Prince George's County Sheriff's Office

Infobox Police Department
name = Office of the Sheriff, Prince George's County

motto =
established = 1696
jurisdiction = State Agency, via County
sworn =
non-sworn =
CSO =
stations =
jails =
helicopters =
policeboats =
chief =
sheriff = Michael A. Jackson (D)
commissioner =
supervisor =

The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Headquartered in Upper Marlboro [http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/index.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6)] , the traditional duty of the Sheriff is as the enforcement arm of the county court. Other law enforcement duties are generally left to the separate Prince George's County Police Department, though some responsibilities are shared.

Authority

The Sheriff of Prince George's County is the senior law enforcement official of Prince George's County per Maryland common law. [2006-2007 Edition Maryland Criminal Laws & Motor Vehicle Handbook with Related Statutes including Legal Guidlines, (c) 2006 Gould Publications] All deputy sheriffs are certified, sworn law enforcement officials with full power of arrest as granted by the Constitution of Maryland, the MPCTC, and the Sheriff of Prince George's County. [ [http://agency.governmentjobs.com/pgc/default.cfm?action=viewjob&JobID=93199&hit_count=Yes&headerfooter=1&promo=0&transfer=0&WDDXJobSearchParams=%3CwddxPacket%20version%3D%271%2E0%27%3E%3Cheader%2F%3E%3Cdata%3E%3Cstruct%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27FIND%5FKEYWORD%27%3E%3Cstring%3E%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27TRANSFER%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3Cvar%20name%3D%27PROMOTIONALJOBS%27%3E%3Cstring%3E0%3C%2Fstring%3E%3C%2Fvar%3E%3C%2Fstruct%3E%3C%2Fdata%3E%3C%2FwddxPacket%3E Job posting] ]

History

The Sheriff's Office for Prince George's County was founded April 22, 1696. Thomas Greenfield was appointed the first Sheriff. Charlestown held the headquarters for the Sheriff's Office until the 1720s when it was relocated to the town of Upper Marlboro. It was held there until 2000, when the sitting Sheriff, Al Black, moved it to Largo where it resided until August 2008. The headquarters is now located off of Chrysler Way in Upper Marlboro.

Line of duty deaths

To date, there have been two deputy sheriffs killed in the line of duty.

War of 1812

During the War of 1812 the Sheriff's Office was involved in an incident which resulted in the writing of our national anthem. When the British army marched on Washington they passed through Upper Marlboro. The local residents cooperated with the invading army and the British Commander saw to it that no major damage was done to local property. After the Battle of Bladensburg and the burning of Washington, the British army marched back through Upper Marlboro. This time some of the British soldiers looted local farms and were arrested by a Sheriff's Posse. The stragglers were placed in the county jail. When the British commander learned of the arrests of his soldiers, he ordered the arrest of the ringleaders of the posse in turn. One of these was Dr. William Beam who was arrested and held for ransom on a British warship. His brother-in-law, Francis Scott Key went to the British fleet anchored off Baltimore Harbor and witnessed the attack on Fort McHenry. This inspired him to write the Star Spangled Banner. [cite web
url=http://www.pghistory.org/PG/PG300/sherifhist.html
title=The Fascinating History of the Office of the Sheriff, 1696-1996
author=Lt. Lou Oertly
publisher=Prince George's County Historical Society's
accessdate=2007-12-08]

2002: Deputies killed in the line of duty

On August 29 2002, Sgt. James Arnaud and Deputy First Class Elizabeth Magruder were killed in the line of duty while trying to serve an Emergency Petition Service (EPS) to James R. Logan. [cite web
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR2007061502212.html
title=Judge Declares Mistrial in 2002 Slaying of Two Deputies
author=Ruben Castaneda
publisher="The Washington Post"
date=June 16, 2007
accessdate=2007-12-09] At around 9:30 pm, Cpl. Arnaud and Deputy Magruder were at the residence of James Logan in Adelphi, MD. While attempting to serve a petition for a psychiatric evaluation, Logan suddenly fled to a back bedroom. When Arnaud and Magruder chased after him, Logan fired at the deputies. Arnaud was shot in the neck and Magruder was shot in the back of the head. Logan fled the scene and was apprehended two days later by undercover officers. Logan was initially tried and convicted in 2003. Two years later in 2005, the decision was overturned on appeal and Logan attended a second trial. Logan was subsequently convicted again and sentenced to 30 years. Arnaud was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. Magruder was posthumously promoted to Deputy First Class. [http://www.odmp.org/officer/16375-sergeant-james-victor-arnaud] [http://www.odmp.org/officer/16376-private-first-class-elizabeth-licera-magruder]

2008: Deputy wounded in Laurel

On February 16th, 2008 at approximately 3:30 am, a PGSO SST member was shot and critically wounded while serving a warrant as part of a task force with the US Marshals. The suspect, Aaron M. Lowry, was wanted for the shooting of a Washington, DC Police Officer from the day prior. The injured deputy was flown to Baltimore Shock Trauma Center where he had surgery and was upgraded to serious but stable condition. [cite web |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-shooting0216,0,3325076.story |title=Sheriff's Deputy shot in Laurel while trying to serve warrant |author=Josh Mitchell |publisher=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 16th, 2007 |accessdate=2008-02-17 ] As of September 2008, the deputy has recovered back to full duty.Fact|date=September 2008

2008: SWAT raid of Berwyn Heights Mayor

On 2008-07-29, a SWAT Team from the Sheriff's Office, executing a search warrant and assisting the separate County Police, conducted a raid on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo. The raid was initiated after the Mayor brought a package into his home delivered by the SWAT team. A drug-sniffing dog in Arizona had determined that the package—addressed to the Mayor's wife—contained 32 pounds of marijuana. While taking control of the residence, Sheriff's deputies shot Calvo's two pet Labrador retrievers, including one who was cited in many news accounts as running away from officers. [cite news
last = Associated Press
title = SWAT team raids Md. mayor's home, kills 2 dogs
publisher = USA Today
date = 2008-07-31
url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-31-mayor-raid_N.htm
accessdate = 2008-08-21] Calvo and his mother-in-law were handcuffed and questioned for several hours, with Calvo wearing just underwear. [cite news
title = Editorials: Shoot First, Ask Later; In Prince George's, a drug bust goes awry
pages = page A20
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-08-07
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080602795.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21]

Police Chief High stated his department did not know the home was owned by the mayor and his wife. [cite news
last = Davis
first = Aaron C.
title = Prince George's Police Clear Mayor, Family: Chief Offers No Apology for Drug Raid
pages = page B01
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-08-09
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080802690.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ] During the interrogation, Calvo repeatedly requested to see the search warrant, but his lawyer stated no copy was provided until three days later. Calvo stated that officers did not believe he was the Mayor and for a time refused his request that they contact the Berwyn Heights Police Department (which was unaware of the raid) to confirm his identity. [cite web
title = Mayor describes raid
publisher = CNN
date = 2008-08-08
url = http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/crime/2008/08/08/am.intv.mayor.calvo.drug.raid.cnn?iref=videosearch
accessdate = 2008-08-21] A County Police spokesman initially stated that a no-knock warrant had been issued for Calvo's home. However, after Calvo's lawyer challenged that statement and media publishedcopies of the warrant, the commander of the county's narcotics enforcement division stated that no-knock warrants do not exist in the county. Newspapers cited legal experts who stated that a 2005 Maryland law created no-knock warrants. [cite news
last = Helderman
first = Rosalind S.
coauthors = Aaron C. Davis
title = Pr. George's Police Arrest 2 In Marijuana-Shipping Plot: One Package Went to Mayor's Wife
pages = page A01
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-08-07
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080602495.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21] The incident received wide coverage in the United States [cite news
last = Zongker
first = Brett
title = Police clear name of Md. mayor after drug raid
publisher = The Seattle Times
date = 2008-08-08
url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008098273_apmarijuanapackages.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ] [cite news
last = Erickson
first = Amanda
title = Mayor asks for Justice in drug raid
publisher = Chicago Tribune
date = 2008-08-11
url = http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-dispatch-mayoraug11,0,4715598.story
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ] and abroad. [cite news
title = FBI investigates pet-killing police drug raid on mayor's home
publisher = The Australian
date = 2008-08-09
url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24149685-29677,00.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21] [cite news
last = Nasaw
first = Daniel
title = Marijuana package leads US police to mistakenly raid mayor's home: During the ordeal, Mayor Cheye Calvo's two pet Labradors were killed by masked police officers
publisher = The Guardian
date = 2008-08-08
url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/08/usa1
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ]

Prince George's County Police later arrested two men in a drug trafficking plan involving the shipment of large parcels of marijuana to addresses of uninvolved residents. After each parcel was delivered outside the addressee's home, another individual would retrieve the drugs. Police seized six packages containing417 pounds of marijuana. [cite news
last = Donovan
first = Doug
title = Prince George's raid prompts call for probe: Berwyn Heights mayor denounces police tactics
publisher = The Baltimore Sun
date = 2008-08-07
url = http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-mayor0807,0,4563211.story
accessdate = 2008-08-21] The Sheriff's Department and County Police have stated that the Berwyn Heights raid was proper because of the large quantity of drugs involved. [cite news
last = Davis
first = Aaron C
title = Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayor's Home, Kill His 2 Dogs
pages = page B01
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-07-31
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003299_pf.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21]

On 2008-08-07 Mayor Calvo called for a federal investigation of the incident by the United States Department of Justice. [cite news
last = Donovan
first = Doug
title = Prince George's raid prompts call for probe: Berwyn Heights mayor denounces police tactics
publisher = The Baltimore Sun
date = 2008-08-07
url = http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-mayor0807,0,4563211.story
accessdate = 2008-08-21] On 2008-08-08 Calvo and his wife were cleared by County Police of any wrongdoing. [cite news
last = Davis
first = Aaron C.
title = Prince George's Police Clear Mayor, Family: Chief Offers No Apology for Drug Raid
pages = page B01
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-08-09
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/08/AR2008080802690.html
accessdate = 2008-08-21 ] . The local chapter of the NAACP also requested an investigation. [cite news
last = Valentine
first = Daniel
title = NAACP: County losing trust in officials; Botched raid, inmate death cited
publisher = Maryland Gazette
date = 2008-08-14
url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/08142008/largnew174441_32456.shtml
accessdate = 2008-08-21] In early August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation began a civil rights investigation into the incident. [cite news
last = Helderman
first = Rosalind S.
coauthors = Aaron C. Davis
title = FBI to Review Raid That Killed Mayor's Dogs
pages = page B01
publisher = The Washington Post
date = 2008-08-08
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/07/AR2008080702161.html?sid=ST2008080603533
accessdate = 2008-08-21]

Duties

As of 2008, the Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Michael A. Jackson, presently working on his second term. The agency is also unique among Maryland counties that have both a sheriff's office and county police. Along with its traditional duties as the enforcement arm of the court, this Sheriff's Office responds to all 9-1-1 calls that are domestic-related in the County's District III, has all of its high schools with deputy sheriffs as the School Resource Officers, and is responsible for traffic enforcement in certain areas of the county. [ [http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/ Prince George's County, Maryland : Home Page] ] [http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/overview.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6)]

Organization

The Sheriff is elected by the citizens of Prince George's County. The rank structure of the remaining members of the Sheriff's Office is modeled after the U.S. military. The ranks of Student Deputy through Corporal are non-competitive. Sergeant through Captain are competitive. Lt. Colonel (Assistant Sheriff) and Colonel (Chief Assistant Sheriff) are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff. [http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/overview.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6)]

The PGSO is divided into three bureaus [ [http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/overview.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6) Prince George's County, MD - Office of the Sheriff : Overview] ] :
*The Bureau of Court Services: is responsible for the safety and security of the Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, transportation of inmates, and provide assistant security to the District Court in Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville as well as Domestic Violence liaison services.
*The Bureau of Field Operations: is charged with the direction of the following: Civil/Landlord & Tenant, Domestic Violence Intervention Unit, Warrant/Fugitive Squad, and Child Support Enforcement.
*The Bureau of Administration: contains the School Resource, Public Information Office (PIO), Recruiting, Training, and Internal Affairs.

Rank structure

The rank structure of the Sheriff's Office is modeled after the US Military. The ranks of Student Deputy through Corporal are non-competitive. Sergeant through Captain are competitive. Lt. Colonel and Colonel are appointed by the Sheriff and serve at the pleasure of the Sheriff.Fact|date=September 2008

*Sheriff: is the commander-in-chief of the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office and is accountable only to the citizens of Prince George's County. The Sheriff's rank is a single silver star. In the event that the Sheriff has committed a crime and must be apprehended, the only county official that can place the Sheriff under arrest is the County Coroner, though officers of the Maryland State Police or various federal law enforcement agencies could also arrest the Sheriff for violating state or federal laws.
*Chief Assistant Sheriff: is the second in command and handles the day-to-day activities of the Sheriff's Office. The Chief Assistant Sheriff's rank is Colonel, symbolized by a silver eagle.
*Assistant Sheriff: is the third in command and has the responsibility of his/her bureau's day-to-day operations. The Assistant Sheriff's rank is Lieutenant Colonel, symbolized by a silver oak leaf.
*Deputy Sheriff, Captain: is the fourth in command of his/her section with a rank symbolized by two connected gold bars.
*Deputy Sheriff, Lieutenant: is the fifth in command and is considered the Division Commander of his/her section with a rank symbolized by a single gold bar.
*Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant: is considered the Squad Sergeant with a rank symbolized by three chevrons.
*Deputy Sheriff, Corporal: has a rank symbolized by two chevrons
*Deputy Sheriff, First Class: has a rank symbolized by one chevron
*Deputy Sheriff, Private: has a rank symbolized by no chevrons
*Student Deputy: is the lowest rank held by those attending the Police Academy

pecialized units

*Specialized Services Team (SST)
*VIP/Witness Protection Team (VIPER)
*Civil Disturbance Unit (CDU)
*K-9
*Motorcycle Unit
*D.A.R.E.
*Hostage Negotiation
*Homeland Security and Intelligence

Fleet

The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office uses a fleet of Chevrolet Impalas (2003-present models), as well as some Chevrolet Luminas (1999-2001 model), and Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. The transportation unit uses specialized Chevrolet or Dodge vans. The Motorcycle unit uses Police Edition Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The paint scheme of the PGSO marked cruisers are a white base paint with brown striping with the word "SHERIFF" emblazoned on the side. The light bars are the slim Whelen Generation II LED's with Red and Blue colors. The Domestic Violence Intervention Unit has all marked vehicles with Panasonic Toughbook computers assigned to the cars.Fact|date=September 2008

See also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Maryland

References

External links

* [http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/JudicialBranch/Sheriff/index.asp?nivel=foldmenu(6)/ Prince George's County Sheriff's Office Website]
* [http://www.pghistory.org/PG/PG300/sherifhist.html/ Prince George's County Sheriff History]