![[photo, Anne Arundel County Fire Department emblem, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-07729b.jpg)
In Anne Arundel County, three departments are concerned with public safety: Detention Facilities, Fire, and Police.
Constructed in 1966, Jennifer Road Detention Center is a maximum security intake and pretrial detention facility. It holds up to 631 inmates. Among these are persons who do not make bail, and those awaiting trial, who require special housing for medical, mental health or behavioral reasons.
ORDNANCE ROAD CORRECTIONAL CENTER
Under the Fire Department are the Office of Emergency Management, the Logistics Bureau, and the Operations Bureau. In addition, the Department is aided by the Fire Advisory Board.
Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, Crownsville, Maryland, August 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Originally the Board was made up of five members. In November 1995, membership was expanded to nine, and a four-year term limit was set (County Charter, sec. 546). Today, six members must be firefighters, with three appointed by the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and one by the County Fire Department. The County Executive appoints three members who are citizens within separate fire battalion districts, and one member is appointed by the County’s battalion and fire chiefs from among their ranks. (County Code, secs. 12-1-401 through 12-1-403).
Under the Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management coordinates federal, State, local and private resources and facilities to respond to emergencies. The Office also develops comprehensive emergency management programs to address potential emergencies, communicates disaster preparation news and available resources to the community, and establishes systems to increase response and recovery efficiency. Training programs to better prepare residents to handle emergency situations are offered through the Office.
Appointed by the Governor, the Director oversees the Office (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-109 through 14-113; County Charter, sec. 522).
Authorized by the General Assembly in 1937, the Police Department then was composed of twenty-three officers, and overseen by a Chief of Police. With its headquarters at Ferndale, the Department maintained substations at Eastport, Galesville, and Pasadena.
Arundel County Police Department, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Today, the Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Anne Arundel County. The Department enforces laws and ordinances related to animal control; crime prevention and response; home and business security; missing persons; and noise control. It also performs duties related to traffic, and parked or abandoned vehicles; the appointment of school-crossing guards, and the disposition of unclaimed property (County Charter, secs. 543, 544; County Code, secs. 12-2-101 through 12-3-303).
The Department is organized under Administration and Operations, and Patrol. Directly under the Chief of Police are the Internal Affairs Section, and the Public Information Office. The Department is aided by the Citizens Advisory Council.
Meeting monthly, the Council consists of from fifteen to twenty members.
POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY
The Academy offers an annual Citizen’s Police Academy course, which runs for thirteen weeks. The course provides residents with a basic understanding of criminal law, police procedure, forensic evidence, self-defense, and other techniques that allow citizens to better protect themselves and their communities.
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Section is aided by the Animal Control Commission, and the Animal Welfare Council.
The Commission is composed of seven voting members. Appointed by the County Executive from County Council recommendations, five members are citizens who serve two-year terms, while the Chief of Police, and the County Health Officer serve ex officio. In addition, the County Executive appoints a nonvoting secretary (County Code, secs. 12-4-201 through 12-4-206).
ANIMAL WELFARE COUNCIL
Appointed by the County Executive, the Council consists of up to sixteen members (County Executive Order 35, 2009).
CRIME LABORATORY
In addition to the School Safety Section, the Bureau is composed of three divisions: Criminal Investigations, Special Enforcement, and Special Operations.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
The Division is composed of the Major Crimes Section, and the Victim and Witness Program.
SCHOOL SAFETY SECTION
SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION
The Aviation and K-9 units, and the Quick Response Team are overseen by the Division.
The Bureau is responsible for the Community Relations Division, and serves four regional districts with barracks in Brooklyn, Edgewater, Odenton, and Pasadena.
COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIVISION
In each of the Police Department's four Police Districts, these councils serve as liaisons between the Department and the community to discuss problems of mutual concern. Meeting monthly, each Council develops programs to reduce crime and improve personal and property security.
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The Ordnance Road Correctional Center was built in 1998, because of overcrowding at the Jennifer Road Detention Center. At Ordnance Road, up to 432 inmates can be held. Confined at the Center are prisoners sentenced to terms of up to 18 months, as well as persons awaiting trial.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
![[photo, Anne Arundel County Fire Department, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-07728b.jpg)
County and voluntary fire companies are coordinated by the Fire Department to prevent and respond to fire emergencies. In this work, the Department oversees nearly fifty stations throughout the County.
Anne Arundel County Fire Department, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Responsible for investigating fires of suspicious origin, the Department is authorized to make arrests where appropriate. The Department also enforces the proper display of street address on commercial and residential locations; and checks for compliance with emergency medical assistance standards at commercial establishments, such as bars, theaters, and health clubs (County Charter, secs. 545-547; County Code, secs. 12-6-101, 12-6-104).
![[photo, Herald Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, Crownsville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-07332b.jpg)
The Department is overseen by the Fire Chief, who is appointed by the County Executive (County Charter, sec. 545).
FIRE ADVISORY BOARD
Established in 1985, the Fire Advisory Board advises the County Executive and the Fire Chief, as well as other County officials and employees, on matters related to administration of fire and emergency services.
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Office of Emergency Management began as the Office of Civil Defense. It was renamed the Emergency Management and Civil Defense Agency in 1985, before assuming its present name in 1991.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
![[photo, Arundel County Police Department, 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/an/images/1198-1-07714b.jpg)
Prior to the formation of the Police Department, law enforcement duties in the County were conducted by the Sheriff's Office, and the State Police.
Appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, the first Chief of Police took office in January 1938 (Chapter 192, Acts of 1937). Since 1964, the Chief of Police has been appointed by the County Exective (County Charter, sec. 543).
CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Initiated by the Police Chief in 2013, the Citizens Advisory Council advises and assists the Chief of Police.
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS
Within the Police Department, Administration and Operations oversees two Bureaus: Administration, and Operations and Investigations.
BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION
Started as the Administrative Services Bureau, the Bureau of Administration is responsible for the Police Department's budgetary, personnel and planning duties. It handles hiring, training, and collective bargaining for the Department. The Bureau also oversees the Police Training Academy, and the Support Services Division.
Established in January 1976, the Police Training Academy provides training for qualified applicants who want to become police officers in the Police Department. Recruit classes last six months, and are designed to ensure recruits meet standards set by the Department of State Police and the Correctional Training Commission. Following initial training, all County officers must maintain ongoing education training, which the Academy provides.
Providing record and evidence management and investigative assistance to other divisions and bureaus, the Support Services Division conducts fingerprinting and identification processing, and oversees enforcement of the animal control ordinances.
ANIMAL CONTROL SECTION
Under the Support Services Division, the Animal Control Section enforces laws and ordinances that concern domestic and wild animals. The Section impounds stray and dangerous animals, issues dog and cat licenses, provides for animal adoptions, and monitors wildlife trapping (County Code, secs. 12-4-101 through 12-4-1001).
ANIMAL CONTROL COMMISSION
Hearing complaints and appeals related to animals and related ordinances and codes, the Animal Control Commission then makes recommendations to the Chief of Police based on their findings.
The Animal Welfare Council was established in 2009 to educate and promote the humane treatment of animals. In addition, the Council reviews County laws and regulations on care and treatment of animals to ensure their humane treatment.
Forensic research and examination for the Police Department are conducted within the Support Services Division by the Crime Laboratory.
BUREAU OF OPERATIONS & INVESTIGATIONS
The Bureau of Operations and Investigations formerly was the Special Services Bureau. It provides tactical support to patrol units, collaborates with federal and State agencies conducting operations within the County, and conducts criminal investigations for the County.
The Criminal Investigations Division conducts investigations for the County Police, as well as the Annapolis City Police. The Division performs polygraph tests, and interviews witnesses. The Division also provides protective services to victims and witnesses as necessary.
The Bureau's School Safety Section coordinates school and school-crossing safety, and the County's Teen Court Program.
The Special Enforcement Division enforces laws related to narcotics and other vices, such as prostitution and gambling. Maintaining teams and units specifically trained in vice response, the Division coordinates its efforts with other divisions, and federal and State agencies.
Units of the Special Operations Division provide tactical support for extraordinary police situations, such as those involving hostages, barricades, or terrorists. The Division also directs search and rescue operations; assists patrol and narcotics operations; and provides dignitary protection.
PATROL
As part of the Police Department, Patrol oversees the Bureau of Patrol.
BUREAU OF PATROL
Conducting regular patrols in residential and commercial areas, the Bureau of Patrol is responsible for responding to traffic and criminal emergencies. For the Police Department, the Bureau functions as a first responder. To most effectively respond to emergencies, the Bureau frequently coordinates its work with other agencies.
The Community Relations Division is assisted by Police Community Relations Councils.
POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCILS
Under the Community Relations Division, the Police Community Relations Council first met in February 1966. Councils then were formed in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts, while the Western District Council was created several years later.
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