51 Apprehended in 3-Day “Father’s Day” Warrant Initiative

Upper Marlboro, MD…  The Sheriff’s Child Support Enforcement Division conducted its yearly “Father’s Day Warrant Sweep,” in a three-day operation - June 12 -14 – with a priority focus on apprehending fathers with active child support warrants. The operation, a partnership between the Calvert and Charles County Sheriff’s Offices, Maryland State Police and the Child Support Enforcement Division netted 51 arrests to close 100 child support related warrants and writs.

During the sweep, deputies investigated 286 warrants and made attempts to locate suspects at 136 addresses.  Those arrested for back child support owed more than $343,000.00.

“The collection of child support dollars is important to the well-being of families and children,” said Lt. Colonel Regina Taylor, Commander, Bureau of Field Operations. “This was a very successful operation.”

The initiative was funded by grant money provided by the Federal and County Governments. While the Child Support Enforcement Division has existed since 1983; it began the “Father’s Day Warrant Sweep,” three years ago.

“This is the highest total of arrests we’ve seen since we began the sweep in 2009,” said Lt. Joyce Bowers, Commander of the Division. “We look forward to furthering our partnerships in the future with state and local Law Enforcement agencies for initiatives like this one.”

For more information contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Press Information Office at 301-780-2773.

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Career Day!

We wanted to share a few of the "Thank You" notes we recieved from the students at Ardmore Elementary School. We were thrilled to participate in their career day several weeks ago, and we look forward to returning next year.

115 Thomas Johnson Middle School Students Graduate From D.A.R.E. Program

The Sheriff’s Community Partnership Services announced the graduation of 115 middle school students from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program. The Graduation was held at, and included students from, Thomas Johnson Middle school in Lanham, MD. The students were awarded certificates of completion and given lunch courtesy of the Back 2 Back Motorcycle Club.

Corporal Yadira Rodriguez-Washington, from the Community Partnership Services (CPS), served as the D.A.R.E. coordinator for the students. The course, which lasts 9 weeks, is designed to guide students to possessing the skills that lead to good decision making in life, and to urge them away from drugs and violence.

“I’m so proud of all of the students that participated and graduated," said Rodriguez-Washington. “Whenever you can be a part of a child’s growth and development as a person, it’s very rewarding.”

Sheriff High Hosts “Middle School MVP’s”

Upper Marlboro, MD… With an event entitled “One Last Mentoring Session”, Sheriff Melvin C. High, Chief Assistant Sheriff Colonel Darrin Palmer, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Roccapriore and the Community Partnership Section (CPS) deputies joined in an end of the year mentoring session honoring sixteen students from four county middle schools where Sheriff’s Deputies conduct mentoring and training sessions during the school year.  

The students were nominated to be the Sheriff’s Most Valuable Players (MVP’s) by Deputies based on their growth, interaction with others, managing change and challenge or for overall progress made during the year and for active participation.

The program began with Lt. Colonel Roccapriore welcoming the honorees, parents and guests, followed by remarks from Sheriff High. Encouraging and motivating each student to incorporate the lessons learned from their mentors, Sheriff High urged each honoree to pledge to read a book a week over the summer break. “Keep your brains sharp and don’t lose what you’ve learned this year,’ said Sheriff High. “ I want you to pledge to read a book every week this summer.”

The honorees participated in an interactive ice-breaker session called “Getting to Know You”, where they interviewed a student from a different middle school and described that student by drawing characters on a balloon.

Corporal Richard Johnson, the Keynote Speaker, spoke to the honorees about his youth and the changes that occurred in his life with support and encouragement that ultimately led him to become a graduate of Temple University, and later a career as a deputy.

At the close of the session, there was a recounting of the school year and of first encounters with each other from deputies and students, and the process of getting to know each other on their journey to the end of the school year.

The honorees in attendance were:

·         Jannique Leach, Atiba McGill, Dejah Selders of Stephen Decatur Middle School;

·         Scarlet Mendez, Jessica Beckford, LaShae Perryman, Elizabeth Serrano, Mariama Sesay of Thomas Johnson Middle School;

·         Kennedy Lofton, Amanjanea Whitley of Drew-Freeman Middle School; and

·         George Allen and Deion Owens of G. James Gholson Middle Schools.

According to CPS Deputies Corporal William Harvey Sr, Corporal Alaina Gay, Corporal Yadira Rodriguez-Washington and Corporal Richard Johnson, young people look for and respond to encouragement and direction..

For more information, contact the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-8637.

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Roper Victim Assistance Academy Graduates Two from Sheriff’s Office

Upper Marlboro, MD… Upper Marlboro, MD… Two members of the Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Intervention Division (DVID) – Barbara Harvard and Mary Moore - graduated from the Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland (RVAAM) on Friday, June 8, 2012.  

The Academy, in partnership with the University of Baltimore, the Governor’s Office on Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office for Victims of Crime, is a “…40-hour, academically-based education and training program that covers a broad array of topics in victimology, victims’ rights and services, and victim advocacy throughout the criminal and juvenile processes.”


“This week of training was an investment in me and the level of knowledge and professionalism I can bring as an advocate in the victim service field,” said Barbara Harvard, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office DVID since 2006 and was awarded the Governor’s Victim Assistance Award in May of 2011. “I have additional knowledge about national, state and local resources and new skills for networking across the state on behalf of victims. I benefited personally and professionally, and all that I’ve learned will benefit the Office of the Sheriff and the community at large.”


Mary Moore has also been with DVID since 2006; her current role is with the section that handles Peace and Protective Orders. Moore enters final Protective Orders and works with parties in a dispute to arrange “Stand-bys” which allows parties to arrange to retrieve property with the assistance of a Deputy. “Working with the public is an important role. The Roper Academy was a good learning opportunity but also a chance to network with others in my industry. What I learned at Roper I can use every day,” said Moore.

The Roper Academy is named for Stephanie Roper, a 1982 victim of rape and murder in Maryland. Roberta Roper – Stephanie’s mother and chairperson of the Academy is a well known advocate for victims and continues to work tirelessly to provide resources to victims through various foundations and through the RVAAM.

Sheriff High said, “The Roper Academy continues my commitment to professional development among all our staff, utilizing appropriate training resources inside and outside of our agency. Industry “best practices” are available through continuing educational opportunities like conferences and workshops, and the Roper Academy is a valuable complement to those and our in house training.  During a fearful and emotional time for victims, the knowledge and experience of our advocates is critical to helping victims navigate the various processes that will serve them and their families safely and best.”

Friday’s graduation is the 9^th Annual Roper Academy Graduation.  The Academy immerses attendees in the coursework, requiring them to stay in a dorm-like setting throughout the course so that they can maximize interaction with victim-service providers from all areas of advocacy.


Domestic Violence Intervention in the Sheriff’s Office is a three pronged approach: Pre-intervention is the service of Protective and Peace Orders, On-sight intervention is Sheriff’s Deputies responding to emergency 911 Domestic Violence calls for service in Police District III, and Post-Intervention involves advocate outreach to victims within 24 hours of a Domestic Violence incident to help the victim access a variety of services and resources.  


For more information on the RVAAM visit www.rvaam.org/RVAAM/Welcome.html

For more information, contact the Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff’s Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-8637.

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Special Olympics 2012 Law Enforcement Torch Run

Various law enforcement agencies came together Wednesday, June 6, 2012 to participate in the 2012 Torch Run for the Special Olympics. Following a brief ceremony, three flames were unified into the Flame of Hope. The athletes and participating runners carried the torch from the Hyattsville Justice Center to the American Legion Post 217 in College Park.

Sheriff/CTV/Crime Solvers Launch “Sheriff’s Most Wanted” Program

Upper Marlboro, MD…  The Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office announced the launch today of  the Sheriff’s “Most Wanted” Program, in partnership with Prince George’s County Community Television (CTV) and Prince George’s County Crime Solvers.

With a continuing focus on getting the most dangerous offenders off County streets, the first segment of the show is exclusively persons wanted for the commission of felony crimes. “I believe good partnerships increase our potential for success,” said Sheriff High. “Collaborating with Crime Solvers and CTV is symbolic of our collective concern for safety in our communities, and this kind of program expands our reach to locate and capture individuals who are wanted for crimes against our community.”

“There was never a moment’s hesitation among the partners to do this program,” said Sandra F. Peaches, Executive Director of CTV. “This kind of programming epitomizes the core values at the heart of public access television.”

Tim Murphy Jr., Board Chairman for the Prince George’s County Crime Solvers located in County Police Headquarters said, “The partnership with the Sheriff’s “Most Wanted” is a good one for Crime Solvers. This type of outreach helps us to make residents aware that they can help get criminals off the streets anonymously and safely.”

Beginning Friday June 8, at 8:30a.m, the CTV “Most Wanted” schedule is as follows:

Comcast Channel 70 and Verizon Fios Channel 41 – Mon, Wed, Fri - 8:30a.m and 12a.m

Comcast Channel 76 and Verizon Fios Channel 42 – Thus. - 10p.m, Fri - 3p.m and 8p.m, Sat. - 9a.m

Links to the CTV- produced show will also be available for viewing at the Sheriff’s Office website, Facebook page and Blog (www.facebook.com/pgsheriff   http://www.pgsheriff.blogspot.com/)  

For more information in this contact the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office, Press Information Office at 301-780-2773.

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