Dear Members of the Maryland Police Chiefs Association:
It was the honor of my career being sworn in as the president of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA). I am truly humbled by the membership’s confidence and trust. I’d like to congratulate Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz on being sworn in as First Vice President of the MCPA.
I’d also like to offer my congratulations to Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble, who was sworn in as President of the Maryland Sheriffs Association (MSA). The MCPA and the MSA have a long history of working together to improve the lives and safety of the residents and business owners in Maryland, as well as the hard-working men and women of our noble profession. Thus, I look forward to working alongside Sheriff Gamble and members of the MCPA and MSA, as well as Executive Director Darren Popkin as we work together to make Maryland a safe place to live, work, and visit.
A big thank you to Laurel Police Chief Russ Hamill and Cecil County Sheriff Scott Adams for their leadership of the MCPA and MSA this past year. They led their organizations through turbulent waters with professionalism and unwavering commitment to our residents’ safety and our officers, deputies, and troopers’ wellbeing.
Today’s society demands Maryland’s law enforcement professionals exhibit a plethora of positive characteristics and attributes. From serving as a diplomat on a neighbor-neighbor dispute, to acting as a marriage counselor on a domestic dispute, and from interacting with the aptitude of a psychiatrist on a mental health crisis call, to counseling a juvenile runaway with the skill of a social worker. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to do everything in our power to ensure their success. Proper training, adequate equipment, and comprehensive written directive guidance is paramount for their success. The MCPA and MSA’s Aspiring Leaders Program is an example of such training that is assisting current mid-level leaders while also preparing them to be the next generation of chiefs and sheriffs.
The legislative session in Annapolis is rapidly approaching. We must interact with elected officials to ensure they understand how particular legislation can make our community and frontline law enforcement professionals safer. Conversely, we must also let them know when legislation will jeopardize our community and frontline officers, deputies, and troopers safety. Additionally, we must oppose legislation that could further exacerbate recruitment and retention challenges.
Many of our communities are feeling the negative effects of laws enacted last session that have led to a significant increase in violent juvenile crime. We must reopen the conversation about juvenile crime, as our residents, business owners, and frontline personnel are living with the consequences of the existing legislation.
Your voice is important! Your voice is needed! Your voice can make a difference! Please consider attending the Legislative Committee meeting where bills are reviewed and the MCPA and MSA’s opinions are developed. Then on to Annapolis…
I look forward to interacting with each and every one of you this year! We’re stronger together!
See you on the road,
Carl Schinner
Chief of Police
La Plata Police Department
