Concerned Calvert County Resident

***A recent anonymous comment was left on the 'Note from Don Brenneman' blog entry. The writer expresses many concerns that Don has for and about Calvert County. Therefore, we felt it would be nice to post the comment as it's own entry, giving readers the opportunity to comment on the comment. Don will post a follow-up on his original post addressing the issues raised by the anonymous comment, tomorrow 5/13/10. As always thank you for reading and expressing your concerns for the Calvert County Sheriff's Department. We are privileged to have the opportunity to work with you to bring light to these issues.***

Finally some common sense has come into the debate over how law enforcement in Calvert County should be managed. The simple fact that crime statistics continue to rise at the same time that the staffing level on the Sheriff’s Department rises indicated a huge problem, and an equally huge waste of county taxpayer’s dollars.

We don’t need endless specialized units, more deputies behind desks, away at specialized training or conferences or otherwise not providing a substantial and visible presence among the community in Calvert County. When was the last time you saw a marked sheriff’s vehicle patrolling your neighborhood back streets, and when was the last time a deputy stopped to talk to you and find out what was going on in the community and what your concerns were? I can tell you that it has been a very long time indeed since I had that kind of positive experience with the department.

There seems to me to be a shocking lack of responsiveness and accountability within the current leadership of the Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff was, in my opinion, evasive with the public and media about the recent porn scandal, and appears the feel that elected officials are not as accountable as appointed officials. You can bet an official that could only keep his or her job in the short term based upon their performance would not have hidden behind rhetoric about personnel guidelines and privacy rights. OK, there is no need to name manes, a certain level of privacy is legitimate, but to arrogantly stonewall as he did is unacceptable, and come election time, his accountability clock may very well start to tick.

This is what I want. I want a Sheriff who is responsive and accountable to the voters and taxpayers who put him-or her- in office. I want a Sheriff’s Department that addresses my needs, even if it means giving up the high profile assignments for mundane things, like working with the public that they are sworn to protect.

I strongly support my Sheriff’s Department and its deputies, but maybe it is time for a change of course;. Maybe it is time to get back to basics. Sheriff Evans, please give me a logical and reasonable explanation as to why you spent my tax dollars expanding both the size of your agency and; oddly enough, the number of crimes committed in my county? Seriously, as citizens and taxpayers we should be taking to the streets about this. There is NO excuse.

Yes, I am political. Yes I DO have an agenda, and YES I do think it is time for a change, because what is going on now is simply not working.

A Note from Don Brenneman

To the citizens of Calvert County

I have had the privilege of serving in the law enforcement community for the past thirty-five years. My tenure, both with the Maryland State Police, and the Maryland State Fire Marshall’s Office, has been that of a diversified and rewarding career. Some of the positions that I have held were with the Criminal Investigations Division, the Intelligence Division and the Executive Protection Unit which secured the well being of our State officials. In 1987 I was assigned to the Prince Frederick Barracks whereupon I decided to make Calvert County my home. I first established residence in the Chesapeake Beach area and subsequently built a home in Prince Frederick. Our community is unique in many ways, with its rich rural environment, our waterways which surround three sides of our borders, and our proximity to our Nation’s Capital.

Calvert County has and is a rich and diversified community. Our citizen’s want to rest assured that when they leave for work their families and property will remain safe and secure. Over the past five years I have noticed an alarming increase in criminal activity within our community, with no relief in sight. The days of leaving our doors unlocked while visiting our neighbors and families are over. While surrounding counties are reporting a decrease in criminal activity, Calvert County is reporting an increase. We cannot continue to accept this fact. We have given the current administration eight years to protect and serve our community and they have failed. Do we really deserve another four years of this type of service?

Once in office, I will work towards increasing the number of uniformed deputies patrolling our neighborhoods. This, along with an educational and outreach programs for our citizens, will effectively decrease the number of breaking and entering and crimes against property incidents. To further reduce criminal activity I look to create a Calvert County Sheriff’s Department (sub)station/office in the Dunkirk area. This will assist in the response time for our deputies and improve their visibility and availability.

Also, we will create and implement new partnerships within our community and shall always avail ourselves to your concerns and suggestions. Crime prevention and public safety is a partnership. Join our team and make Calvert County a safer community.