Prince George's County Police Department

Infobox Police Department
name = Prince George's County Police Department

motto =
established = 1927
jurisdiction = County
sworn = 1,420
non-sworn = 263
CSO =
stations = 6
jails =
helicopters = 2
policeboats = 2
chief = Roberto Hylton
sheriff =
commissioner =
supervisor =

The Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) is the primary law enforcement agency in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States, servicing a population of over 850,000 residents and visitors within 498 square miles (1,290 km²) of jurisdiction. [ [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24033.html Prince George's County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau ] ]

History

The Prince George's County Police Department was created in 1927 in response to the increasing population and crime the county was experiencing. Prior to 1931, the county was policed by the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office. When serious crimes (e.g., murder, rape, etc.) were committed, detectives from the Baltimore City Police Department were borrowed. [cite web|url=http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/PublicSafety/Police/About/history.asp?nivel=subfoldmenu(0,2)|title=History of the Prince George's County Police Department]

Organization

The current police chief is Acting Chief Roberto Hylton. The previous chief, Melvin High resigned [http://www.gazette.net/stories/073108/prinnew131442_32367.shtml] effective 31 August, 2008. Deputy Chief Roberto Hylton is to take the post until a permanent replacement is found. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073002497.html]

As of 2008, the agency has an authorized strength of 1,420 sworn officers and 263 civilians. The agency is divided into six districts. Within each district, it is divided into two sectors. Within the sector, it is divided into individual beats: District I (Hyattsville: Adam and Baker sector), District II (Bowie: David and Edward sector), District III (Palmer Park: George and Henry sector), District IV (Oxon Hill: John and King sector), District V (Clinton: Frank sector), and District VI (Beltsville: Charlie sector).

The County Police also has a Special Operations Division which is composed of the following: [ [http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/PublicSafety/Police/Neighborhood/special_ops.asp?nivel=subfoldmenu(1,6) Prince George's County, MD - Police Department : Special Operations Division ] ]
*Tactical Section- includes the Emergency Services Team, EST (SWAT) and the Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) among others. The EST provides services for barricade/hostage situations and also provides executive protection as directed by authority. The VCU is responsible for the detection and prevention of violent crimes within the county.
*Special Enforcement Section- includes the Canine Unit (K-9) and conflict negotiators.
*Traffic Enforcement Section- includes Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Unit (CARU), the State Highway Safety Grant Coordinators, and the Motor Unit (motorcycles). The CARU team is summonsed when a fatal traffic collision has occurred.
*(SOD) includes an aviation unit which currently has two helicopters.
*(SOD) includes a marine unit which currently has two boats mainly used to patrol the waters of National Harbor.

Notable incidents

The department has been involved in a number of incidents over the years:

*In July, 1999, the department was subject to a complaint [http://www.co.pg.md.us/Government/PublicSafety/Police/pdfs/DOJ-PGPD%20-%20Consent%20Decree%2011th%20Status%20Rpt.pdf] by the United States Justice Department regarding alleged excessive use of force by police canine units.

*In January 2004, the department signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Justice Department over allegations of excessive force. [http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&pwst=1&q=+site:www.usdoj.gov+PGPD+misconduct] This resulted in the establishment of an independent monitoring group by MPRI, a defense contractor.

*On 30 June 2008, Prince George's County Police officer Cpl. Richard S. Findley, 39 was killed by Ronnie L. White who was driving a stolen pick up truck. White struck Cpl. Findley with the truck as he attempted to elude police and avoid being arrested. White appeared to be in good physical condition when he was arrested but died of asphyxiation while in the custody of the separate Prince George's County Department of Corrections. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/30/AR2008063001967.html] The death was ruled a homicide.

PGPD cruisers

See also

* List of law enforcement agencies in Maryland

References

External links

* [http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/PublicSafety/Police/index.asp?nivel=foldmenu(1) Official website of the Prince George's County Police]
* [http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/ Prince George's County government official website]