County Police Force

On October 4, 2007, the Board of County Commissioners voted to create a county police force. The new department would be led by an appointed police chief. Commissioners directed a task force to be established to lead the transition. The Carroll County Police Department is expected to be in operation no later than 2010.

View the Board's conversation and vote.

Highlights

A unified law enforcement system will mean the fastest response possible for residents.

A county police force will reduce duplication of administrative services such as staffing for technical, human resources, and fleet management support.

The cost of the resident trooper program has grown too much to be cost effective

Background

Carroll County residents are currently served by multiple law enforcement agencies:

Sheriff's Office (67 certified officers);
Maryland State Police Resident Trooper Program (45 officers);
Maryland State Police barrack troopers (30 officers); and
Five town police forces - Westminster, Sykesville, Hampstead, Manchester and Taneytown - with a combined total of 76 officers.

The Board of County Commissioners provides funding for the Sheriff's Office, but the elected sheriff determines how that money is spent. The relationship is similar to the one between the County and the public school system. Between fiscal years 2003 and 2008, the Commissioners added funding for 22 additional deputies.

Several times over the past 15 years, the issue of moving to a county police force was studied. Most recently, in 2007, a committee of County staff examined the financial and policy implications of three options:

Keep the current law enforcement structure.
Move to an integrated program by expanding the Sheriff's Office.
Move to an integrated program by establishing a Carroll County Police Department.

Read the committee's report.

Look at cost considerations.

What will change?

The Resident Trooper Program will be discontinued.
All deputies from the current Sheriff's Office will be given the opportunity to be part of the original core of the new police corps. Read the Jan. 15, 2008, letter sent to each certified officer.

What will stay the same?

The Sheriff will continue to be elected by Carroll County residents, providing those duties outlined in the Maryland constitution: courthouse security, transportation of prisoners, and the serving of summons.
Maryland State Police will continue to staff its Westminster barrack.
Town police forces will not be affected.

Why change?

A unified police force brings greater efficiency. That is true for both personnel and finances.

When a resident calls for police, the closest available officer should respond. Under the current system, there is no patrol sharing, so the closest officer from the requested agency is dispatched. This has caused delays in some response times.
Carroll County is charged 122% of the cost for each of its 45 resident troopers.
Supporting two county-wide agencies leads to duplication of some services (administration, fleet services, etc.) Read the Sheriff's Office FY09 budget request summary and new position requests. Fiscal prudence suggests that a force directly under the county's control would cost less.