Natural Resources Police Recognizes 30 New Graduates
Class is second to complete new cross training required for MPS, NRP consolidation

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WYE MILLS — The Natural Resources Police (NRP), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), last night recognized the second class of graduates since the announcement of the consolidation of the NRP and the Maryland Park Service (MPS) rangers.

The consolidation, which took effect Jan. 1, is aimed to increase state government efficiency and eliminate redundancies. The Governor’s Commission on Structure and Efficiency of State Government, chaired by former Governor Marvin Mandel, in its final report dated Dec. 8, 2003, recommended the consolidation. The report can be found online at http://www.dbm.state.md.us/efficiency/MCFinalReport.pdf

The combined organization will continue to ensure the public’s safety as well as enforce a broader variety of laws and regulations covering boating, wildlife, parks, fishing, both commercial and recreational and resource protection.

Delegate Richard Sossi attended the ceremony along with DNR Secretary C. Ronald Franks, DNR Deputy Secretary Lynn Buhl, Assistant Secretary Kristin Saunders, Assistant Secretary Ronald Guns, NRP Superintendent Col. Mark S. Chaney, NRP Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Nicholas Paros, NRP Chief of Support Services Lt. Col. Maurice Davis, NRP Chief of Field Operations Lt. Col. Daniel Hughes, and MPS Assistant Superintendent Lt. Col. Alphonso Hawkins. NRP Lt. Robert Davis was the emcee for the evening and NRP Sgt. Joe Offer gave the invocation and benediction.

“As Superintendent, I congratulate you and welcome you into the family of the Maryland Natural Resources Police.” Superintendent Chaney said. “I wish you success and professional satisfaction. I trust that you will wear the uniform with pride and distinction, as the men and women of the Agency have done since 1868.”

Delegate Patrick L. McDonough gave the graduation address. Delegate McDonough is the President of the Maryland Leadership Council, and a founding member of the Maryland Coalition Against Crime. He is a radio talk show host and producer and a member of the House of Delegates, representing District 7, Baltimore and Harford Counties.

Below is a list of the graduates and their hometowns.

Brian Albert Big Pool, MD John Amann LaVale, MD Jo Ann Berisford Gaithersburg, MD Fraser Bishop Owings Mills, MD Russell Boback Smithsburg, MD Michael Brown Hollywood, MD Curt Dieterle Rawlings, MD Donald Farley Salisbury, MD Robert Ford Denton, MD Brian Friend Friendsville, MD Timothy Grove White Hall, MD Ross Harper Ridgely, MD Susan Hatter Gaithersburg, MD Jeffrey Herndon Clear Spring, MD Angela Hummer Boonsboro, MD

John Josenhans Mardela Springs, MD Mary Lytwynec Catonsville, MD John McNamara Willards, MD Leah McVicker Denton, MD Steven Muse Germantown, MD Cedric Poole Clear Spring, MD Darryl Riley Scotland, MD Diane Roschli White Hall, MD Benjamin Sanderson Williamsport, MD Jeffrey Schein Baldwin, MD Charles Simmons Brandywine, MD Steven Stauffer Elkton, MD Mark Trindel Stevensville, MD Darlene Tustin Lusby, MD Richard Ward Crisfield, MD

The consolidation calls for the expansion of the Natural Resources Police to include 108 Law Enforcement Officers from the Maryland Park Service. Natural Resources Police currently has 177 law enforcement officers. The combined organization comprising of 285 officers will continue to ensure the public’s safety as well as enforce a broader variety of laws and regulations covering boating, inland game, parks, commercial seafood harvesting, sport fishing, pollution and resource protection.

The Maryland Park Service will continue to manage the State’s parks and other public lands but will no longer be directly responsible for all law enforcement activities in those areas. However, those park managers with a law enforcement officer status will be able to retain that status and the functions associated with that duty. In addition, they will continue to be known as “Rangers” and will retain any and all privileges that the law enforcement status grants them through state law.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) is an enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources. With an authorized strength of 285 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the Natural Resources Police provide a variety of services in addition to conservation and boating law enforcement duties throughout the State of Maryland. These services include homeland security, search and rescue, emergency medical services, education, information and communications services on a round the clock basis. NRP is the only police force aside from the Maryland State Police that has statewide jurisdiction.

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February 24, 2005

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 446,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov