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Ridgely commissioners discuss replacing sergeant with corporal in sheriff contract to save about $10,000
Summary
At the Jan. 5 meeting, commissioners discussed a proposal to contract for a corporal instead of a sergeant in the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, noting supervisor training for the corporal and that the towns MOU would need revision; residents asked for community input and raised policing concerns.
At the Jan. 5 Town Meeting, the Commissioners of Ridgely discussed a proposal to continue contracting for a corporal rather than a sergeant through the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, a change officials said could lower town costs by roughly $10,000 annually.
Commissioners said the corporal would still receive supervisor training and noted that a county sergeant is typically on duty elsewhere in Caroline County. Officials also said the towns memorandum of understanding with the sheriffs office would need to be reworked to reflect the staffing change.
Public commenters asked the commissioners to seek broader community input before finalizing any change to the MOU. Robin Martin specifically urged the commission to include community participation in reworking the County Sheriff's MOU. Anna Mansfield said she was worried the staffing change would undermine community policing efforts in Ridgely.
No formal vote was recorded on the staffing proposal at the Jan. 5 meeting. Commissioners discussed the saving and operational points as part of regular business; any revision to the MOU will require staff follow-up and likely additional review at a future meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.; the next Town Meeting is scheduled for Feb. 2, 2026.
