| TFC MATTHEW A TELEP AND TROOPER BRIAN M. SCHWEERS RECEIVE GOVERNOR'S CITATIONS - Wednesday, April 18, 2012On January 7, 2011, Trooper First Class Matthew Telep and Trooper Brian Schweers responded to a call for service after a drunk and disorderly man called the North East Barracks, threatening to kill his neighbor.
Upon their arrival, the two troopers were advised the suspect was in the back bedroom, out of control, with guns and knives threatening murder. TFC Telep and TPR Schweers entered the home, taking cover behind the refrigerator, and ordered the intoxicated man to come out, unarmed, with his hands up. The man resisted any verbal orders and told the troopers they would have to kill him first.
Moments later, the crazed man exited the bedroom and came towards the troopers, carrying a sword and a rifle. Within a mere five feet of the troopers, he threw his weapons down and reached for a handgun in his waistband.
In fear for his life and to protect the lives of others in the vicinity, including his patrol partner, TFC Telep discharged his agency-issued firearm at the uncontrollable man, and successfully disarmed him.
For exemplifying the highest standards of the police profession during an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation and preventing the suspect from harming others, Trooper First Class Matthew A. Telep and Trooper Brian M. Schweers are awarded the Governor’s Citation. |
| TFC JAMES L. PARKER AWARDED SUPERINTENDENT'S COMMENDATION - Wednesday, April 18, 2012On November 3, 2009, Trooper First Class James Parker responded to a call for service of an armed, mentally unstable pedestrian, throwing rocks at vehicles on U.S. Route 40 in Cecil County, while walking along the highway yelling at motorists.
When TFC Parker arrived, the individual threw a rock at another trooper already on the scene and then threw a large rock at TFC Parker’s patrol car, striking the windshield. The suspect told troopers he was going to see Jesus Christ and that was carrying a gun.
TFC Parker noticed the suspect hiding his right hand in his pocket. The crazed man was ordered to show his hand, but refused and continued to walk along the highway screaming and interfering with traffic. When TFC Parker and other officers formed a semi-circle around the man to isolate him from the traffic, he suddenly lunged toward TFC Parker while simultaneously taking his hand out of his pocket.
Fearing for his life, while acutely aware of the handgun allegation, TFC Parker discharged one round from his agency issued firearm in the suspect’s direction. TFC Parker’s quick decision ultimately diffused a volatile and dangerous situation, preventing further injuries to motorists and fellow police officers.
For exemplifying the highest standards of the police profession while performing his duties in a calm and controlled manner, Trooper First Class James L. Parker is awarded the Superintendent’s Commendation.
TROOPER JASON M. WHETSTONE - SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENDATION
On the night of February 27, 2011, Trooper Jason Whetstone was working stationary traffic enforcement when he observed an SUV travelling on I-270, driving erratically, without a front right tire, causing sparks and smoke to radiate from the wheel well.
Immediately, Trooper Whetstone initiated a traffic stop and observed heavy damage to the front and passenger side of the vehicle as well as deployed air bags. An overwhelming odor of alcohol was also apparent coming from inside the vehicle.
When asked about the damage, the driver said he had struck a deer; however, Trooper Whetstone found no visible signs. The driver was arrested for DUI on the spot.
Believing the driver had been involved in a hit and run crash, Trooper Whetstone contacted several allied agencies in search of information that may explain the damage to the SUV. Investigative efforts led TPR Whetstone to the DC Metropolitan Police who were investigating a hit and run pedestrian fatal in Washington, D.C.
Through the investigative efforts of Trooper Whetstone, DC Metropolitan Police were able to develop enough evidence to obtain Federal charges for 2nd degree murder and remove a killer from behind the wheel. For his initiative and dedication to conducting a complete investigation which led to the arrest of an unknown suspect in a vehicular homicide, Trooper Jason M. Whetstone is awarded a Superintendent’s Commendation.
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| Trooper thwarts alleged suicide attempt - Monday, November 07, 2011Trooper thwarts alleged suicide attempt
By Lisa Broadt lbroadt@cecilwhig.com | Posted: Monday, November 7, 2011 3:00 am
A Maryland state trooper's quick and decisive reaction may have saved a man's life during an alleged suicide attempt at the Conowingo Dam Friday night.
TFC Billy Phillips said he was alerted to the alleged suicide attempt after police dispatchers received several anonymous phone calls, each reporting a man lurking on the dam. Phillips, the responding officer, said he approached the scene slowly, with emergency lights off, at approximately 10 p.m.
When there was a break in traffic, Phillips ran to the edge and grabbed the man, who he described as a 29-year-old black male. Once detained, the suspect was confused but obliging, Phillips said.
"He actually tried denial of it [the attempt]. But he was very cooperative," the trooper said. A brief conversation revealed that the man had visited the Hollywood Casino Perryville earlier in the evening and that it was his birthday. He was not intoxicated, Phillips reported.
According to a police search of the National Crime Information Center, a federal database, the man they detained is a native of Bowie, Md. and, allegedly, a paranoid-schizophrenic with four prior suicide attempts, Phillips said. He had been recently discharged from the University of Maryland hospital.
From the North East barrack, Cpl. Raymond Lynn was able to telephone two of the man's family members, who confirmed the medical history, Phillips added.
Phillips said he then took the man to Harford Memorial Hospital, where medical staff filed a petition for emergency evaluation - a legal document that permits the hospital to detain the man due to his mental illness.
Friday night's suicide attempt was not the first this fall, and it probably will not be the last, police predicted.
"Because of the holidays people get lonely and depressed," Phillips said. "It's the start of the season."
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| Investigators solve copper thefts - Thursday, October 27, 2011Copper theft harms communities
By Jane Bellmyer jbellmyer@cecilwhig.com | Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 2:30 am
Copper theft is being described as both a crime of opportunity and a huge safety risk as police see an increase of thieves cutting and removing miles of wire to take to scrap metal recyclers for a quick cash-in.
Both Verizon and Delmarva Power Company have been recent victims.
Maryland State Police arrested two people suspected of being behind the theft of thousands of feet of copper wire from six Verizon properties in Cecil County, police said Monday.
Adam Patterson, a 28-year-old North East man, has been charged with 10 counts of felony theft and malicious destruction. He is being held on $10,000 bond in the Cecil County Detention Center. He also has two charges of parole violation, increasing his bond to $13,000.
Police are withholding the name of the other suspect, a woman, until she is formally charged.
Detective Sgt. Steve Seipp said Patterson and the woman were arrested Thursday.
"He came walking up the road pulling a wagon full of spaghetti wire," Seipp said, referring to the name police gave the thick cable, which becomes a tangled mess once the plastic shield is burned away.
"This wire is as thick as your ankle...thousands of strands of copper wire," Seipp said. "Once it's burned it looks like spaghetti."
Seipp said Patterson admitted to his role in all the thefts on Verizon properties.
"He told us all the ones he went to and it matched our reports," he said.
Matt Likovich, spokesman for Delmarva, said a Sept. 28 theft in Sussex County, Delaware, took out power to 37,000 customers.
"We couldn't figure out what the problem was," Likovich said. "It was a blue sky day."
Customers were rerouted and the outage was eventually traced back to vandalism at a substation in Bethany Beach. Likovich said these thieves are taking a huge risk when they mess with live wires.
"This is an exceedingly high voltage area. Our personnel are trained to go in there," he said.
Patterson told police it was the ultimate crime of opportunity. He would use what was available to gain access to the overhead cables.
"If someone left a ladder in the yard he'd use it," Seipp said. "He used a pool ladder one time.
"He climbed a tree, used a saw and hacked it off," he said.
While the Verizon lines may be lower voltage, Delmarva's copper cables can carry several thousand kilovolts of electricity.
"Electricity is very fickle. It can act in ways you don't expect," Likovich said. While the thief risks instant death, taking anything out of the system leaves Delmarva employees at risk of injury or death because of the circuit interruption.
There is also a risk to the public.
"If this (substation) was in a residential area ... and they leave a hole in the fence you're creating a safety hazard for children," he said.
"All this just to reap a few dollars on the scrap metal market," he said. "The people doing this are foolish. It's not worth the risk."
When it was first reported earlier this month, a spokeswoman for Verizon was uncertain how much disruption the thefts caused telephone and Internet customers.
Seipp said he did not know if the $10,000 reward being offered by Verizon had been awarded to anyone.
Likovich said the cost of repairs is "eventually passed onto our customers in the form of higher rates."
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| Barrack Dispatchers Recieve Recognition for 911 Communications - Thursday, October 27, 2011Barrack Dispatchers Recognized for Outstanding 911 Service
On September 15, 2011, the Maryland Emergency Number Association (911) recognized the dispatchers at the North East Barrack for outstanding service. The North East State Police Barrack in Cecil County, Maryland shares primary law enforcement functions with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office. The Barrack Police Communications Operators (PCO’s) function as front line dispatchers and call takers who work rotating shifts 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
PCO II’s Kenneth C. Berg, Nancy K. Trego, Mary M. Jefferis, Donna L. Logan, and PCS Deborah P. Eller have over 70 years of combined police communication experience at North East Barrack.
PCO’s at the North East Barrack enter all entries for the North East Police Department, Perryville Police Department, Port Deposit Police Department, Rising Sun Police Department and Perry Point Veterans Hospital Police Department. The PCO’s enter and average of 625 warrants per year.
Throughout the last year, North East Barrack PCO’s have worked through an array of high stress incidents, to include high speed chases, agency involved shootings, assaults of troopers and agency accidents. The PCO’s radio and telephone communication have had a direct result in the immediate apprehension of felons. For instance, on one occasion an armed car jacking occurred and the PCO communicated to surrounding jurisdictions and the offender was apprehended in Baltimore City by North East troopers.
The success of the North East Barrack’s operations to accomplish its overall mission can be contributed to competent and eager PCO’s. |
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