County and State Ordered to Render Aid and Assistance to the City Police Due to Crime Rate

December 3, 2009

Webster turns down outside crime-fighting help; Ireton says county, state should lend aid

SALISBURY -- More police presence in Salisbury from law enforcement agencies outside the city limits could be on the way following the shooting of a delicatessen owner earlier this week.
Some residents and city officials sought the help from outside agencies during a two-hour community crime prevention meeting at Salisbury University, hosted by the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office and university police department on the night after the shooting.

Salisbury City Councilwoman Debbie Campbell questioned how the local economy could improve if residents were afraid to leave their homes.

"We've got to take our streets back," Campbell said during the meeting.

A request for help from police outside of the city limits can only be made by the police chief or the mayor, said Wicomico County State's Attorney Davis Ruark.

Salisbury University Police Chief Edwin Lashley said "pooling" resources and increasing police presence would make residents feel safer.

"There must be a strategic plan among all law enforcement agencies," he said.
Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis said he called Salisbury Police Chief Allan Webster on Monday after the deli owner was shot and offered to send additional men from the Sheriff's Office and the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation, but Webster declined.

"I call and make the offer in every case," Lewis said.

City police say outside help was not needed with the investigation.

"We had enough people out that we didn't need any help at the time," Webster said during a phone interview Wednesday.

The department could use more patrol officers Webster said.

"The patrol force is our first responders," he said.

Webster was on vacation at the time of the shooting and is expected to return to work today.
City police had enough officers and personnel to handle the investigation on the night of the shooting, and the department was hesitant to pull personnel away from other agencies when assistance with specific tasks was not needed, Capt. Mark Tyler, who heads the Salisbury Police Department Criminal Investigations Division, added.

While outside assistance was not needed on the night of the shooting, the Criminal Investigations Division has a good working relationship with other agencies and will ask for help when necessary, Tyler said.

"We assist each other on a frequent basis," Tyler said. "We talk frequently about cases. We couldn't have a better working relationship."

Webster said he had a Salisbury law enforcement representative contact Maryland State Police on Wednesday, and the agency agreed to check on convenience stores, restaurants and other businesses when they are in the area.

Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton said he also contacted state police and the Sheriff's Office for additional manpower.

"I'm seeking help from the sheriffs' department, the state police and all levels of every government," Ireton said.

While the state and county agencies have agreed to help when they're in the neighborhood, there is no formal agreement between the agencies nor has a memorandum of understanding been signed at this time, according to police sources.

The sheriff said his office will continue to work in the city as needed.

"We will continue to make traffic stops," Lewis said. "We will continue to make criminal arrests like we've always done in the last three years."