Delmarva’s Law Enforcement Leaders hold Public Forum

DELMARVA – The Law Enforcement Leaders of Delmarva sheriffs and police chiefs met for the first time to discuss their challenges, their goals, and what’s to come for their department.

Transparency was just one of the many topics discussed. Jamie Dykes is Wicomico’s States Attorney, and the Moderator asks why it’s so important to talk to the community. “This forum was crucial for law enforcement to be open, honest, transparent.”

Fruitland’s Police Chief Krah Plunkert said, “I think transparency is extremely important when you’re addressing the public, quick, regular, interval information, accurate information needs to get out, to try to be sure the public understands what’s going on internally.”

Although information it isn’t always good, it must be told, according to Chief David Mienschein of Salisbury. “There are bad things going on, we know that, that’s why we’re all here. So, it’s a matter of not constantly ‘Hey our officers did a great job doing this, this, and this’ but we also make mistakes, and we need to stand behind those and make sure that information gets out there as well.”

Juvenile crime has spiked across the peninsula, and Chief Angelo DiMartino of Exmore, Virginia speaks on what his department faces, and what they are doing to change things. “These kids are really seeing this stuff on social media, the rap videos, and they just want to be the next big gangster… Our council passed an ordinance, and we have a 9:00 curfew now, and that helps get some of these kids off the street.”

Other departments are having a more difficult time. Chief Thomas Johnson, Jr. of Dover says he’s noticed an escalation of violence amongst the youth. “I’m talking about guns in the hands of 13-year-olds, 14-year-olds. I’ve got a 13-year-old right now who’s running a gang… We’re playing catchup, so, I’ve got significant issues, I don’t have the answers, but I’m just trying to put out there there’s a lot of different lenses we can look through.”

Recruitment and retention go hand in hand, and making sure there are enough officers to protect our streets is important. They say pay is important, but appreciation and open lines of communication are key. Sherrif Matt Crisafulli of Worchester County spoke for all in attendance. “We’re working to break down those barriers. I think I can speak for the leaders at this table, we looking in the mirror and said you know what the wellness of our men and women, is our responsibility.”

Cambridge Police Chief Justin Todd describes a moment when he lost a life and for 14 years, he didn’t emotionally deal with that tragedy. As a leader, he says it’s his job to make sure officers under him don’t wait a decade to get therapy. “I don’t want to see as a law enforcement leader and a chief, for an officer to have to go through things like myself or other officers.”

By having local leaders meet with community, State’s Attorney Jamie Dykes says the goal is to open a door for future conversations. “Hopefully it goes a long way to bridge the gap between the public and law enforcement, and the confidence that the public should have in law enforcement.”