Down to one officer, Greensboro considers closing police department

GREENSBORO — The future of the Greensboro Police Department is up in the air.

Mayor David Spencer announced at Thursday evening’s Greensboro Town Council meeting that the town will consider closing its police department, which is now down to one officer, Chief Lenox Trams.

Four options were provided to the mayor and commissioners by Town Manager Tammy Kelledes:

Continuing running its own police department.Working “in conjunction with” the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office “to fill the spots (it doesn’t) have now for (its) own officers.”Entering into a “contractual agreement” with the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office.Closing the police department, not entering into an agreement and turning “the town over to the sheriff’s department and the Maryland State Police.”

“The current public safety demands are too much for a one-person police department to handle,” Spencer said. “In addition, the mayor and council must consider the increasing costs of retaining a police department and the struggles caused by a shortage of police officers and police applicants throughout the state.”

“We will listen to all comments and suggestions and take all of those into consideration,” he added. “We will not be making a decision tonight.”

The mayor emphasized Thursday was just the beginning of a “fluid” and long-term process.

Greensboro has been receiving assistance from county police in recent weeks to reduce the burden on the town’s only officer. Spencer said Greensboro has been paying a $75-per-hour rate for county deputies to cover the town, which will continue “in the meantime.”

“When they come in here, they’re staying here,” Spencer said. “They’re not patrolling the county, they’re only patrolling the town.”

A person recently hired by the town did not complete police academy training, Spencer said in response to a resident question.

Spencer said the town has asked Trams to continue going through officer applications on file in hopes that an applicant who is already certified can be brought on board. Otherwise, certification and training can take up to a full year.

“If you put somebody through the academy, it takes about a year,” Trams said. “When you hire them after you do the background, for the nine months that they really aren’t much good to you, you are paying their salary and their health insurance.”

During his department update, Trams urged those with non-emergencies to call the county at 410-479-2515 since the Greensboro department is limited. “If (we’re) working, they will certainly send us. If we’re not working, then they will send the next agency that is in rotation,” he said.

PUBLIC FEEDBACKAfter Spencer read the four options aloud, resident Paula Turner pushed for more details and asked for the town to host a special meeting.

“Of those options, where is the breakdown of cost, of savings?” Turner asked “If No. 4 is voted in, if that’s what the town wants, show us how … (the) money that’s budgeted will be allocated back into our town. I want numbers.”

Kevin Parks spoke in support of the police department remaining. He referenced the struggle to attract police officers due to Maryland’s repeal of the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights back in 2021.

“I don’t want to see the police department closed up,” Parks said. “The chief’s doing the best he can. If you want to fuss about the police department, call your legislators and your senators for the state of Maryland and tell them to give them their bill of rights back.”

Spencer said the town’s budget has room for three officers. Public Works Supervisor Brandon Cunningham asked if the town would continue paying for county assistance if it hired a second officer only.

“Those decisions have not yet been made,” Spencer said.