Ridgely not planning to reinstate police department
KONNER METZ
kmetz@chespub.com
RIDGELY — Despite a state criminal investigation against Ridgely’s police chief coming up empty, Ridgely commissioners announced on Monday that they have no plans to reinstate the town’s police force, which has been suspended since March.
A report from the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor stated an investigation was opened into Ridgely Police Department Chief Jeff Eckrich due to “suspected” perjury and misconduct in office. The investigation found no “sufficient evidence of criminal activity warranting further investigation or prosecution,” the July 25 report said.
The commissioners suspended Eckrich and the entire department on March 12, providing minimal explanation to residents. Since, the town has entered into an agreement with the Caroline County Sheriff ’s Office to provide police coverage in place of the suspended officers. With the start of the new fiscal year July 1, the Ridgely officers were laid off.
Chip MacLeod, an attorney representing the town, read aloud a statement at the beginning of Monday’s town meeting.
“The commissioners recognize the pain this unfortunate situation has caused their friends and neighbors in the town,” MacLeod stated. “At the same time, the commissioners are pleased that most of the former Ridgely Police Department employees have secured employment elsewhere. Thus, the commissioners realize that those employees would be unlikely to return to their former positions even if those positions were available.”
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“The commissioners recognize that reestablishing the Ridgely Police Department would be a complex and expensive undertaking,” MacLeod later said. “Such an effort would require a high level of citizen support, not just political support, for operating the Ridgely Police Department, and a commitment to funding and seeing the process through. Accordingly, the commissioners believe that it is in the best interest of the town to continue the present arrangement with the sheriff and the county through at least fiscal year 2025 and to reevaluate the sheriff’s engagement when preparing the fiscal 2026 budget.”
MacLeod said commissioners and town staff will provide no additional comment regarding the police department.
Many residents reacted negatively after the statement was read. Some asked why there wasn’t an apology provided to the officers, and others pointed out the town didn’t acknowledge the police chief was cleared of wrongdoing.
One resident asked the Caroline County Sheriff ’s Office sergeant in attendance which three officers are currently assigned to the town for coverage.
“We’re not answering no questions. I’m in charge,” Commissioner John Buckle said.
Resident Jennifer Nesselroad spoke during public comment, asking the commissioners for an itemized list of police and town vehicles. She also expressed frustration with the commissioners’ statement.
“You never apologized for disbanding our police department, not even issuing an apology for everybody being exonerated,” Nesselroad said. “That was very, very rude and inconsiderate to us and those police officers that gave every day around this town, even for you all, everybody sitting up here. That was very cowardly.”
Heather Amador asked commissioners why the town did not follow its charter, which states the commissioners must hold a vote to remove an officer or town employee.
“A criminal investigation’s going to trump anything in the town charter,” MacLeod said.
“Absolutely, against one, against the chief,” Amador said. “The others were never under investigation.”
“You heard the statement I read,” MacLeod said. Amador responded, “I did, but it doesn’t answer my question.”
In an interview with the Star Democrat, Ridgely resident Robin Martin expressed concern over the fact that the commissioners have not clearly stated who directed them to suspend the police department back in March.
Monday’s statement from the commissioners noted that on March 12, the Caroline County Sheriff ’s Office executed a search and seizure warrant issued by the county’s circuit court. It stated that “commissioners were directed to order all RPD officers to surrender” firearms, vehicles and other equipment to the town, but did not clarify who provided that direction.
The decision to suspend the department came “without guidance” from the state prosecutor, according to the state prosecutor’s report.
“I think we have a distrust for the commissioners of the town,” Martin said. “We’ve been way more involved in things that are happening in the town, because we don’t trust that they have our best interests at heart anymore.”
During public comment, Martin asked commissioners for “less closed-door activity and more community involvement” in town decisions. After the meeting, Martin said her heart breaks for the officers.
“They participate in everything around town, and I think that’s kind of what Ridgely should be about, community policing,” Martin said. “This has been something so shameful for the town.”
Ridgely Town Commissioners said in a statement that the town will continue in its police coverage agreement with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office through at least June of 2025. The Ridgely Police Department has been suspended since March.
KONNER MET Z/STAR DEMOCRAT
Ridgely Commissioner John Hurley, above, declined to make any comment regarding the suspended Ridgely Police Department despite pressure from residents to do so.
KONNER MET Z/STAR DEMOCRAT
