Kevin Spradlin
CUMBERLAND — Allegany County Bureau of Police Chief J. Robert Dick reflected on what he called a “very, very busy year” for the agency in 2009, its first full calendar year in operation.
Dick offered a detailed report to County Administrator David Eberly and the Allegany County commissioners Friday during a public work session.
Dick said his agency, despite “operating with limited resources,” responded to more than 12,000 incidents. Dick did not elaborate on what those limited resources are. However, with 10 officers on the street, three assigned to C3I, one on a permanent assignment at the Eckhart Alternative School and two administrators — Dick and operations supervisor Lt. Rodney Bell — the yearly figures from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2009, included:
• 210 assaults.
• 192 thefts.
• 55 breaking-and-entering/ burglaries.
• 7 armed robberies.
• 230 disturbances.
• 73 destruction of property.
• 130 K-9 scans for drugs.
• 455 motor vehicle crashes.
• 89 DUI arrests.
• 20 suicide attempts.
In addition, Dick said, officers made more than 1,700 traffic stops, issued 1,250 citations and 650 warnings. More than 860 criminal arrests were made. The fun side of the job, Dick said, included helping with community events such as the East Coast Sturgis motorcycle rally in eastern Allegany County, the Mountain Maryland Marathon in Cumberland and DelFest at the Allegany County Fairgrounds.
Dick addressed the conception there is controversy and tension between supporters of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, which was responsible for road patrol duties until late July 2008, and the Bureau of Police.
“Every place I go ... from Little Orleans, Westernport and Mount Savage, citizens have been receptive and supportive,” Dick said.
Commissioner Jim Stakem was one of the three elected officials who issued an executive order that transferred road patrol duties to the newly expanded Bureau of Police and facilitated the transfer of 14 deputies to the commissioner-controlled agency. Stakem said Friday that each of the bureau’s officers he has talked with have conveyed to him they have never been better managed — a less-than-subtle critique of Sheriff David Goad’s management style.
“I just want to compliment you on that,” Stakem told Dick. “They tell me they really feel like they’re policemen now. And I feel that’s important.”
Commissioner Bob Hutcheson called Dick’s review “probably the most complete report I’ve heard since I became commissioner.”
Eberly said there were a number of “chain of command issues” still to be dealt with. He asked Dick to meet with Human Resources Director Brian Westfall on the matter in an effort to “let us evaluate your chain of command ... (and) make sure it’s adequate.”
Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.
