Restructuring of the Harford County sheriff's office combined with new hires will put about 20 additional deputies on road patrol in the next year, Sheriff Joseph P. Meadows says.
The sheriff took command of the county's main law enforcement agency Dec. 5 after defeating incumbent Democrat Robert E. Comes in the November general election.
On Thursday, Sheriff Meadows cited his campaign promise "to get more deputies on the street and restore cohesiveness to the troubled sheriff's office" in announcing organizational and personnel changes in the office. Some have been implemented, but most will become effective Jan. 14 or Jan. 15, he said.
In a written statement, the sheriff said that on taking office he saw a lack of communication, sworn officers holding positions that could be handled by civilian or clerical personnel, and several layers of bureaucracy in which agency direc- tives could become lost or misinterpreted.
On Friday, Sheriff Meadows said 10 recruits graduating from the sheriff's office training academy in January will be assigned to road patrol. He plans to hire four lateral transfers for patrol assignments under the federal COPS AHEAD program. The program will provide about 75 percent of the money for their salaries and benefits sometime during 1995.
DTC Another five or six deputies will go on patrol by filling vacancies or by personnel movement, the sheriff said.
Seventy-two deputies are listed in the Police Services Division, but that number does not include other deputies serving civil papers and those working on special details, such as the apprehension unit, who may be available to provide support in emergency situations.
Safety and adequate backup were important concerns to union deputies who campaigned against then-Sheriff Comes.
"Effective immediately, all new hires will serve a minimum of 18 months on patrol before transferring to other assignments," Sheriff Meadows said.
His new order is designed to keep the number of patrol deputies at sufficient levels and has an added bonus in the future, the sheriff said.
"After they move into new assignments, they still will have that valuable experience," he said.
The sheriff said the reorganization of the office came about after he held two weeks of intensive meetings with his command staff.
"We can no longer plan as we go along," he said.
The sheriff's new organizational chart has five divisions -- Criminal Investigation, Administrative Services, Court Services, Correctional Services and Police Services -- headed by four captains and a lieutenant reporting directly to him.
He also announced that the Support Services Unit, consisting of sergeants heading offices of Public Information, Internal Affairs, Emergency Communications and Budget and Finance, will report directly to him.
Sheriff Meadows said he expects to name one of the captains as deputy chief, "probably about Jan. 14."
The sheriff is not elevating anyone now to the rank of lieutenant colonel, a position formerly held by Chief Deputy Thomas P. Broumel, who served four years under Mr. Comes. But he said he is not eliminating the post.
Changes in the office began soon after Sheriff Meadows took office.
On Dec. 8, Sheriff Meadows accepted the resignations of Mr. Broumel and Paul Hastmann, warden at the Detention Center.
The agency also has two vacant positions formerly held by deputies with the rank of major, E. Dale Zepp and Joseph F. Higgins.
Major Zepp, who headed the Detention Center before Mr. Hastmann, resigned in the wake of turmoil ignited when an inmate was found dead in an isolation cell in 1992. A grand jury concluded that the inmate committed suicide or died while trying to fake suicide.
Major Higgins, who headed police services, is retiring.
The sheriff's command staff also is losing two other veterans to ++ retirement: Capt. Marlin Mills, commander of personnel and finance, and Lt. Roy Clark of the support services division.
The three retirees combined have 78 years of experience.
Major Higgins and Captain Mills will retire Jan. 1 and Lieutenant Clark will leave March 10.
John J. O'Neill, interim warden since Mr. Hastmann's departure, will take over the position full time Jan. 15, Sheriff Meadows said.
Mr. O'Neill, director of procurement under County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann since 1991, formerly was acting superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
From 1988 to 1991, Mr. O'Neill was the deputy secretary in the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Sheriff Meadows said he is confident that Mr. O'Neill will restore "faith and credibility" to the detention center.
Capt. Robert Smith, an assistant warden at the Detention Center, announced Oct. 31 that he will be retiring March 1. He has been with the sheriff's office more than 30 years. Capt. Richard Aiello will take over as assistant warden.
Other key personnel changes under the sheriff's restructuring included Capt. Howard G. Walter taking command of Police Services. He will oversee the uniformed patrol division as well as warrant and fugitive operations, paternity support enforcement and traffic law enforcement.
Previously, the warrant, fugitive and apprehension units were under the Sheriff's Services Division.
Capt. James A. Stonesifer remains in charge of the Criminal Investigation Division and has the added duty of overseeing investigation of environmental crimes.
Previously, CID was under the command of Police Services; it now will be recognized as a separate division.
Cpl. Clarence Ross will join the CID unit to investigate environmental crimes and hazardous materials violations, the sheriff said.
Capt. Jesse Bane will take command of Administrative Services.
Lt. James Carter will head the Court Services Division, which involves overseeing civil process serving, court security and the inter-agency processing center.