Neighborhood Patrols

Recently we received an email stating that the CRE (Chesapeake Ranch Estates) was going to hire security patrols to help fight the crime in the neighborhood. Mr. Brenneman was asked to respond to this need. Below is the email and below that is Mr. Brenneman's reply.

Residents of CRE,

Due to recent criminal activity, and in an effort to provide the best

possible protection for the community, the POACRE Board of Directors

and General Manager agreed to employ off duty police officers to provide

increased patrols within CRE beginning immediately. Police officers

will be recognized by their marked cars and uniforms. The times and

frequency of patrols are being kept confidential for security reasons. Be assured

that we are committed to the safety and security of all CRE Residents and their

families. Thank you for your support, Travis Scott POACRE President

As Election Day approaches I am interested in your position on?

1. The use of county equipment and the authority of officers being

used as a private security force to "Protect Residents of CRE from Criminal

Activity".

2. The necessity of employing off duty police officers to patrol,

where the regular tax supported police force should be the authority.

3. Why the residents of Chesapeake Ranch Estates should have to

pay for extra patrols from their police force to protect them from criminal

activity.

Mr. Brenneman's Reply...

First, thank you for your inquiry on my position about the safety of the residents of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates (CRE) and Calvert County. I have attended several of your meetings recently, held at the club house in the Ranch Estates and listened to the concerns of many of the residents who live there. I am very familiar with (CRE) and the unique increasing crime problems within that community. I have been a law enforcement officer for 38 years and have spent the last 23 years as a police officer in Calvert County.

The increasing crime problem is a result of the current strategy of the Sheriff’s Office, to essentially stay on the highways conducting traffic enforcement and then respond intermittently when crisis erupts in the neighborhoods. I have a very different philosophy of policing than the current Sheriff. I believe that strong bonds between the community and the Sheriff’s Office are a must. The law enforcement strategy must utilize the citizens and police working together to solve problems for the long term. When there is a crisis or serious incident, we will have established relationships, plans of action and most importantly trust built on friendships, to have the ability to bring about resolution. I have heard that CRE has made the generous offer of a substation within the community. After being elected Sheriff I will establish a dedicated CRE patrol and utilize all of my resources and your substation and assistance, to stop the current escalation of crime. The current Sheriff is quoted in the local newspaper ads saying that crime is down, but we know this is not the truth.

I can assure you that at no time will I suggest that you or anyone else offer to pay additional money for law enforcement service that you are already paying for. Having to pay part time or off duty officer’s to patrol your neighborhood means that I and my deputies have failed you the citizen, our most important customer. When I attended your association meeting recently and listened to the state of the budget for the CRE, the situation is not promising, and from what I heard, your community is in dire need of new maintenance equipment, to repair the internal structure of CRE. We should not be impacting your budget with additional demands. Visit my website at www.Brenneman4sheriff.com and you will get a clear picture of my ideas and strategy for reducing crime in CRE and all of Calvert. Election Day is November 2, 2010, and I am in a very close political race. Cast your vote for Don Brenneman and encourage all of your friends and neighbors and let’s start making progress!

Warm regards,

Don Brenneman

www.brenneman4sheriff.com

More Questions Answered

We have been getting more and more questions asked from concerned citizens of Calvert County. Today we will be posting two questions along with Mr. Brenneman's replies. As always feel free to leave a comment. Mr. Brenneman will answer as many questions as possible.

Comment #1...regarding Calvert Ranch Estate's and the potential of a Sheriff sub station.

Mr. Brenneman,

Mike Evans was reported in the Calvert Recorder as NOT accepting POACRE's offer to provide facilities for a CCSO substation within CRE. The Sept. 24th Recorder on page A-12 says that Sherriff Evans said "while it's nice to be offered the use of the facilities, deputies can now write reports from their vehicles, and they need to be in their vehicles".

HUH!?? You GOTTA be kidding!

Who will support and man a CCSO substation in CRE? The Sherriff candidate that says an overwheming YES to this will get my vote!

Thanks!

Mr. Brenneman's Response

My opinion is the Chesapeake Ranch Estates needs a continuous, appropriate police presence, more than intermittent patrol. I think the substation is a great idea, especially if it is used for the citizens and police to meet and conduct neighborhood crime prevention and gang awareness training. I would never snub my nose at a free substation in an area that is troubled by crime. The citizens in the Ranch Estates have continuously asked the Sheriff for assistance and now they have even made a generous offer to place a sub station in their neighborhood. The current problem is with the Sheriff’s Office and its reluctance to ask for and receive the assistance and cooperation from the citizens not just in the Ranch Estates but in all of Calvert County. The answer, is to get in and start working with the concerned residents like you and build strong partnerships and working relationships that will have a positive lasting impact on crime. This is a perfect opportunity for the current Sheriff to assign his newly formed gang unit to the area, to begin to disrupt and dismantle the gangs or groups. Think about this, the suspects shot at the police officers houses for goodness sakes, that means that they (The GANGS), at least believe they are in control. The deputies have already been driving around writing reports in their vehicles and it is not working, break out the play book and try something else like working with the community!

Thank you for your concern and your commitment to a safer Calvert County, I look forward to working with you in the future,

Don Brenneman

Comment #2

As a concerned Calvert County citizen and voter trying to best decide who to vote for as Sheriff for Calvert County, you recently made the statement while appearing at the St. Leonard Fire Department that “Mike Evans was not doing his job and if you are elected, you will get rid of all the outlaws in Calvert County/Southern Maryland.”

First, please elaborate and explain what you meant by this statement.

Secondly, were you referring to a specific group of people when you said “outlaws”? And, if so, what current Calvert County residents are you referring to?

Next, do you believe if you are Sheriff that crime will decrease in Calvert County and why?

Lastly, if you could only give me one reason to vote for you, what would it be?

Mr. Brenneman's Response

I am not aware of the speaking engagement you are referring to; I have been to the ST. Leonard Fire Department several times, but never at a speaking event. I attended a fundraiser in the early summer and two concert events that were also this summer. At the two concert events, I met many people and had a lot of great conversation with citizens of Calvert County about crime.

First, I most definitely feel that the current administration of the Sheriff’s Office is not doing a good job at all. My feelings about this are not personal against the current Sheriff, but I absolutely disagree with his management style and his ability to manage crime in Calvert County. Secondly, I do not believe that I used the word “outlaw,” as this is not my style of speaking. I do however; refer to criminals and those that prey on people and property of the citizens of Calvert County, unfavorably. My goal is to reduce the current rising crime trend and locate as many of the criminal element as possible so that they can be either rehabilitated, removed from society and placed in prison, or simply receive just punishment, whatever the courts deem reasonable and justified.

I have never and will never refer to any specific Calvert County resident in a negative fashion, nor will I single out any one group, unless they identify themselves as a “Gang”, or “crew”, who’s intention is to create and profit from a criminal enterprise, then I will focus on them!

I do believe that when I am elected Sheriff that crime in Calvert County will decrease measurably. I believe that with an agency completely focused on reducing crime, and an agency that supplies the men and women with the tools they need such as a comprehensive daily analysis of crime using computer crime analysis, we will get results on what we focus on. The current administration has neglected this technology and therefore they have been unsuccessful at controlling crime. Here are some facts about the performance of the Sheriff’s Office under the current administration:

Facts:
The Sheriff has benefited from an 83% increase in funds since he took office. He has nearly doubled the strength of the agency by being approved for 46 new deputy positions. Population in Calvert has been flat for the last two years, yet crime goes up and up and up. The FBI has reported a decline in all areas of crime on a national level despite the sagging economy. This is just from the local news papers who are reluctant to criticize this administration for whatever reason:

Reported in March 2006 CRIME RISES 19.6 %
Reported in MARCH 2006 CALVERT HAS STATES HIGHEST CRIME INCREASE
Reported in September 2009 CALVERT SAW INCREASE IN CRIME OF 18%
Reported in 2009 BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFTS INCREASE by 30%
Reported in 2010 BANK ROBBERIES and GANG SHOOTINGS

DO YOU SEE A PATTERN?
CAN YOU AFFORD ANOTHER 4 YEARS?

If elected as the Sheriff of Calvert County I pledge to apply my 38 years of experience in law enforcement and work tirelessly with communities and organizations to constantly improve the quality of life of the Citizens of Calvert County. I will conduct a top to bottom review of the agency to eliminate waste and keep patrol deputies on the road in your neighborhoods! I will strive to improve the moral of the deputies within the Sheriff’s office so that they are completely focused on our number one mission Eliminate CRIME!

Thank you for your interest in my campaign and vision for the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions and/or concerns.

Don Brenneman

WWW.brenneman4sheriff.com