From constables to bailiffs to chiefs, a history of Westminster policing

From constables to bailiffs to chiefs, a history of Westminster policing

Kevin Dayhoff – Eagle Archives: From constables to bailiffs to chiefs, a history of Westminster policing

From constables to bailiffs to chiefs, a history of Westminster policing

By Kevin Dayhoff December 14, 2011

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/neighborhoods/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archive-1218-20111214,0,5350241.story

More than 90 years ago — on Dec. 6, 1920, to be precise — the Westminster Common Council approved the appointment of two additional "night patrolmen" to the ranks of the Westminster Police Department.

According to an old file copy of the history of the Westminster Police Department, "It was felt that there existed inadequate protection due to the number of frequent 'robberies and bank holdups.' "

The first recorded "constable" in the city's history was William Grumbine, appointed June 20, 1839 — just two days after the city passed its ordinance establishing town constables, according to the police history account.

"Constables were paid 33 1/2 cents for every person apprehended. … They would work from their homes and walk to handle any calls for service." ... http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/neighborhoods/westminster/ph-ce-eagle-archive-1218-20111214,0,5350241.story

From constables to bailiffs to chiefs, a history of Westminster policing

Eagle Archive

Labels: Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll, People Utz-Kevin, Police, Unions Fraternal Order of Police,Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police Dept, Westminster Police officers Westminster City Admin Wolf-Marge, Westminster Mayor 2009 Utz Kevin, Business Econ Unions,

Labels: Maryland Municipal League see MML, MML, MML Municipal League
http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/search/label/MML%20Municipal%20League:

*****

Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

*****

Westminster Maryland Online http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/

My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Cops on Rooftops fundraiser for Special Olympics a great success

Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding raised a bucket full of donations at the Cops on Rooftops Special Olympics fundraiser September 25, 2010.  Photo by Kevin Dayhoff

Cops on Rooftops fundraiser for Special Olympics a great success

$8,332.00 raised in 30 hours in an event full of good humor for a worthy cause

By Kevin Dayhoff  http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/10/cops-on-rooftops-fundraiser-for-special.html

Posted 9/29/2010

A rested Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding gave a report on the recent “Cops on Rooftops” fundraising event at the Westminster mayor and common council meeting last Monday.

He looked none the worse for wear after spending over 30 hours perched on the roof of the Dunkin' Donuts, on Route 140 in Westminster last Saturday and Sunday.

After the obligatory humor about cops and doughnuts, Spaulding confessed that he was proud that he only ate two doughnuts in the 30 hours he spend with his colleague, Lt. Andrew Winner, commander of the Maryland State Police Westminster barrack, raising money for Special Olympics Athletes.

“Well, we endured the heat, the cold, the wind, and the rain, but the fundraiser was a great success.  We raised well in excess of our $5,000 goal for Special Olympics last weekend…” 

The total came to $8,332.00, said Spaulding with some pride and a bit of subdued amazement that they surpassed their goal by so much.

At 9:30 last Saturday night the two intrepid police officers had already raised over $3,500.00 when Explore Carroll visited to check their progress (and their welfare.)

“It’s going well,” said Spaulding over the sounds of the radio playing and the steady stream of well-wishers from below.  Up on the rooftop, Winner and Spaulding had nested quite well, with lawn chairs, food, and an awning overhead set-up to provide all the comforts of home – on a highway store rooftop, that is.

How Spaulding only ate two doughnuts is amazing since their rooftop digs were constantly bombarded with the aromas of doughnuts being made in the store below. 

“Oh, geeze, what’s that?  It’s apple.  I think they are now making something with apples” (in the store below,) lamented Spaulding at one point.  “Oh man, this is torture,” he laughed as he traded words of encouragement with Winner not to eat too many doughnuts throughout the evening.

Of course, both Winner and Spaulding are athletes themselves and do not look like they eat too many doughnuts.  “Look at this guy,” Spaulding said of Winner last Saturday night. 

“Does he look like he eats a lot of doughnuts?”

"Don't answer that," Winner said.

“The citizens of Carroll County have been quite generous,” said Spaulding.  “Frankly, that does not surprise me,” he elaborated as he added how he has always been amazed as to how well Carroll countians support social causes with generosity.

Winner quickly added in agreement, “I have been truly amazed at the generosity of Carroll County.  A lot of people made a special effort to come and make a donation.”

Maryland State Police spokesperson Greg Shipley was also there last Saturday evening to cheer Winner and Spaulding on.

“It’s commendable…,” said Shipley.  When asked for further comment, Shipley explained that all the attention needed to be on the two police officers and the special needs athletes they support.

“Hey, I’m just here to congratulate them on what looks to be a successful event.  It’s nice that two officers give-up their weekend for such a good cause,” said a smiling Shipley as he traded humor with Winner and Spaulding from the parking lot below.

"It's a great cause," Spaulding said of Special Olympics.  “Law enforcement has a long history of supporting Special Olympics.”

So does Spaulding.  He is a central regional coordinator for the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, and has participated in that event since 1986.

His interest started 23 years ago when he was an officer in the Howard County Police Department and was asked to participate in Maryland's first Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Since then, he has volunteered to raise money for and awareness about Special Olympics.  He attends Special Olympics competitions as far away as Japan to serve as a security guard, awards presenter or volunteer.

As for the doughnut shop rooftop stunt, the idea came from law enforcement officers in Illinois who took to the rooftops of 94 Dunkin' Donuts locations in 2009, and raised more than $182,000.

In Maryland last year, one location in Laurel participated in the promotion and raised $7,000.  This year, Westminster joined three other participating locations in College Park, Ocean City, and Glen Burnie.

Last Monday night at the Westminster council meeting, Spaulding explained that a retired state trooper made a special trip to donate $1,000.00 on Sunday and the owner of the Dunkin’ Donuts also donated $1,000.00 to the cause.

“And folks are still asking if they can still donate,” said Spaulding.  “And the answer is yes, just be in touch with me at the (Westminster Police) station.”

For information about donating to the fund for Special Olympics of Maryland, go to the organization's website at www.somd.org or call 410-789-6677, or call Spaulding at the police station at 410-848-4646.  Contributing doughnuts is optional.

*****

[20100929 sodosm SCEKED pubver Cops Rooftops SpecOlym gr8 succ]

Labels: Food doughnuts, MD Special Olympics, MD State Police, MD State Police Winner Andy, Non-profits, Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police Dept
*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Westminster MD experiences water main break http://t.co/yyYIQyt by Kevin Dayhoff

See: http://twitpic.com/2reezd

Westminster MD experiences water main break http://t.co/yyYIQyt by Kevin Dayhoff

City officials say water safe to drink.  System was quickly repaired by mid-afternoon.

9/19/10  http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/4749/breaking-westminster-experiences-water-main-break-near-cranberry-station/

By Kevin Dayhoff

A 12-inch water main cracked in the city of Westminster water system around 10:15 a.m. Sunday morning, according to Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz.

The break took place in the 300 block of North Cranberry Road near the city’s water treatment plant and occurred just as townsfolk and city workers were returning from church; but perhaps just as bad, it happened just as workers from the city’s utilities maintenance department were preparing for an afternoon of Ravens’ football… 

“Glad to see the (city) workers got here quickly knowing there were going to miss the Ravens’ game,” said Utz as he picked-up his phone and ordered pizzas and drinks for those working on the water line…

http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/4749/breaking-westminster-experiences-water-main-break-near-cranberry-station/

[20100919 sdosm SCE pubver Wster exps water main break.doc]

Explore Carroll: Westminster experiences water main break http://t.co/yyYIQyt By Kevin Dayhoff

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Westminster Police receives “2009 Lethality Assessment Award”

Westminster Police recognized for combating Domestic Violence

October 30, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff for the Carroll Eagle

Posted November 5, 2009

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/nub9t

Recently the Westminster Police Department received a statewide recognition from the Maryland Networks Against Domestic Violence.

The “2009 Lethality Assessment Award” was presented to Chief Jeff Spaulding and Lieutenant Misty Budzinski on October 23 at a ceremony in which Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown also participated.

The award recognizes the work of “individuals and organizations from around the State who excelled in their contributions to the safety and well-being of victims of domestic violence across the State,” according to information provided by the Westminster Police Department.

The web site for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) says the advocacy organization “has been working since 1980 to eliminate domestic violence in Maryland through education, training, and advocacy.

“As Maryland's state coalition, the Network works together with local domestic violence programs as well as criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, legal advocates, health care and social service providers, clergy, educators, businesses, community groups, and concerned individuals to promote a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.”

The Westminster Police Department “was selected for the award because they successfully screened 93% of the domestic violence victims that they encountered during the previous year – 56% of these victims subsequently participating in follow-up services with local domestic violence counselors provided through a partnership with Family and Children Services of Central Maryland,” according to information from a media release from the department.

“The Department’s success rates were the highest in the State for the past year. This was the third year for the Lethality Assessment Award Program in Maryland. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the Anne Arundel County Police Department were the two previous recipients of the award.”

Maria L. Oesterreicher, the senior assistant state's attorney and domestic violence unit Supervisor for the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office noted that Carroll County “also unanimously won a quarterly award this year that was voted on by the Lethality Advisory Board for having the highest percentage of high-risk clients coming in for services, 56%, with the next closest County being Montgomery with 34%.

“Basically that means that 56% of all victims who completed a Lethality Assessment at the scene of a domestic violence call in Carroll County followed up by seeking services from Family & Children’s Services,” said Oesterreicher.

In a recent interview with Spaulding he noted that in addition to the Westminster department’s care and concern for the welfare of victims of domestic violence; calls for such incidences are a major cause of harm for the responding officers as well as members of the family involved.

Anything that we can reduce those calls is a good thing for everyone involved, said Spaulding.

“Lethality assessment is a quick and accurate way for police officers and domestic violence counselors to determine with a high degree of accuracy the potential for future serious violence or death in a relationship,” Spaulding explained.

“Officers handling domestic violence incidents are required to screen victims utilizing a lethality assessment tool – a survey of 11 validated questions,” according to information from Westminster Police Department.

“Those victims screened as being at “high risk” of future violence, based upon their answers to the questions, are immediately placed in phone contact with a domestic violence counselor who speaks with them about their circumstances and discusses safety planning and the resources available to the victim. The assessment process is being used around the country with excellent results.”

“Having this information while they are still at the scene of a domestic dispute better prepares them to respond to the immediate safety needs of that victim and his or her family,” said Spaulding.

“A critical element of the lethality assessment process is the immediate phone contact with a domestic violence counselor. This takes place on the spot regardless of the time of day. The counselor can speak to the victim in the midst of the crisis and provide them with critical safety information.

“They can also help them understand the full array of services that are immediately available to the victim and their family. This immediate contact greatly enhances the potential that the victim will participate in follow-up services with the domestic violence service provider.”

Oesterreicher said in an e-mail and phone interview: “I think it’s wonderful that the Westminster City Police Department was recognized for their excellent results in completing Lethality Assessments…

“The institution of the Lethality Assessment could very well prove to be one of the most effective tools for victim safety in recent years. Being able to immediately link up victims with counselors is invaluable.

“When I train police officers on domestic violence investigation procedures, I often explain to them that there is a very small window of time in which a domestic violence victim may be cooperative with a police investigation. In certain instances that window may even be closed by the time the police arrive at the scene of the call.

“The Lethality Assessment provides an avenue for the officers to provide immediate intervention for a victim who can talk to a counselor on the scene and learn about cycle of violence, resources and help them develop safety plans before that window of cooperation is closed,” advised Oesterreicher.

Spaulding, Oesterreicher and other officials interviewed on background praised the interagency coordinated multi-jurisdictional approach to domestic violence in Carroll County.

“The citizens of Carroll County are very fortunate that the elected officials in this county recognize domestic violence and see it for what it is – a crime and support all the agencies efforts to hold abusers accountable and maximize the safety of victims through education, safety planning and sheltering,” said Oesterreicher.

“The agencies in this county work very well and very closely together. From the state’s attorney’s office to police agencies, to the counseling agencies, such as Family & Children’s Services, to the Family Law Administration of the Circuit Court, and the Women’s Law Center, who with grant funds, provide attorneys to Petitioner’s seeking protection by way of protective orders. Carroll County is fortunate to truly employ a Coordinated Community Response.”

Spaulding agreed: “one of this would be possible without the support and collaboration we have received from our partners which include our local Domestic Violence Advocate, Cheryl Powers of Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office and the David Sergeant of Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence.”

Oesterreicher cites that Jerry Barnes, the state’s attorney for Carroll County “recognized the gravity of domestic violence cases immediately when he was elected. In 1997 the State’s Attorney’s Office received the first of many Violence Against Women grants. The grant was originally intended to be for three years only, but we were recently awarded funds for the 13th straight year.

“To date we have received $870,811 from the Department of Justice by way of pass through grants from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. Those awards are based on best practices and results. The fact that we continue to receive funding means we are doing something right.

“The grant funds help support the State’s Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit that consists of a prosecutor, an investigator, and a victim coordinator. We are also very fortunate to have always had the support of the Board of Commissioners,” noted Oesterreicher.

Spaulding said: “I also want to publically acknowledge and thank the dedicated men and women of the Westminster Police Department who have embraced this process and worked very hard to ensure that all of our domestic violence victims are afforded the benefits of this potentially life-saving program.

“I am very pleased that the Westminster Police Department has taken a leadership role in ensuring the safety of domestic violence victims in our community.”

####

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/11/westminster-police-receives-2009.html http://tinyurl.com/yzo8jzc

Carroll Co States Attorney, Law Order, Non-profits Family Children’s Services, Public Safety Domestic Violence, Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police Dept

Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/nub9t

Westminster MD Police recognized for combating Domestic Violence http://tinyurl.com/yzo8jzc http://twitpic.com/nub9t

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Neighborhood meets to discuss crime issues

Neighborhood meets to discuss crime issues Click here for a larger image: http://twitpic.com/np8ok

October 30, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff

All eyes are on Westminster Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding during a community meeting at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Church at 17 Bond Street – Bond and West Green Street in Westminster.

About 75 citizens from the south-western section of the old part of town attended the meeting to discuss crime and quality of life issues in that part of Westminster. The West Green St., Anchor St., Ridge Road, Fitzhugh Avenue, Arnold Road, and Chase Street area of town has recently experienced a number of acts of vandalisms and thefts.

The address the recent spat of events, Westminster councilman Dr. Robert Wack, Westminster mayor Kevin Utz, Westminster city administrator Marge Wolf and the police chief scheduled the well-attended community meeting at 7 pm, Friday, October 31, 2009.

Check back with Westminster Maryland Online [http://www.westminstermarylandonline.net/ ] and Explore Carroll [http://www.explorecarroll.com/] for a more complete report.
Links:

St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Church [http://www.stpauls-ucc.org/]

Westminster Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding [http://www.westgov.com/police/police_chief.html] [http://www.westgov.com/police/police_main.html]

Picture caption:
All eyes are on Westminster Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding during a community meeting at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Church at 17 Bond Street – Bond and West Green Street in Westminster MD. October 30, 2009 by Kevin Dayhoff

20091030 sdsomked WJS at St Paul Mtg Westminster City Admin Wolf-Marge, Westminster Council Wack, Westminster crime, Westminster Mayor 2009 Utz Kevin, Westminster Police Chief Spaulding-Jeff, Westminster Police Dept, Dayhoff Daily Photoblog, Dayhoff photos, Dayhoff photos Wster employees,

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/neighborhood-meets-to-discuss-crime.html http://tinyurl.com/yhaszus

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Special Olympics of Maryland Fundraiser

Special Olympics of Maryland Fundraiser

Host: Westminster Police Dept.
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: Town Mall
Street: 400 N. Center Street
City/Town: Westminster, MD

A message from Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding

Slush n slide with Chief Spaulding

Dear Friends:

The Westminster Police Department and Time Out Sports Grille will be co-hosting a great new event at Town Mall in Westminster on Saturday, October 3rd from noon to 6:00 p.m. to support my good friends at Special Olympics Maryland.

The event, called the “Slush ‘N Slide”, is an outdoor festival suitable for kids of all ages and it’s a great warm-up for the Polar Bear Plunge which will be here before we know it.

During the festival we will be making an attempt to set a record by building the world’s largest snowball (as in snow cone). Following our attempt, hearty souls – hereafter known as “Sliders” – will take a turn sliding down a 28-foot inflatable waterslide into our record-breaking creation.

BRRRRR!! The privilege of sliding is reserved for those that raise a minimum of $50 in pledges for Special Olympics. Yep, I’m there!!

In addition to the Slide there will be tons of great things to do. Carnival games, face painting, wing and watermelon eating contests – even a chance for one lucky slider to win a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle!

Live music will be provided by “The Reagan Years”, a regional 80’s band with a huge following. Great food will be available, as well as a beer garden for those adults in the crowd.

A variety of personalities will be on hand to include Mayor Kevin Utz (also a slider) and 98 Rock’s Theo, Stash and Sarah “The Queen” Fleischer. A $5 donation to Special Olympics is requested of all non-Sliders who wish to attend the festivities. More details about this incredible event are available on-line at http://www.slushnslide.com/.

Please consider joining me in supporting the incredible athletes of Special Olympics by becoming a Slider. You can register yourself or your team at http://www.slushnslide.com/.

If sliding into freezing water isn’t your thing (I sure wish it wasn’t mine), please consider supporting my slide by making a contribution on the Slush ‘N Slide website as follows:

· Once on the “http://www.slushnslide.com/” website, click on “Sponsor Slider”

· Type in my first and last name (Jeff Spaulding) and hit enter

· Select my name from the list provided

No contribution is too small and every dime is greatly appreciated. Your contribution is 100% tax-deductible and all of the money raised goes directly to the 10,000+ athletes of Special Olympic Maryland.

20091003 Slush n slide with Chief Spaulding

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County June 3 2009

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kelley Wallace/SOMD
PH: 410-789-6677 x117
Cell: 443-386-7965
E-mail: kwallace AT somd.org

OR

Chief Jeff Spaulding
Westminster Police Department
PH: 410-848-4646
E-mail: jspaulding AT westgov.com

Flame of Hope Arrives in Carroll County!

Carroll County Law Enforcement Officers Join Forces to Escort the Special Olympics Maryland Torch, Ensuring its Safe Passage to the 2009 SOMD Summer Games

Law Enforcement officers representing the police agencies throughout Carroll County will be out in force on Wednesday, June 3rd beginning at 8:00 AM, escorting the Special Olympics Maryland “Flame of Hope” from five (5) separate points around the county to Westminster. There they will join together and officially present the Flame of Hope in a brief ceremony at noon at City Hall. It is the duty of these Law Enforcement Torch Runners to ensure that the Flame is protected until it is delivered to the waiting hands of Special Olympics athletes on Friday, June 5th at the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympic Maryland Summer Games held at Towson University, Towson Maryland.

This portion of the Torch Run Relay is part of the Central Leg, and Torch Run volunteers from the Maryland State Police, Sykesville PD, Hampstead PD, Manchester PD, Taneytown PD, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the McDaniel College Office of Campus Safety, Springfield Hospital Police, State Fire Marshal’s Office, Office of the State’s Attorney, Maryland Police Training Commission and Westminster PD will escort the flame through various municipalities around the County, eventually converging at McDaniel College and traveling in a unified “Final Leg” along Main Street to City Hall in Westminster. The law enforcement volunteers are raising funds in conjunction with the run by selling Torch Run T-shirts, holding events, and soliciting donations. (See end of press release for details on each of the 6 legs).

“We are proud to join our brother and sister law enforcement and correctional officers from around the world in demonstrating our support for these very special members of our community,” stated Chief Jeff Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department. “We are particularly pleased that we will be joined on each of our runs by Special Olympics athletes from right here in Carroll County. It is a great opportunity to further strengthen the long-standing relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics that we enjoy in Maryland.” Chief Spaulding invites the community to attend a short ceremony at Westminster City Hall following the Final Leg during which the Special Olympics Athletes who participate as Torch Runners will be honored for their participation.

Statewide, the Maryland Torch Run Relay consists of four different legs – Eastern, Western, Central and Southern – and during the week of June 1st to 5th, thousands of law enforcement Torch Run volunteers will cover hundreds of miles, eventually converging on Towson where the individual flames will be united in the Final Leg Ceremony, and then officers from around the state will travel the final three (3) miles to the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at Towson University. It is there that the “Flame of Hope” is handed off to Special Olympics athletes who have the honor of lighting the cauldron and officially declaring the 2009 SOMD Summer Games open. Carroll County will be represented by Chief Jeff Spaulding and other members of the Westminster PD in the Final Leg on Friday, June 5th.

The Maryland Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year-round movement whose goal is to raise both funds and public awareness for the athletes who train and compete in Special Olympics Maryland. When it began in 1986, only a handful of officers participated, raising about $50,000. Since that time, the Maryland Torch Run has grown tremendously, including volunteer officers from nearly every law enforcement agency and correctional facility in Maryland, raising more than $3.8 million for Special Olympics Maryland in 2008 – the largest single fund raising effort for Special Olympics in the world.

For more information about the Carroll County Torch Run Relay, or to support the Torch Run Relay by purchasing a commemorative Torch Run T-shirt for $10, contact the Westminster Police Department at (410) 848-4646. For more information about Special Olympics Maryland and the 2009 Summer Games, contact Kelley Wallace at (410) 789-6677 x117 or visit http://www.somd.org/.

THE CARROLL COUNTY TORCH RUN EVENT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING LEGS:

Sykesville Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police, Maryland Police Training Commission, Sykesville PD, and the Springfield Hospital Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Maryland Police Training Commission Training Facility @ 8:15 AM and travel north on Route 32, Johnsville Road, west on Liberty Road to Route 97, to McDaniel College.

Hampstead/Manchester Leg – Members of the Hampstead PD, and Manchester PD. Runners and bicyclists will depart Manchester PD @ 9:00 AM and travel south on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Taneytown Leg – Members of the Taneytown Police Department, Office of the State Fire Marshall and the Carroll County Crisis Response Team. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Taneytown Bowling Center @ 9:00 AM and travel east on Route 140 to WMC Drive to McDaniel College.

Mt. Airy Leg – Members of the Maryland State Police. Runners/bicyclists will depart Mt. Airy @ 8:00 AM and travel north on Route 27 to McDaniel College.

Union Bridge/New Windsor Leg – Members of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Runners/bicyclists will depart the Union Bridge Fire Hall @ 9:00 AM and travel east through New Windsor on Route 31 to McDaniel College.

Final Leg – Includes all participating law enforcement agencies in Carroll County (see above) to include members of the McDaniel College Department of Campus Safety, Office of the State’s Attorney and Westminster Police Department. Runners/bicyclists will depart McDaniel College @ noon and travel east along Main Street to City Hall where a Torch Run welcoming ceremony and celebration will take place.

# # #

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoffart.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff
Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/kevindayhoff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040426835

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Police: Speeding, truck traffic not a problem on Pennsylvania Avenue By Mary Scott

January 5th, 2009

I’m just catching up on my reading after the hectic holidays and being away for the last week and I came across this article in the Carroll County Times.

Oh my. I can only be sure that this report from the Westminster Police Department did not sit well with some of the folks up on Pennsylvania Avenue in Westminster who like to sustain attention to themselves by keeping a steady drumbeat of doom and gloom and therefore stay relevant by maintaining an air of crisis.

Police: Speeding, truck traffic not a problem on Pennsylvania Avenue By Mary Scott, Landmark News Service

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Despite resident concerns about truck traffic and speeding vehicles on Pennsylvania Avenue, data compiled by the Westminster Police Department shows that the two issues are not major safety risks.

Although truck traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue is 2.4 times higher than the average amount of truck traffic on other roadways of its type, Westminster Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding said there’s no objective evidence that the trucks have contributed a significant level of collisions, property damage or injuries, according to data he presented at a recent meeting of the Tri-Street Area Advisory Committee, which centered on various traffic issues.

Read the entire article here: Police: Speeding, truck traffic not a problem on Pennsylvania Avenue By Mary Scott, Landmark News Service

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/12/27/news/local_news/newsstory5.txt

20081227 Speeding truck traffic not a problem on PA Ave by Mary Scott