Berwyn Heights, Maryland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Berwyn Heights, Maryland
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Berwyn Heights, Maryland


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maryland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Prince George's
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.7
area_land_km2 = 1.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.6
area_land_sq_mi = 0.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2942
population_density_km2 = 1757.9
population_density_sq_mi = 4552.9

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 34
elevation_ft = 112
latd = 38 |latm = 59 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 54 |longs = 44 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 20740
area_code = 301
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 24-06925
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0597078
website =
footnotes =

Berwyn Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census.

Bordering Areas

* College Park (West)
* Greenbelt (Northeast)
* East Riverdale (Southwest)
* Riverdale Park (South)

Geography

Berwyn Heights is located at coor dms|38|59|38|N|76|54|44|W|city (38.993810, -76.912344)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,942 people, 1,022 households, and 713 families residing in the town. The population density was 4,552.9 people per square mile (1,747.6/km²). There were 1,047 housing units at an average density of 1,620.3/sq mi (621.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.79% White, 12.00% African American, 0.54% Native American, 8.57% Asian, 4.38% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.23% of the population.

There were 1,022 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,744, and the median income for a family was $69,013. Males had a median income of $42,525 versus $34,831 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,793. About 0.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Berwyn Heights is served by Prince George's County Public Schools. Berwyn Heights Elementary School is located in Berwyn Heights. Berwyn Heights is served by Berwyn Heights Elementary, Greenbelt Middle School (Greenbelt), and Parkdale High School (Riverdale Park).

Government

The current mayor of Berwyn Heights, first elected in 2004, is Cheye M. Calvo. Current council members are Michael Attick, Patricia Dennison, Jeffrey Gourley, and Darald Lofgren. The town administrator is Edward J. Murphy.

The town has a police department [http://www.berwynheightspd.com] , with Patrick Murphy as the Officer in Charge; a public works department, directed by Joseph Coleman; and a code enforcement department, directed by Sonjia Solomon. In 2005, the town became the first municipality in Maryland to establish a Public Safety Taxing District, which was authorized that year by the General Assembly. The district imposes a special tax on businesses to fund the cost of one full time officer and brough the authorized strength of the department to eight officers. Over the past several years, the town has struggled to maintain its full strength due to increased competition for police officers in the region, and due to qualified police officers leaving the department to seek more reasonable positions. The Town has responded in recent years by increasing salaries and is considering joining the Maryland state pension system. At 48.6 cents per $100 per assessed value, Berwyn Heights retains one of the lowest real property tax rates in Prince George's County. The town also benefits from numerous town committees and organizations. The town as of October 2008, has joined a State Retirement Pension, for its employess, and Police Officers. This was done in order to try to compete and to retain the police officers.

2008 police incident with mayor

In July 2008, package containing 32 pounds of marijuana was shipped by FedEx from Arizona to the mayor's house addressed to his wife. A drug-sniffing dog detected the marijuana in the package, and Prince George's County Police Department intercepted the package. The police department called for help from the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office SWAT team, but did not contact the Berwyn Heights Police Department.

On July 29, 2008, a deputy from the sheriff's office took the package to the house and knocked on the door, pretending to be a delivery person. After delivering the package to the house, the SWAT team drew their guns, kicked in the door, and entered house without knocking. The SWAT team shot both of the mayor's dogs, one of which while it was running away. While the package sat unopened in the house, the mayor and his mother-in-law were both handcuffed and questioned.

The police soon determined that the mayor's family was likely the victim of a drug trafficking scheme. Two other individuals were later arrested, accused of shipping drugs to innocent people and intercepting the packages before the packages are taken in to the houses.

The Washington Post reported that, while the team had a warrant to enter the house, the warrant did not allow entry without knocking. In this case, police would only be allowed to enter without knocking if specific circumstances cause police to believe that evidence would be destroyed or police would be harmed; otherwise entering without knocking would be a violation of Maryland law.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the police raid. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/31/AR2008073102481.html "SWAT team kills 2 dogs in raid on Md. mayor's home"] . "Associated Press". The Washington Post. July 31, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080603817.html 2 arrested in DC-area marijuana-smuggling scheme"] . "Associated Press". The Washington Post. August 6, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.] [Helderman, Rosalind S. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/05/ST2008080503214.html "Pr. George's Officers Lacked 'No-Knock' Warrant in Raid"] . "The Washington Post". August 6, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.] [Helderman, Rosalind S.; Davis, Aaron C. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/06/ST2008080603533.html?sid=ST2008080603533&pos=list "FBI Launches Review of Berwyn Heights Raid"] . "The Washington Post". August 8, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.] [Helderman, Rosalind S. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080301636.html "Residents Honor Mayor, Slain Dogs at Rally"] . "The Washington Post". August 4, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.berwyn-heights.com/ Berwyn Heights town website]