they are human beings and don't work 24 hours a day 365 days a year. 2 more troopers on at a time means five shifts and all necessary support staff such as supervision and administration. Then there are cars and uniforms, vacations days, holidays, sick days, benefits, court time. You wanted answers, here they are. Considering the pay differential, it's cheaper to have a local police department than it is to cover the same area with the same number of local police. In order to have an incorporated municipality, the citizens must be provided with law enforcement protection whether they have their own police department or they pay the state or the sheriff to provide it. Also, following your plan to fold the local police department, a rapid increase in crime and a substantial increase in response time would immediately result. So when someone is breaking into a citizens home and the response time is 20 minutes rather than 3,
YOU tell the victims to get used to it, the Boom times are over.
Also Imclain....it isn't the police who instituted the unconstitutional laws relating to wearing and carrying of firearms. The state did. I know several oath keepers who refuse to arrest a citizen for possessing a handgun. They remember the oath they took to uphold the constitution. I do understand the disgust with the State Police mentality and the lack of respect that they exhibit toward violators of basic traffic laws during traffic stops. No excuse for it at all.
Most small towns on the eastern shore of Maryland are having budget problems and are now to the point of lacking funds to hire and train additional officers. Where are these officers going after resigning positions because of low pay? Joe you mentioned a week or so ago the Wicomico Sheriff department deputies were leaving as if there were no tomorrow. Where are they going?
Too many times in the past, and present, towns e use grants to obtain more officers BUT the stipulation has been, when the grant money runs out, the town HAS to pay the officers. Common sense dictates if you have to use grant money - than where are you going to get the money to pay the officers. These town officials are not looking ahead or they are sticking their heads in the sand - if you don't see the problem, than it is not there.
I am retired, so am not paying the income taxes I once did - My home has been assessed several thousand dollars lower, therefore I pay less property taxes. I am buying less and driving less - therefore less sales tax. Why didn't these officials have the foresight to see this day coming - I did.
We can't even get the county to REMOVE SNOW! And you want to trust them to police your town effectively? Or in the case of the state... you mean the same state that is a BILLION in the red right now? The same state that is pushing teacher pentions on the counties? You think that state will pony up more money to increae patrols in places that get rid of their police enforcement? Get real!
I disagree. The monies from tickets go into a general fund for the state. The state in turn uses that money to give to the various counties and cities.
It may not be DIRECTLY, but they get the monies nonetheless.
11:43 is on target and I would add that towns who have encouraged rental annexations and home conversions are probably ones with budget problems the most
Bottomline, small, incorporated towns were great when the masses lived in one, centralized hamlet. Population decentralization, crime, and a small town's inability to generate enough revenue from its limited resources make these incorporated towns ineffective, unresponsive money pits.
In the interim, if the police department of Berlin doesn't have their new recruits sign employment contracts binding them to service with the town for a prescribed minimum amount of time, then this is a reflection of how poorly managed Berlin really is.
The only people moaning about not having enough money to grow their police department are those that live in one of those towns that have one. The rest of us pay fewer taxes and complain far less.
The whole idea with crime control, in my opinion is to nip it in the bud. Sure, county and state police could respond if called. By the time they arrive, the crime will have been committed and those that committed it will be long gone. We need police who will patrol our neighborhoods, check in on businesses on a regular basis and get to know the residents and their needs. I live in Delmar. We dont see the police patrolling like they should. Is it because they don't want to? Or because they can't? If it is due to the latter, than the officials better put something in the works or things around here will only get worse. Here's my bet; the new mayor and council on the Maryland side will want it because they can afford it. The same old mayor and council on the Delaware side won't because they can't (or won't) want to pay for it. How much is their life or property worth? Mine is definitely worth another police officer if that is what's needed!
8:04 am. Berlin did not seem to have those management problems when Linda was there. What has happened?
Berlin and every other agency have been using those contracts for 20 years or more. They are standard 2 year contracts. After they expire, those officer have gained experiance and will go to agencies that pay better. In most cases much better.
I think the bottom line is small town taxpayers pay more for extra services.
Small town policing is entirely different animal than say a state trooper. It's like compairing apples to oranges. Each is important in their own aspect, but different in nature.
One; smaller area, a more concentrated patrol.
Two; an emphasis on individual service.
Many small town officers know their local "knuckleheads" on sight. They are also familiar with regular citizens, where they live, and their family members.
If I know citizen A is on vacation, and I see someone who doesn't live there walking around their backyard, I know something is amiss.
You rarely get that with larger agencies.
BTW; because of the manpower shortage at Berlin P.D, Chief Downing frequently has to answer calls for services. This is taking him away from all of the other administrative duties that come with running a police department. His plate is already running over.
9:13 is absolutely right. There is now way the citizens of a town or city will get the same type and level of policing from a Sheriff's Patrol or a State Police Patrol. They already have too much area to cover. They respond to calls after the fact and simply cannot be proactive. Local police are more attuned (supposed to be anyway) to the needs and day to day goings on of their areas. They are integrated with the community rather than moving from place to place. The value of attracting and/or retaining an adequate number qualified personnel cannot be overstated if you want the quality of police protection necessary for a smaller geographical area with a higher concentration of residents. That being said, the law enforcement administration must have the support of the community and their elected representatives in order to achieve and maintain that level of protection. Equally important is the fact that law enforcement must actually provide that type of protection once the support of the elected officials is given. The local police must ACT like local police rather than...say....State Police. They must patrol the neighborhoods rather than the highways. They must be more concerned with Patrol checks of local businesses rather than arresting DWI's on Rts. 13, 50, or 113. They must get out or their cars and talk to the people within their community rather than ride by looking straight ahead. They must make an effort to make a positive impression on local kids rather than just hunt them down after they make a mistake. In the same spirit, it is incumbent upon the law enforcement administration of small towns to cultivate the type of officers who recognize and exercise the type of discretion necessary to achieve this type of effective policing through both positive and negative reinforcement. Some officers just aren't cut out to be police officers in small communities. Some are better suited for big city police work. Some want to work their 8-10 hour shifts and call it a day. Not necessarily the type of officers you want policing small communities. But if you want effective community based policing, Administrations and elected officials have to make it happen. It just won't happen on it's own.
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