Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sykesville police report 522 events in two-week period; chief warns radio 'dead zones' threaten officer safety
Summary
The police chief reported 522 total events and 14 incident reports for April 20–May 3 and urged interagency action to address longstanding radio coverage gaps that can prevent emergency 'man down' alerts from reaching dispatch.
The Sykesville police chief delivered a short public-safety report covering April 20 through May 3, citing 522 total events across patrol checks, foot patrols, traffic enforcement initiatives and 14 incident reports. The chief said officers conducted community-policing activities and that the department had assisted another jurisdiction when Baltimore County requested help stopping a vehicle being followed by a county helicopter.
During questions from council members, the chief described several recent incidents: a burglary fourth‑degree charge originating in a domestic‑related unlawful entry, an alleged child‑abuse report at a childcare facility (Child Protective Services notified and an investigation opened), a domestic‑assault call involving a mother and daughter, and trespassing by juveniles at the cannery, where officers used prior descriptions to locate the youths.
The chief also raised a longstanding technology and safety concern: radio coverage gaps that can prevent emergency signals — including the officer emergency or "man down" button — from reaching dispatch. "Radios are our lifeline for assistance," the chief said, warning that if the emergency signal does not go through "officers are left with nothing, with no backup, no support." He said the problem stems from a combination of topography, tower locations and system complexity, and noted that radio upgrades are included in the CIP for FY28. The chief said Sergeant Kirchner is working to bring county, state and vendor decision‑makers together to find a workable solution.
Other public-safety items noted in the meeting: a recently purchased camera system for Cooper Park and the skate park (described by the treasurer as a "valuable investment"), and a planned meeting with a vendor about a speed‑camera system for school zones.
The chief said the department maintains a log of radio outages and dead‑zone events; council members asked staff to convene the right stakeholders so a technical solution can be identified.
