A Maryland town has suspended its entire police force, leaving residents confused and wondering why.
“The small town of Ridgely, located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, announced it was suspending officers of the Ridgely Police Department, leaving other public safety agencies to fill the void,” Fox News reports.
Maryland town suspends its entire police force, leaving residents to wonder why
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2024
“What’s very concerning is that they didn’t communicate with us in an honest and open way,” one resident said, according to Fox News.
“Treat us with respect. We’re adults — thinking, rational adults who deserve the truth,” she added.
BREAKING: Maryland town suspends its entire police force, leaving residents to wonder why. pic.twitter.com/MvkxSD30S6
— The General (@GeneralMCNews) March 22, 2024
Per Fox News:
Last week, officials said on the Ridgely’s website that the town’s three-member commission had “suspended with pay the entirety of the Ridgely Police Department,” and that the Office of State Prosecutor is investigating potential wrongdoing.
“It doesn’t add up,” said Gennie Woo, a business owner in downtown Ridgely since 1983. “Everybody is skeptical about what happened. We just want to know how and why.”
The department’s website says it employs half a dozen officers to service its population of about 1,600 residents.
The Washington Times reports the entire police department is suspended with pay “this month pending an investigation by state prosecutors.”
The town commissioners didn’t say what the Ridgely Police Department was being investigated for.
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 22, 2024
From The Washington Times:
On Wednesday, town officials approved a deal wherein the Caroline County Sheriff’s Department will provide law enforcement for Ridgely in the interim.
“We cover the town when their police is off the clock. We provide them with backup. We’re familiar with the citizens,” Caroline County Sheriff Donnie Baker told The Star Democrat.
The town commissioners didn’t say what the Ridgely Police Department was being investigated for.
Including its chief, the department employed at least six people before the suspension, according to the RPD website. The department hasn’t posted anything publicly regarding the suspension or the investigation by the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor.
On Friday, the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that the suspension was temporary and that its agreement with Ridgely officials, which begins April 1, includes “an additional 35 hours per week above and beyond normal patrol hours,” along with deputy availability for emergencies.
For now, Ridgely residents are left wondering what exactly is going on.
