NRP Announces Enhanced Patrols For Green Ridge State Forest

Annapolis, Maryland – The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) will begin an enhanced enforcement effort in the 46,000 acre Green Ridge State Forest to curtail illegal drug activity. NRP will be joined by members of the Maryland State Police, Allegany County Bureau of Police and the Maryland Department of Corrections.

“We are committed to providing a safe family environment and will continue this joint proactive law enforcement measure to ensure the safety of the patrons to the State’s public lands,” said NRP Superintendent Colonel George F. Johnson IV.

NRP and allied law enforcement agencies will be increasing patrols in the forest. K-9 units will be patrolling to deter the presence of illegal drugs on public lands and will provide the public with brochures explaining the enhanced enforcement.

Fall is an especially busy time of year in the State Forest. As the weather cools, people visit the forest to hunt, camp, ride ATVs, and enjoy the scenery.

On Saturday, NRP charged 10 with drug violations and 2 with loaded weapons in a camp site. During the first nine months of the year, NRP has made more than 120 arrests for illegal drug use and 20 arrests for loaded weapons in vehicles or at camp sites. Drugs seized include marijuana, hashish, cocaine, ecstasy, psilocybin and illegal prescription drugs.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police is the enforcement arm of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). With an authorized strength of 247 officers and a dedicated staff of civilian and volunteer personnel, the NRP 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.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 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 12 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