20071108 Carroll County Connection Newsletter: Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 4, 2007 to form a county police department…

Carroll County Connection Newsletter: Carroll County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 4, 2007 to form a county police department…

Here’s what appeared in the Carroll County Connection Newsletter - November

County to form police force

Posted: November 8, 2007

Carroll County will form a countywide police force in the coming years, unifying law enforcement efforts outside of the county’s eight towns.

The Board of County Commissioners voted Oct. 4 to move away from the Maryland State Police Resident Trooper program and replace it with a county police force, headed by an appointed chief of police.

The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office eventually would revert to serving summons, transporting prisoners and providing courthouse security, which are constitutionally required duties of an elected sheriff.

A transition team will look at how to shift the 67 certified officers from the Sheriff’s Office to a new police force. Chief of Staff Steven Powell will lead the team.

Through the Resident Trooper Program, Carroll County pays for troopers to be assigned local patrols throughout the county. In the most recent budget year, the County paid $4.9 million for 36 troopers and nine investigators. The cost includes a non-negotiable 22 percent administrative fee.

The Westminster Barrack of the Maryland State Police would remain staffed with general troopers, as all 23 barracks across the state are staffed.

While professionalism is high among both the troopers and deputies, a single police agency would be more efficient than the current system.

The cost to operate a county police force is expected to be comparable to current costs after startup expenses.

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For this and other news on current happening in Carroll County government please click here or here: Carroll County Connection Newsletter - November