NEWS AND INFORMATION OF THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK POLICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY DIVISION
September/October 2004
Volume 11, Number 5
September/October 2004
www.parkpolice.net
Please Welcome New Park Police Chief
Nathaniel J. Barber
Photo by Retired Lt.
Sharon Dameron
L-R: Park and Planning Director Charles R. Loehr, Chief Nathaniel J. Barber and Chairman Derick P. Berlage
C
ongratulations go to Nathaniel J. Barber on his
appointment as Chief of the MarylandNational Capital Park Police, Montgomery
County Division. Chief Barber has served as the Acting
Chief for the Division for the past 10 months and is an
18-year veteran of the Park Police.
Chief Barber is a native Washingtonian and a graduate
of the Southern Police Institute. He earned a
Bachelor's Degree in Management from Johns
Hopkins University, where he is currently enrolled in a
Master's Degree program.
In announcing Barber's promotion, Montgomery
County Planning Board Chairman Derick P. Berlage
stated, ìChief Barber has earned the respect and admiration of the Planning Board, Park Police officers and the
public. He's served well as a Captain, Assistant Chief and
as the Acting Chief, and we're delighted he'll be leading
Park Police into the 21st century. î G
In this issue:
a Chiefís Challenge... p. 2
a Visions of Courage... p. 3
a Patch Collector... p. 4
a National Night Out...p. 5
a Bicycle Class... p. 6
a Letters to the Division... p. 7
a The Latest Scoop... p. 8
Protecting Our Parks
The
Maryland-National
Capital
Park Police
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARK AND PLANNING
MARYLAND-NATIONAL
CAPITAL PARK AND
1
PLANNING COMMISSION
www.parkpolice.net
Division Wins Chief’s Challenge
T
his year, the Park Police, Montgomery County Division, participated in the
Maryland Chiefís Challenge and came away a
winner! Every year, police agencies from across the
state join together with the Maryland Chiefs of Police
Association, the Maryland Committee for Safety Belt
Use and the Maryland Highway Safety Office to increase public
awareness of the
importance of seat
belt and child safety
seat use. This year,
we are proud to
once again win the
overall award
among police
agencies of 66 to
100 officers.
compliance rate this year. In keeping with our ongoing
commitment to this worthwhile program, Park Police
officers stepped up seat belt and child safety enforcement. In addition, the Division participated in community events such as Ayrlawn Park Healthy Kids Day and
Bauer Drive Healthy Kids Day. Also, the Division took
part in various child safety seat inspections throughout
the County.
Maryland is a
national leader in
seat belt and child
safety seat usage,
reflected in the fact
that Maryland
drivers had an 89%
Thanks go to all the
Park Police officers
and to this yearís
Coordinator, Sgt.
Daniel McCort,
whose hard work
ensured our success
in this yearís challenge. In doing so,
the Division increased public
awareness and
education regarding
seat belt and child
safety seat use.
Donít forget to
buckle up! G
Photo by Ofc. Gregory Worsey
Click it or Ticket.
2
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
September/October 2004
Visions of Courage
D
uring In-Service training this fall, Park Police
staff from both Montgomery and Prince
Georgeís Counties enjoyed the stories and
lessons of retired Louisiana State Trooper Dr. Bobby
Smith. Bobby Smith was a law enforcement officer for
nine years when on the night of March 14, 1986, he
was shot in the face and blinded by a vicious drug
dealer. Life from that day forward was not the same for
Bobby.
Dealing with the trauma and loss of his eyesight, career,
self-confidence, independence and eventually his
marriage, Bobby quickly learned what people who
suffer traumatic experiences go through. As if this
wasnít enough, tragically in 1997, Bobby also lost his
beloved daughter, Kim, in an automobile accident.
Dealing with these losses motivated Bobby to attain a
Masterís Degree in Education and a Ph.D. in Counseling/Psychology so he could understand how to deal with
such life-changing tragedies.
Sharing his story and helping those who experience
similar losses has become Dr. Smithís mission in life.
Each year he averages 150 speaking engagements,
impacting audiences throughout the world with his story.
He is the author of two books and is in the process of
establishing a counseling facility for police officers and
firefighters to deal with the emotional and physical
trauma encountered in their careers.
Bobbyís account of his experiences was very well
received. Some people commented that it was the best
training that they had ever attended. Many employees
appreciated the opportunity to see such a dynamic
speaker. If youíd like to read more about Bobby and
his FORTE Foundation, ìFoundation for Officers
Recovering from Traumatic Events,î you can visit his
Web site at www.visionsofcourage.com. G
Photo by Steve Hagberg
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
3
www.parkpolice.net
Officer Levon Ellian - Patch Collector
by Detective Mau Ly
he Delaware Coastal Point newspaper recently
interviewed and printed an article on Park
Police Officer Lev Ellian in the Arts & Entertainment section of the paper, dated September 17,
2004. Officer Levon Ellian transferred from Delaware
State Police to the Park Police in 2003.
T
limited his selections to just Delaware and Maryland
agencies. Since then, Officer Ellian has amassed patches
from around the country and a separate foreign police
insignia collection that consists of patches, badges and
other uniform insignia. Now his collection numbers over
500 patches!
Lev has acquired a very interesting collection of police
patches and badges. While working as a seasonal
officer in Bethany Beach, Lev met other officers from
out of state and started trading patches in the early
1990ís. He had so many patches that he initially
For those interested collectors, Lev has a Web site you
can visit at http://members.aol.com/Lev928/
policecollector.html. G
4
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
September/October 2004
N
National Night Out
ational Night Out was celebrated across the country recently. Created for communities to reach out, get
involved and become aware of their neighborhoods, the evening also provides an opportunity for community
members to interact with law enforcement representatives. The event took place at several sites throughout
Montgomery County including Center Park Wayne Apartments, Coffield Community Center, Wheaton Presbyterian
Church, Diamond Farms Park and Olney Town Center.
Each site was well attended by residents who visited the many exhibits, demonstrations and entertainment activities.
Representatives from Montgomery County Government such as County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and members
of the States Attorney’s Office attended as well as Montgomery County Police and Park Police members.
National Night Out was a big success due to the assistance of many volunteers, community center staff members, the
YMCA Bethesda Youth Services and our very own Park Police officers. Based on the many positive comments and
responses received from the community and staff members, National Night Out truly achieved its purpose of providing a positive, fun-filled evening! G
Photos by Ofc.
Dean Smith
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
5
www.parkpolice.net
Park Police Host Bike Class
by Officer Terry Nye
P
ark Police Bicycle Instructors hosted a rigorous
four-day police mountain bike class. Instructors
included Officers Terry Nye and Cindy Weisman
assisted by Sgt. Bob Mehl and Officers Keith Gentry
and Noell White. Seven Park Police bicycle officers
attended to update their skills and nine members of the
Wheaton Urban District graduated from the class.
Riding up to 25 miles a day, the class teaches riding
skills and techniques, nutrition, bicycle maintenance,
emergency situations and Maryland vehicle laws.
Officers are taught how to ride in densely populated
areas as well as trails in the park system. Participants
are trained how to pursue suspects on bike, including
quickly putting down the bike and riding down stairs.
Thanks go to all who made this class such a success.
Skills learned from this course will be used by Park
Police members in patrolling the parks and by the
Wheaton Urban Districtís Clean and Safe Team while
patrolling the Wheaton Central Business District. G
Photos by
Larry Herman
6
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
September/October 2004
Letters to the Division
National Night Out Coordinator Thanks Division
Resident Expresses Appreciation
D
ear Chief Barber:
I am writing to express my gratitude to you and your
staff for your timely, professional and effective responses
to my recent calls regarding suspicious activities in
Wheaton Woods Recreational Park.
In the past eight weeks, I have contacted the Park
Police on at least six occasions, most of which were
related to inappropriate or after-hours park use that
involved alcohol, fire-setting or possible drug use. In
each case, Park Police officers arrived within five to 10
minutes of our calls and intervened effectively. My sense
is that these interventions have been effective in changing
the local norms in at least one respect. As far as I can
tell, there do not appear to be repeat offenders who
return to use the park in the same inappropriate ways.
Ö
As a new(ish) resident of Montgomery County, I have
greatly appreciated the professionalism of your police
force and its willingness to respond promptly to requests
for assistance. Ö.
D
ear Chief Barber:
We just want you to know, we are so grateful for your
Departmentís participation in our National Night Out
each year. Captain Bise is, indeed, a friend and mentor
to the young people in our communities. His picture in
the Gazette shows the sincerity of his work. Our
community is but a sample of communities where the
presence of the Park Police is helpful.
Ö You and your department do an excellent job to
promote stability in our communities and discourage
crime. Thank you. We also thank Ms. Leatrice DeBruhl
for helping us make this evening a success. On behalf of
the Lyttonsville and Rosemary Hills Civic Associations,
as well as the surrounding communities, thank you for a
job well done. ...
S
incerely,
Patricia A. Tyson
NNO Coordinator
&
Deborah Abramson
YMCA Bethesda Youth Services
Thank you and your staff for your assistance.
Editorial Review Board
Andrew Forsyth, Ph.D.
Chief Nathaniel Barber
Roberta Feldman Ehrlich
Vivian Gardiner
Marion Joyce
Sgt. Joe Parsons
Kathleen Wilson
Editor
Margaret Kingsley
Production
Charles Coleman
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
7
www.parkpolice.net
The Latest Scoop
Dan McCort Promoted to Sergeant
C
ongratulations go to Officer Daniel McCort who was promoted to Sergeant on September 13, 2004.
Dan has served the Montgomery County Park Police Division for 18 years. Sgt. McCort will be assigned
to the Patrol Section. Best wishes in your new position, Dan! G
Sgt. Daniel McCort
Photos by Steve Hagberg
Welcome to New Park Police Officer
P
lease welcome our newest Police Officer, Richard Roberts. Officer Roberts is a transfer
from Baltimore City Police. Welcome aboard, Rich! G
Officer Richard Roberts
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Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police