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Aberdeen Police Department
Incorporated: 1892 Population: 16,473
(78)
Incorporated: 1892 Population: 16,473
(78)
HISTORY
The Town of Aberdeen was incorporated by an Act of the General Assembly in 1892. The Act provided for the election of five Commissioners who would enact ordinances necessary for the governance of the Town, which at its inception numbered about 700 people. The powers of the
Commissioners were particularly enumerated under the Act, including the provision appoint a town Clerk and Bailiff.
The Bailiff provided the police function for the Town. Apparently, there had been some provision for law enforcement prior the incorporation of the Town because a jail, known as “The Dungeon” had been erected previously at the corner of Howard Street and Walnut Alley. It was constructed using quarried stone and had two holding cells; it stood to the rear of what became the Town Hall.
The position of Bailiff remained a fixture in the Town through the late nineteenth century. The job was held by the following individuals: Charles Thompson, Frank Doyle, John Temple, Charlie Shears, John Bowman and Mack Bowman. The title of Bailiff evolved into that of Chief of Police. In a photo dated “about 1900,” John Temple is identified as Chief of Police. Appointed in 1919, James B. “Ben” Ray became one of the longest serving police chiefs in America, retiring in 1965. Ben was something of a character. In the 1950’s and ‘60’s it was not uncommon to see him “walking his beat” in uniform Bermuda shorts, knee high black socks and carrying a swagger stick.
In 1936 the town erected a stone building at the corner of W. Bel Air Avenue and Philadelphia Boulevard (Rt. 40), its original purpose was to serve as a comfort station for travelers. Apparently the town fathers realized that the building was being under-utilized and moved the Town offices and the Police Department there. The old jail was abandoned in 1948 when new cell and court space was made available in the rear of the firehouse located at W. Bel Air Avenue and Parke Street. The Police Department took over the entire building when the fire department constructed a larger facility at Rogers and Franklin Streets in 1973. The old jail building AKA “The Dungeon,” still stands today and is a local business.
Through the mid twentieth century the department grew as the population grew. During WWII, the Department numbered three, by 1967 the Department numbered fifteen full time officers and three part time. The Chief of Police at that time was Chester Roberts. He was succeeded by William P. Krouse, a veteran of the Department for over twenty-five years. The next Chief was also a veteran officer, Arthur B. “Whitey” Elliott who served until August 1981. By now the Department had grown to 38 officers. Retired Maryland State Police Colonel Lemuel Porter took over and remained Chief until 1989. He was followed by John R. “Jack” Jolley, a retired US Army major and former Provost Marshal on Aberdeen Proving Grounds. During his term of office Aberdeen went from being a Town to becoming a City. Chief Jolley left the department in December of 1994 and was succeeded by Michael Zotos, a retired Deputy Commissioner from the Baltimore City Police Department. Chief Zotos retired four years later in 1999. Retired MSP Captain Randy Rudy became Chief of the Department in February 2000. During his tenure the Department moved into new facilities located in the north wing of City Hall. In 2006 the Department reached its largest authorized complement of 46 sworn officers. The agency is currently authorized 44 officers. Chief Rudy retired from the agency in October 2010. Captain Henry G. Trabert was appointed Chief, the first officer to rise through the ranks to that position since Arthur Elliott in the 1970’s.
Today, the Aberdeen Police Department is a full-service police agency consisting of a Patrol Division staffed by Patrolmen and overseen by a Patrol Lieutenant. The Criminal Investigation Division has 3 full time investigators and a Crime Scene Technician; one additional detective is assigned to the Special Operations Unit and are responsible for street level narcotics and vice investigations. The other detective is assigned full time to the Harford County Task Force, a county wide multi-jurisdictional unit. Operations of the Patrol Division and Administrative Division are overseen by the Operations Captain. The Administrative Lieutenant is responsible for procurement, Quartermaster, the fleet, records management, communications, and other related duties. He is assisted by an Administrative Corporal who oversees the Administrative Support Specialist, Code Enforcement Officer, grants, training, and Community Safety Specialist. The Department also fields an Honor Guard and Bike Patrol units. Under the Office of the Chief is a Deputy Chief and a civilian CALEA manager.
And to think, it all started with one Town Bailiff in 1892...
Commissioners were particularly enumerated under the Act, including the provision appoint a town Clerk and Bailiff.
The Bailiff provided the police function for the Town. Apparently, there had been some provision for law enforcement prior the incorporation of the Town because a jail, known as “The Dungeon” had been erected previously at the corner of Howard Street and Walnut Alley. It was constructed using quarried stone and had two holding cells; it stood to the rear of what became the Town Hall.
The position of Bailiff remained a fixture in the Town through the late nineteenth century. The job was held by the following individuals: Charles Thompson, Frank Doyle, John Temple, Charlie Shears, John Bowman and Mack Bowman. The title of Bailiff evolved into that of Chief of Police. In a photo dated “about 1900,” John Temple is identified as Chief of Police. Appointed in 1919, James B. “Ben” Ray became one of the longest serving police chiefs in America, retiring in 1965. Ben was something of a character. In the 1950’s and ‘60’s it was not uncommon to see him “walking his beat” in uniform Bermuda shorts, knee high black socks and carrying a swagger stick.
In 1936 the town erected a stone building at the corner of W. Bel Air Avenue and Philadelphia Boulevard (Rt. 40), its original purpose was to serve as a comfort station for travelers. Apparently the town fathers realized that the building was being under-utilized and moved the Town offices and the Police Department there. The old jail was abandoned in 1948 when new cell and court space was made available in the rear of the firehouse located at W. Bel Air Avenue and Parke Street. The Police Department took over the entire building when the fire department constructed a larger facility at Rogers and Franklin Streets in 1973. The old jail building AKA “The Dungeon,” still stands today and is a local business.
Through the mid twentieth century the department grew as the population grew. During WWII, the Department numbered three, by 1967 the Department numbered fifteen full time officers and three part time. The Chief of Police at that time was Chester Roberts. He was succeeded by William P. Krouse, a veteran of the Department for over twenty-five years. The next Chief was also a veteran officer, Arthur B. “Whitey” Elliott who served until August 1981. By now the Department had grown to 38 officers. Retired Maryland State Police Colonel Lemuel Porter took over and remained Chief until 1989. He was followed by John R. “Jack” Jolley, a retired US Army major and former Provost Marshal on Aberdeen Proving Grounds. During his term of office Aberdeen went from being a Town to becoming a City. Chief Jolley left the department in December of 1994 and was succeeded by Michael Zotos, a retired Deputy Commissioner from the Baltimore City Police Department. Chief Zotos retired four years later in 1999. Retired MSP Captain Randy Rudy became Chief of the Department in February 2000. During his tenure the Department moved into new facilities located in the north wing of City Hall. In 2006 the Department reached its largest authorized complement of 46 sworn officers. The agency is currently authorized 44 officers. Chief Rudy retired from the agency in October 2010. Captain Henry G. Trabert was appointed Chief, the first officer to rise through the ranks to that position since Arthur Elliott in the 1970’s.
Today, the Aberdeen Police Department is a full-service police agency consisting of a Patrol Division staffed by Patrolmen and overseen by a Patrol Lieutenant. The Criminal Investigation Division has 3 full time investigators and a Crime Scene Technician; one additional detective is assigned to the Special Operations Unit and are responsible for street level narcotics and vice investigations. The other detective is assigned full time to the Harford County Task Force, a county wide multi-jurisdictional unit. Operations of the Patrol Division and Administrative Division are overseen by the Operations Captain. The Administrative Lieutenant is responsible for procurement, Quartermaster, the fleet, records management, communications, and other related duties. He is assisted by an Administrative Corporal who oversees the Administrative Support Specialist, Code Enforcement Officer, grants, training, and Community Safety Specialist. The Department also fields an Honor Guard and Bike Patrol units. Under the Office of the Chief is a Deputy Chief and a civilian CALEA manager.
And to think, it all started with one Town Bailiff in 1892...
Bel Air Police Department
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Harford County Sheriffs Office
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