Appointed by the County Executive, the Superintendent, oversees the Department (County Charter, secs. 536(c), 536(d)).
JENNIFER ROAD DETENTION CENTER
ORDNANCE ROAD CORRECTIONAL CENTER
The Department is overseen by the Fire Chief, who is appointed by the County Executive (County Charter, sec. 545).
Under the Fire Department are the Office of Emergency Management, the Logistics Bureau, and the Operations Bureau. In addition, the Department is aided by the Fire Advisory Board.
Originally the Board consisted of five members. In November 1995, membership was expanded to nine, and a four-year term limit was set (County Charter, sec. 546). Today, six members must be firefighters, with three appointed by the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and one by the County Fire Department. The County Executive appoints three members who are citizens within separate fire battalion districts, and one member is appointed by the County’s battalion and fire chiefs from among their ranks. (County Code, secs. 12-1-401 through 12-1-403).
Under the Fire Department, the Office coordinates federal, State, local and private resources and facilities to respond to emergencies. The Office also develops comprehensive emergency management programs to address potential emergencies, communicates disaster preparation news and available resources to the community, and establishes systems to increase response and recovery efficiency. Training programs to better prepare residents to handle emergency situations are offered through the Office.
Appointed by the Governor, the Director oversees the Office (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-109 through 14-113; County Charter, sec. 522).
Authorized by the General Assembly in 1937, the Police Department then was composed of twenty-three officers, and overseen by a Chief of Police. With its headquarters at Ferndale, the Department maintained substations at Eastport, Galesville, and Pasadena.
Today, the County Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Anne Arundel County. The Department enforces laws and ordinances related to animal control; crime prevention and response; home and business security; missing persons; and noise control. It also performs duties related to traffic and parked or abandoned vehicles; the appointment of school-crossing guards, and the disposition of unclaimed property (County Charter, secs. 543, 544; County Code, secs. 12-2-101 through 12-3-303).
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the first Chief of Police took office in January 1938 (Chapter 192, Acts of 1937). Since 1964, the Chief of Police has been appointed by the County Exective (County Charter, sec. 543).
The Department is comprised of the Internal Affairs Section, the Public Information Office, and three Bureaus: Administrative Services; Patrol Services; and Special Services.
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Section is aided by the Animal Control Commission, and the Animal Welfare Council.
The Commission is comprised of seven voting members. Appointed by the County Executive from County Council recommendations, five members are citizens who serve two-year terms, while the Chief of Police, and the County Health Officer serve ex officio. In addition, the County Executive appoints a nonvoting secretary (County Code, secs. 12-4-201 through 12-4-206).
ANIMAL WELFARE COUNCIL
CRIME LABORATORY
TRAINING ACADEMY
The Academy also offers an annual Citizen’s Police Academy course (although not offered in 2013). This course runs thirteen weeks, and allows residents to receive a basic understanding of criminal law, police procedure, forensic evidence, self-defense, and other techniques that allow citizens to better protect themselves and their communities.
The Bureau serves four regional districts, with barracks in Brooklyn, Edgewater, Odenton, and Pasadena.
In addition to the School Safety Section, the Bureau is composed of three divisions: Criminal Investigations, Special Enforcement, and Special Operations.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
The Division is composed of the Major Crimes Section, and the Victim/Witness Program.
SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION
The Aviation and K-9 units, and the Quick Response Team are overseen by the Division.
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Constructed in 1966, Jennifer Road Detention Center is a maximum security intake and pretrial detention facility. It holds up to 631 inmates, including those who do not make bail, and those awaiting trial, who require special housing for medical, mental health or behavioral reasons.
The Ordnance Road Correctional Center was built in 1998 to address overcrowding at the Jennifer Road Detention Center, and can hold up to 432 inmates. Confined at the Center are prisoners sentenced to terms of up to 18 months, as well as persons awaiting trial.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
County and voluntary fire companies are coordinated by the Fire Department to best prevent and respond to fire emergencies. In this work, the Department oversees nearly fifty stations throughout the County. Responsible for investigating fires of suspicious origin the Department is authorized to make arrests where appropriate. The Department also enforces the proper display of street address on commercial and residential locations; and checks for compliance with emergency medical assistance standards at commercial establishments, such as bars, theaters, and health clubs (County Charter, secs. 545-547; County Code, secs. 12-6-101, 12-6-104).
FIRE ADVISORY BOARD
Established in 1985, the Fire Advisory Board advises the County Executive and the Fire Chief, as well as other County officials and employees, on matters related to administration of fire and emergency services.
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Office of Emergency Management began as the Office of Civil Defense. It was renamed the Emergency Management and Civil Defense Agency in 1985, before assuming its present name in 1991.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Prior to the Police Department's creation, law enforcement duties in the County were conducted by the Sheriff's Office, and the State Police.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUREAU
Responsible for the Police Department's budgetary, personnel and planning duties, the Administrative Service Bureau handles hiring, training, and collective bargaining for the Department. The Bureau also oversees the Training Academy, and the Support Services Division.
Providing record and evidence management and investigative assistance to other divisions and bureaus, the Support Services Division conducts fingerprinting and identification processing, and oversees enforcement of the animal control ordinances.
ANIMAL CONTROL SECTION
The Animal Control Section enforces laws and ordinances that concern domestic and wild animals. Services provided by the Section include impounding stray and dangerous animals, issuing dog and cat licenses, providing for animal adoptions, and monitoring wildlife trapping (County Code, secs. 12-4-101 through 12-4-1001).
ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION
Hearing complaints and appeals related to animals and related ordinances and codes, the Animal Control Commission then makes recommendations to the Chief of Police based on their findings.
The Animal Welfare Council was established in 2009 to educate and promote the humane treatment of animals. In addition, the Council reviews County laws and regulations on care and treatment of animals to ensure their humane treatment. Appointed by the County Executive, the Council is composed of up to sixteen members (County Executive Order 35, 2009).
Forensic research and examination for the Police Department are conducted within the Division by the Crime Laboratory.
Established in January 1976, the Police Training Academy provides training for qualified applicants to the Police Department. Recruit classes last six months, and are designed to ensure recruits meet standards set by the Department of State Police and Correctional Training Commission. Following initial training, all County officers must maintain ongoing education training, which the Academy provides.
PATROL SERVICES BUREAU
Conducting regular patrols in residential and commercial areas, the Patrol Services Bureau is responsible for responding to traffic and criminal emergencies. Functioning as first responders for the Police Department, the Bureau coordinates frequently with the other Bureaus to most effectively respond to emergencies.
SPECIAL SERVICES BUREAU
The Special Services Bureau provides tactical support to patrol units, collaborates with federal and State agencies conducting operations within the County, and conducts criminal investigations for the County. The Bureau's School Safety Section coordinates school and school-crossing safety, and the County's Teen Court Program.
The Criminal Investigations Division conducts investigations for the County Police, as well as the Annapolis City Police. The Division performs polygraph tests, and interviews witnesses. The Division also provides protective services to victims and witnesses as necessary.
The Special Enforcement Division enforces laws related to narcotics and other vices (prostitution, gambling, etc.). Maintaining teams and units specifically trained in vice response, the Division coordinates their efforts with other divisions, and federal and State agencies.
Units of the Special Operations Division provides tactical support for extraordinary police situations (i.e., hostage, barricade, terrorist); directs search and rescue operations; assists patrol and narcotics operations; and provides dignitary protection.
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