Ridgely votes not to bring back Police Department

RIDGELY, Md. – The Town of Ridgely says it will not be bringing back it’s Police Department. They issued a statement Monday regarding the future of the Department.

The entire Police Department was suspended back in March following allegations related to suspected violations of perjury and misconduct in office. The town established an agreement with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department to provide law enforcement to the Town. Under that agreement, the Sheriff is currently providing the Town with two uniformed deputies and one uniformed Sergeant on a full-time basis. In May, that agreement was extended to last through the 2025 fiscal year, until June 30, 2025.

This week the Town says the decision has been made to stay with the Sheriff’s Department. At this point they say most of the former Ridgely Police Department employees have found other jobs and would be unavailable to return. Town Commissioners say reestabilshing the RPD would be a complex and expensive undertaking. The Town Commissioners believe it is in the best interest of tht Town to stay with their current arrangement, and reevaluate when they look at the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

Town officials also said they will not be commenting on the status of the former employees or the Office of the State Prosecutor’s investigation. Last month the investigation ended and the Town said the OSP was not pursuing charges.