Judge Dismisses Former Ridgely Police Officers’ Federal Lawsuit Against Town, Caroline Co. Sheriff

RIDGELY, Md. – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought forth by several former officers of the Ridgely Police Department (RPD), filed against the Town of Ridgely and the Caroline County Sheriff.

The case was closed on Sept. 25 after U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson issued an opinion saying the RPD failed to establish a basis for the federal claims they were pursuing.

Background Information

As WMDT previously reported in Mar. 2024, RPD was suspended with pay pending an investigation by the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor (OSP) following allegations related to suspected violations of perjury and misconduct in office. The investigation concluded several months later in Aug. 2024, with OSP declining to pursue criminal charges after finding the claims to be unsubstantiated. Despite no charges being filed, the Town of Ridgely voted to not reinstate the department in Sept. 2024, citing expenses and that many of the previously employed officers had found new employment elsewhere.

In Aug. 2025, eight former RPD members, including former Police Chief Jeffery Eckrich, sued commissioners for the Town of Ridgely, members of the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office, and another former RPD officer by the name of James Joles. In their suit, the former officers allege Joles and Sheriff Donald Baker, Jr. collaborated to devise a plan to eliminate the RPD and allow CCSO to assume law enforcement responsibilities within the Town.

In response, the Town and Sheriff’s Office filed motions to dismiss in Oct. 2025 and Nov. 2025, respectively.

Terms of Suspension & Ultimate Disbandment

The former officers argued they possessed a property interest in their continued employment with RPD, and that the department failed to provide pre-suspension notice or a hearing in accordance with Maryland statutes and the Town Charter when terminating their employment. Additionally, they argue that the suspension, disbandment, and contraction of CCSO was a “coup”, and was  “motivated by hatred of the RPD and/or greed, and each of these defendants displayed actual malice… intending to harm the plaintiffs both in their property and reputation.”

The statutes cited by the former officers surround procedures for suspending individuals accused of misconduct in office. The Town argued that, while the commission’s disbanding of the RPD resulted from the commissioners learning that the entire precinct was the subject of an OSP investigation, the temporary suspension instituted in Mar. 2024 was “not based on findings of individual misconduct”, and thus does not fall under the preview of the cited statutes.

The Court agreed with the Town, who argued that there was no statute or ordinance restricting the commissioners’ ability to eliminate the police department. The Town Charter for Ridgely permits commissioners to “appoint as many police officers as they desire”, and authorizes them to appoint officers and other employees as deemed necessary. However, it does not dictate the terms for suspension. Additionally, Eckrich’s contract contained requirements related to termination, but not suspension.

Further, the Town argued that the ultimate disbandment of the RPD was “a legislative and budgetary act–precisely the type of policy decision that does not create an individual entitlement to continued employment”. Judge Hurson agreed with the finding, writing in part the following:

“Unlike the circumstances of the suspensions, where Plaintiffs adequately alleged that the suspensions were due to misconduct, the complaint and its exhibits reflect that the termination of the employees was rooted in budgetary and administrative decision making. Indeed, even a tenured civil servant is not entitled to notice and hearing when their ‘job is eliminated because of legitimate governmental reorganization or budgetary cutbacks,’ so long as ‘the elimination of an employee’s position is carried out in good faith and for legitimate budgetary or other reasons.’… Plaintiffs fault Defendants for not including an explanation ‘of what each employee was suspected of having done wrong nor any indication of the employee’s right to a pretermination hearing.’ But it is not clear why the commission should have done so, given that the commission provided the employees with a reason for their termination detached from the alleged wrongdoing…”

Additionally, the Court found that, because the RPD officers were suspended with pay, there is not enough basis to substantiate a claim that the Town deprived the former officers of their property interest without due process.

Defamation Allegations

Former RPD officers also alleged in their complaint that Sheriff Baker knowingly reported false allegations to the Caroline County State’s Attorney (SA), who in turn referred the allegations to the OSP, prompting the investigation. However, Judge Hurson found a lack of evidence to prove that the SA knew the allegations were false, or how.

“Consequently, as the complaint tells it, though Joles’ and Baker’s false allegations sparked the series of events leading to the suspensions and terminations, the key decision makers never knew those allegations were false in the first place,” he wrote.

The former officers also claimed they were victims of defamation, saying they had been defamed after OSP, the Town of Ridgely, and CCSO published releases informing the public of the investigation. Judge Hurson found that because the content of the releases were not false, they cannot be considered defamatory in nature, as neither release mentions individual officers, nor does it cite any specific allegations of wrongdoing.

Additionally, claims of civil conspiracy, the Monell claim, and remaining state claims were dismissed for a lack of standing.

Conclusion & Dismissal

Judge Hurson dismissed the federal claims without prejudice, adding that the state-law claims should be relitigated in State courts.

“Permitting the state court to address state law claims does not waste judicial resources, nor does it significantly tax the parties who can simply raise their already well-briefed arguments for and against dismissal in state court,” he wrote.

In a statement from Sheriff Baker and Chief Deputy Rodney J. Helmer, Jr., the two said they were pleased that the lawsuit had been dropped and resolved in their favor.

“While lawsuits are unfortunately a reality of modern law enforcement, we remain steadfastly committed to transparency, accountability, and serving the residents of Caroline County,” the statement read. “We are grateful to our legal team for their hard work in securing this outcome, and we look forward to continuing our focus on protecting and serving our community without this distraction.”