NEWS AND INFORMATION OF THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK POLICE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY
January - March 2008
Volume 15, Number 1
January - March 2008
www.parkpolice.net
Park Police Members Honored at
Awards Ceremony
n March 19, the Montgomery County Division
of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police
held its annual awards ceremony. This year
we were thrilled to have Lieutenant Karen Petrarca as
emcee. Montgomery County Councilmember Phil
Andrews, Public Safety Committee, attended and
praised the Park Police. Newly Acting Chief Darien L.
Manley presented awards to Division members recognizing their accomplishments in 2007.
O
gained consciousness and was transported to the hospital. Detectives Bill Kellogg, Mau Ly, Jeff Price, and
Cindy Weisman received a Teamwork Award for their
outstanding case closure rate in 2007. All the officers
who coached, organized, and supported the 6th Annual
Keith Joseph Basketball Tournament also received a
Teamwork Award. The Tournament provides a fun,
positive interaction between the police and the youth of
Montgomery County (see story on pages 4 and 5).
Sergeant Michael Young received a Bronze Star for
Lifesaving. On June 19, 2007, Sergeant Young
performed CPR on a man who had collapsed in the
park while jogging. Because of his action, the man
Ms. Tammy White was honored with the Special Recognition Award for Civilians. Lead Dispatcher Charles
Nash and Dispatcher John Stinson received Communica(Continued on Page 2.)
Photo by
Francine Bethea
Protecting Our Parks
The
Maryland-National
Capital
Park Police CAPITAL PARK AND
THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL
MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
1
PLANNING COMMISSION
www.parkpolice.net
Park Police Members Honored at
Awards Ceremony
(Continued from Page 1)
tions Unit Special Recognition Awards. Detective Jeffrey Price received the Special Recognition Award for the
Investigations Section and Officer Misti Hoffmaster received the Award for Patrol. Officer Sean Thomas was
honored with the Special Operations Section Special Recognition Award.
Lieutenant Linus Louketis, Sergeant Rick Pelicano, Officer Megan Lau, and Barn Manager Mindy Welch received
Chief’s Commendations for organizing the 24th Annual North American Police Equestrian Championship. Roughly
120 horse-mounted police officers and volunteers from around the country and Canada came to the Montgomery
County Fairgrounds to compete. Volunteer John Wood and Ms. Ellie Trueman of Trueman Communications Group
were acknowledged for their generous donation of their time and work in making the Competition such a success.
Congratulations to everyone who received an award. Special thanks to Lieutenant Karen Petrarca for entertaining
us in her own special way and to the Awards Committee for putting on such a great ceremony. Thanks to all the
Park Police members who serve their community with honor and distinction every day. G
Photo by
Francine Bethea
Officer Clay Goldston won a plate of Vivian Gardiner’s famous brownies.
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Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
January - March 2008
Park Police Members Honored at
Awards Ceremony
(Continued from Page 2)
L-R: Sgt. Rick Pelicano, Officer Megan Lau, Barn Manager Mindy
Welch, and Acting Chief Darien Manley
Photos by
Francine Bethea
L-R: Sgt. Mike Meixsell, Lt. Karen Petrarca, and
Acting Chief Darien Manley
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
3
www.parkpolice.net
Sixth Annual Keith Joseph Basketball
Tournament Held
by Officer Nancy Jones
T
he 6th Annual Keith Joseph Tournament, organized by Officer Nancy Jones and Officer Jeff
Coe, was held on January 22, 2008 at Coffield
Community Center. This year’s tournament consisted of
seven teams: Coffield, East County, Wheaton, Plum
Gar, Fairland, Longbranch, and Bauer Drive. Each
team consisted of area youth grades 8-10, and was
coached by a recreation center representative. Park
Police Officers and civilian volunteers refereed and
coached all games, kept score, served lunch, set and
cleaned up after the tournament.
Officer Keith Joseph was involved with the youth of
Montgomery County, particularly Good Hope’s PAL
program. He created the Y2K basketball challenge,
which took place in January of 2000. It consisted of six
teams from various community centers around the
county. Officer Joseph’s dream was to have an annual
basketball tournament to provide a fun, competitive
environment for the youth of Montgomery County.
Unfortunately, Officer Joseph passed away shortly after
the first tournament. Wife Anita, and two sons, Keith Jr.
and Aubree, survive him.
In 2003, Officer Noell White organized the First Annual
Keith Joseph Memorial Tournament. The tournament
honors Officer Joseph’s commitment to provide an
annual event for the youth of Montgomery County. The
tournament has been held annually, growing and gaining
in popularity among the youth that use Montgomery
County Recreation Centers.
This year, teams started forming as early as summer,
looking forward to the event in January. The 6th tournament was another success. Thanks to all that partici(Continued on Page 5.)
Photo by
Julie Gilliam
Park Police members at 6th Keith Joseph Basketball Tournament.
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Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
January - March 2008
Sixth Annual Keith Joseph Basketball
Tournament Held
(Continued from Page 4)
pated and volunteered to help before and during the
tournament. Coffield won the championship game, and
East County took 2nd place. Anita, Keith Jr., and
Aubree Joseph attended and presented the awards to
the winning teams.
Many thanks to the following: Dominos, Jerry’s Subs
and Pizza, Papa Johns, and Giant Food who generously
donated in order to provide the kids lunch; Crown
Trophy and Brian Hagen of Farrier Services for donating all of the awards and trophies; Walter L. Brown
from MRO for doing a wonderful job on the programs;
and Ron Martin, Coffield Community Center Director
for hosting the tournament.
Thanks also to all of the command staff, officers, and
civilians who came by on game day in support of the
tournament. Special thanks for all of the officers and
civilians who helped out in preparation and/or on game
day: Lieutenants Brian Smith, Tony DeVaul, Linus
Louketis, Officers Jeff Coe, Sabrina Oglesby, Lauryn
McNeill, Greg Worsey, Greg Ford (Prince George’s
Division), Codi Evans, Howard Battle, Gary Raghubar,
Dennis Benden, Kelley Hagen, Nicole Adams, Rosemary Whelan, Alfredo LaPorte, Megan Lau, Cylda
Hodo; and Civilians Julie Gilliam, Ezell Breedlove,
Monica Warren, and Doniqua Marshall. G
Photo by
Officer Lauryn
McNeill
Officers Nancy Jones and Howard Battle with the Joseph Family and the
Winning Team Coffield Community Center
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
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www.parkpolice.net
Welcome to New Park Police Officers
C
ongratulations go to Park Police Officers Thomas Harrington, Cylda Hodo, Lori Long-Blanton, Michael
Meara, Emily Murphy, and Brian Paulsen on their graduation from the Montgomery County Police Training Academy, Session 51, on January 10, 2008. The Academy is a demanding six-month program designed to teach and prepare candidates for their new roles as police officers. The officers will now complete a 14to 16-week field training program. Congratulations and best wishes to all! G
Photo by Sgt. Pam Skaife
L-R (Front Row): Officers Lori Long-Blanton, Cylda Hodo, Emily Murphy
L-R (Back Row): Officers Thomas Harrington, Brian Paulsen, Michael Meara
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Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
January - March 2008
Welcome to New Bi-County
Range Administrator
W
elcome to our new Bi-County Range
Administrator Paul Mazzei. As the Range
Administrator for both Montgomery and
Prince George’s County Park Police, Paul is responsible for administering all the firearms training that
officers receive. Officers must fire and qualify with
their guns at least once a year. Tactical training, where
the officers practice drills and various scenarios, is also
given in the fall. Mr. Mazzei works with the instructors
from both Divisions to provide quality firearms training.
Mr. Mazzei served the Prince George’s County Police
Department for 20 years and has been a firearms
instructor for over 34 years. For 12 years he was on
the Prince George’s County SWAT team and an
Academy Instructor for five years. Paul also served as
the Deputy Director of the Prince George’s County
Police Academy for 10 years. He is certified to teach
defensive tactics, use of force, and officer survival.
Mr. Mazzei has been recognized as an expert witness
in the area of firearms and use of force in both the State
and Federal Courts. G
Photo by Det. Mau Ly
Editorial Review Board
Acting Chief Darien Manley
Vivian Gardiner
Officer Lauryn McNeill
Sandra Petersen
Gwen Wilmer
Editor
Margaret Kingsley
Bi-County Range Administrator Paul Mazzei
(standing) provides classroom training.
Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police
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www.parkpolice.net
The Latest Scoop
Chief Nathaniel J. Barber Retires
C
ongratulations to Chief Nathaniel J. Barber on his retirement after more than 22 years of honorable
service with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. Having served with both Montgomery County
and Prince George’s County Divisions in all areas including Patrol, Investigations, Mounted Operations,
and Support Operations, Chief Barber is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.
He also earned a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Management from Johns Hopkins University. Congratulations and best wishes to Chief Barber! G
Chief Nathaniel J. Barber
Photo by Kevin Kennedy
Goodbye to Other Members
C
ongratulations also to Officer Alice Hanan who retired in March and Officer Terry Nye who retired after
more than 20 years of service. Officer Hanan and her K-9 Partner, Stryker, were involved in some of the
most high-profile cases in our area. When the Pentagon was struck in the 9-11 disaster, Officer Hanan
and Stryker sifted through the debris and made 108 finds. Officer Hanan and Stryker also found two missing
persons. Officer Terry Nye was a Patrol, Mounted, Motor, Marine, and Bicycle Officer during her career. She
served as the Bike Unit Coordinator for the Division and organized numerous bike rodeos and instructed officers
how to patrol by bike. Good luck to one and all. You will be missed. G
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Protecting Our Parks
The Maryland-National Capital Park Police