Md. Sheriff's Union: County deputy shortage hurts public safety

CUMBERLAND, MD — On average, nearly 80 percent of U.S. counties are safer than Allegany County, which received a “D” in crimegrade.org's violent and property crime categories.

According to the website, violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault.

Property crimes include arson, theft, vehicle theft and burglary.

To combat crime, “an immediate increase in the number of uniformed deputies is an absolute necessity,” said Christopher Hill, president of the Allegany County Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 144.

“For several years, members of the Lodge have continued to clearly express the need for additional deputies,” he said.

“In 2021, a request was made to increase the minimum staffing from two deputies (per team) to three,” Hill said of the “modest” request. “However, this was refused.”

Since then, crime, especially violent crime, has continued to increase throughout Allegany County, he said.

Because of the frequency of violent crime and the need to intervene, the lodge requested to meet with county commissioners to discuss and resolve personnel issues, Hill said.

“For unclear reasons, the commissioners have refused to meet with FOP leadership to discuss this critical situation, despite repeated requests,” he said.

Now, the lodge is seeking public support for 12 additional sworn deputies to be assigned to the uniformed patrol division, six of which would be authorized immediately and six in fiscal year 2025 as part of a broader commitment to to increase staffing levels, Hill said.

Increased staffing would allow for more rapid response to violent situations, reduce the propensity for conflict between deputies and offenders, improve opportunities for de-escalation and increase the likelihood of a peaceful resolution, he said. -he declares.

“Labor shortage is an emerging issue for the safety of our members and the community as a whole,” Hill said. “Please let the commissioners know that properly staffing deputies and front-line medical providers in Allegany County…is the only option.”

Shortage of MPs

According to the FBI, in 2019, the average number of full-time law enforcement officers in cities nationwide was 2.3 per 1,000 residents.

Excluding county populations supported by municipal police, like Cumberland and Frostburg, the 2020 census shows about 40,000 residents are directly protected by the sheriff's office, Hill said.

The commissioners “only assigned two deputies per team,” he said.

“The sheriff’s office should have about 81 sworn deputies,” Hill said. “Although we believe this is an unfair and unreasonable request at this time, particularly given budgetary constraints.”

Additional deputies are also needed to make up for the loss of police departments in Lonaconing, Luke and Westernport, he said, adding that Frostburg is understaffed.

Secure the stage

Lack of manpower delays deputies' response to secure a violent crime scene so emergency medical services personnel can treat the injured, Hill said.

“This will likely result in loss of life,” he said.

“The front-line EMS medical providers that have been funded are necessary and vital to the safety of not only citizens but also our deputies,” Hill said. “The public safety role and lifesaving mission of EMS and deputies are directly linked.”

Hill spoke about several shootings and murders in the county in 2023.

In May of that year, five people were shot, one of whom died, Hill said.

In October, four people were shot, one fatally, he said.

“A few hours later, a subject was stabbed almost to death in another incident,” Hill said.

“Although the two shootings mentioned took place in municipalities within the county, the Sheriff's Office nonetheless provided support to key allied agencies,” he said.

“Allegany County Sheriff’s deputies and Maryland State Police troopers were not only necessary but vital in securing the crime scene and apprehending the suspects,” Hill said.

The incidents required periods of patrol time and required assistance from deputies “who were off the job and, in many cases, at home with their families,” he said.

“Very typically, during a large-scale incident…deputies, on their own time, are called back to duty to enable coverage of those agencies' major calls for service,” Hill said.

With each passing moment, the lives and safety of our members, Department of Emergency Services personnel and the community at large remain in danger,” he said. “We advocate substantial action to treat and perhaps reduce the risk to our community.”

“Probably not feasible”

Kati Kenney, Allegany County's public relations and communications manager, said Friday that “leadership has spoken with Sergeant Hill several times at the rank-and-file staff level, but has not yet met with the FOP.”

County officials plan to contact the organization next week to schedule a meeting, she said.

“We have let Sergeant Hill know that we will keep him informed of any changes to the budget,” Kenney said.

“But…the budget doesn’t look good, and that hasn’t changed,” she said.

“While there are still moving pieces, we can say that funding 12 deputies over the next two years is probably not feasible,” Kenney said. “We have staff dedicated to researching other options, and we hope to find other avenues that will offer them at least some help. However, we are not yet far enough along to have confidence in it.”

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