Sheriff’s Deputy Involved in Shooting While Serving Peace Order

Upper Marlboro, MD…  Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High confirmed an officer-involved shooting yesterday, at the residence of 6312 63^rd Avenue, in Riverdale, MD.  The shooting occurred at approximately 7:30 pm, after Deputy Sheriff Paul Perriello attempted to serve a Temporary Peace Order on Franklin H. Sweeney Jr. Sheriff’s Deputies had previously made four unsuccessful attempts to serve the court’s order, which was issued by the District Court of Maryland for Prince George’s County on November 8, 2012.

Perriello, a veteran law enforcement officer with more than 20 years of experience, was invited into the residence by an adult female, when an adult male - later determined to be Mr. Sweeney - appeared from the rear of the residence carrying a black handgun. Deputy Sheriff Perriello subsequently discharged his agency issued firearm, striking Mr. Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney was transported to The Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 8:20 pm.

Preliminary investigation of the incident has determined the black handgun to be a “replica handgun;” a photo of which is attached.

Consistent with standard procedure, the Prince George’s County Police Department is conducting an investigation into the shooting; the Sheriff’s Policy Compliance Division is conducting a concurrent administrative investigation. Deputy Sheriff Perriello has been placed on Administrative Leave pending investigation.

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

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Sheriff/NAIFA Continue “Teddy Bear” Partnership

Upper Marlboro, MD…  Chief Assistant Sheriff Darrin Palmer accepted over 100 teddy bears from the Prince George’s County chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), at a breakfast meeting yesterday morning at Rips Restaurant in Bowie, MD. The Sheriff’s Office uses the teddy bears to help comfort small children that sheriff’s deputies come into contact with while responding to domestic violence calls for service.

 

“When we pass out these teddy bears, we help to provide a sense of normalcy to children during an otherwise frightening and chaotic situation,” said Colonel Darrin Palmer, who has maintained a partnership with NAIFA over the last eleven years. “While we continue our work to help victims of domestic violence, we also focus on provide comfort and stability to children placed in these unfortunate circumstances; and the teddy bears help us do that.”

The Prince George’s chapter of NAIFA began the teddy bear drive 14 years ago as a community partnership initiative with law enforcement.

Jeannette Jordan, President of the Prince George’s County NAIFA chapter, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the teddy bear partnership, and thanked the members of NAIFA for their efforts in helping to provide teddy bears for the 2012 drive.

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

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Special Victim Assistant Receives 2012 Service Award (MD Network Against Domestic Violence Annual Awards Luncheon)

Upper Marlboro, MD… Arelys Rodriquez, a Special Victim Assistant (SVA) in the Office of the Sheriff Domestic Violence Intervention Division (DVID) was awarded the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) Service Award for 2012.  Rodriquez was recognized at MNADV’s annual awards luncheon on Friday, along with other local, state and national organizations who work to advance community response to domestic violence.

“Ms. Rodriguez is compassionate, empathetic and patient when working with victims of domestic violence,” said Bethany Bordeaux, Ms. Rodriquez’s SVA supervisor.  “I have seen the care and concern she shows clients; she is passionate about this work.” 

The MNADV grants the Service Award annually to individuals who “provide direct service or assistance that goes beyond the job description.” Rodriguez who has been with DVID since 2007 is bi-lingual and works out of the Hyattsville Courthouse. She routinely offers assistance to victims navigating court processes, provides court accompaniment to victims, as well as community outreach. “Outreach is a very effective approach to reducing domestic violence.  Making personal contact with victims, families, and friends in the community lets us put very important access and assistance information into the community. Our outreach efforts are successful because they help people and raise awareness; that’s a great benefit to the community” said Rodriguez.  

Sheriff High said. “We are very proud of Ms. Rodriquez and we are lucky to have her. Her skill and compassion are equally important since the contact she has with victims often happens shortly after an incident of violence when they are most fearful and distressed. Her support and direction can be the critical link to resources and information that may help a victim become a survivor and a support to others.”

The Sheriff’s Office SVAs are located within the Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville Courthouses and the Sheriff’s headquarters.

For more information on the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence visit http://mnadv.org/.

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

Warrant Division Arrests Attempted 2nd Degree Murder Suspect

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Warrant/Fugitive Division reported the arrest Thursday of Lionel Newsome on an arrest warrant for Attempted Second Degree Murder obtained by the County Police, Criminal Investigation Division (CID) detectives on October 26, 2012.

According to the warrant, on October 18, 2012, Newsome allegedly stabbed a male victim with a knife following a verbal altercation with the victim’s friend at a gas station in the 6300 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights.

Deputies located Newsome at an address in the 6800 block of Kipling Parkway in District Heights, where they located Newsome hiding in a downstairs bedroom. Newsome was taken into custody and transported to CID.

Newsome is also charged with First Degree Assault, Reckless Endangerment, and Possessing a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to Injure.

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

Explorer Recruitment Open House

EXPLORER POST #1696 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF A LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPLORING PROGRAM 

LEARN ABOUT THE CHALLENGING FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

    For young men and women ages 14-20 Law Enforcement Explorers Posts are an opportunity to learn about career opportunities in law enforcement.

Open House:

November 14, 2012 @ 6:00pm

5303 CHRYSLER WAY

UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772

Contact: Sgt. Y. Hines (301) 780-8600

APPLY ONLINE: WWW.PGSO1696.WEEBLY.COM

Three Deputy Sheriffs Graduate Training Academy

Upper Marlboro, MD…Three new Deputy Sheriffs – Deputy Dominick Chambers, Deputy Kevin Queen and Deputy Del-Mar Williams – graduated from Session 121 of the Prince George’s County Police Training Academy on October 23.  The ceremony, held at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, marked the end of eight months of basic training.

“These Deputies step into an honorable 316 year tradition of law enforcement with the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Melvin C. High.  “They strengthen our agency as we continue our mission of serving the courts and the citizens and residents of the county.”

The class graduated a total of 45 recruits from the Office of the Sheriff, the Prince George’s County Police Department and the City of Bowie Police Department. 

Sheriff High joined Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety Barry L. Stanton, Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark A. Magaw, and Chief John K. Nesky of the City of Bowie Police Department in congratulating the graduates for their accomplishments and successful completion of the academy. 

Deputies Chambers, Queen and Williams will step into the “real world” of law enforcement with their Field Training Officers (FTO’s) in the Domestic Violence Intervention Division.

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

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Sheriff’s Office Joins National Family Violence Warrant Initiative, Makes 67 Arrests

Upper Marlboro, MD…  The Sheriff’s Warrant/Fugitive Division participated, for the 10^th consecutive year, in the National Family Violence Apprehension Detail started by the Clackamas County, Oregon, Sheriff’s Office. The initiative focuses on raising awareness for family and domestic vio­lence, and sending a clear message to offenders that they will be held accountable for their violence.

With the assistance of the United States Marshal Service, Maryland State Police and Prince George’s Department of Corrections, deputies attempted to serve warrants at 244 locations throughout Prince George’s County - apprehending 67 suspects and closing 68 warrants. During the investigation of warrants, 13 additional suspects were found to be incarcerated in various detention centers within the State of Maryland, and detainers have been filed in those cases.

Among the suspects arrested, 2 were for sex offenses, 36 for assault, and 12 warrants were served for violating exparte orders (protection orders), violating peace orders, harassment charges, child support orders, and stalking.

Colonel Darrin C. Palmer, Chief Assistant Sheriff, said, “Each year with this National Initiative, our community and communities nationwide send the message to domestic violence offenders that this terrible crime against families will not be tolerated. The Clackamas County sweep is always a success, and a great reminder that comminutes thrive when we protect women, children and families.”

The National Family Violence Apprehension Detail has been a nationally recognized warrant reduction project for 10 years, and includes law enforcement agencies from 22 states.

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

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