Community Policing Unit Goes Full Time in Calvert

The Calvert County sheriff announced Tuesday that he will devote six deputies to a new community policing unit that will be responsible for knocking on doors, running the DARE program and performing other tasks to connect police with those they serve.

The unit, the Community Action Team, has been functioning on a part-time basis since 2006, but with the recent addition of two recruits, it will be able to work as a full-time, permanent unit, said Calvert Sheriff Mike Evans (R).

The unit was not created in response to a specific event, Evans said, but evolved from a general desire to "make a bigger impression in the community."

"It's going to neighborhoods, and sometimes neighborhoods that have a higher crime rate, to be seen," Evans said.

The unit will fall under the command of Lt. Dave McDowell, who led efforts to change the paint scheme on the sheriff's cruisers to make them more visible. The Community Action Team, McDowell said, will also increase the visibility of the sheriff's office and perhaps encourage tipsters to come forward with information about crimes.

McDowell, Calvert's patrol commander, said he has directed the team to create e-mail lists to connect with neighborhood watch groups to make sure the sheriff's office and Calvert residents are sharing information.

"It's the electronic age, and we'd be silly not to capitalize on that resource," McDowell said. "Information is power, and now everybody's got the information."

Evans and McDowell said the Community Action Team will not require additional staffing and will include newly hired and senior deputies.