SPECIAL OPERATIONS

The Special Operations Division (S.O.D.) was created in July 1987 to better manage the addition of specialized units and positions within the Department. Prior to the creation of the S.O.D., all sworn officers, including all of the patrol officers and specialized units, such as Criminal Investigations Unit, were under the Operations Division. When the S.O.D. was created and the specialized units moved to that Division, the Operations Division was renamed the Patrol Division.

Police Canine "Baron" practices his manuvers during a weekly training session.

The Canine Unit was established in 1987.

The Greenbelt Police Department's Canine Unit is staffed by four teams.  Each team consists of a canine handler and a dog. Corporal (Cpl.) Robert F. Musterman is the Unit supervisor and his canine partner is Cigo (pronounced "See Go"). The other members of the Unit are MPO (Master Police Officer) John M. ("Mike") Dewey and his partner Duke; MPO Barry P. Byers and his partner Rex; and, MPO Marvin R. (“Randy”) Marks and his partner Baron. Cpl. Musterman has been with the Department since November 1984 and has been the supervisor of the Canine Unit since July 2003. He was also a canine handler from 1990 to 1999, including a period of time as the Unit supervisor, prior to transferring to Patrol. MPO Dewey has been an officer with the Department since October 1994 and has been a canine handler since May 2001. MPO Byers has been with the Department since 1988 and has been a canine handler since February 2003. MPO Marks has been with the Department since July 1999 and a canine handler since September 2003. 

Canines Cigo and Duke are cross trained for drug detection. MPO Byers and Marks and their partners will begin a 10 week drug dog detection school the first week in May.  

The canine teams undergo a lot of training, both Departmentally as well as attendance at USPCA (United States Police Canine Association) canine certification trials. Two of the Greenbelt Police canine handlers are on the Board of Directors of Region Three of the USPCA. MPO Dewey is the treasurer and MPO Byers is a trustee. 

On June 3 and 4, 2005, the Canine Unit hosted the USPCA (United States Police Canine Association) Patrol Dog 1 certification trials at Schrom Hills Park. This was the first time the Canine Unit has hosted such an event. Forty four (44) canine teams from Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina competed.

All four of the Greenbelt Police Department’s canine handlers certified, and the following are the awards that they received: 

MPO John M. (“Mike”) Dewey and his partner Duke – First Place in Agility 

MPO Barry P. Byers and his partner Rex – Fifth Place Overall 

The Canine Unit received Second Place in the Team Award 

This unit consists of five full time investigators, including a sergeant and a corporal. The detectives investigate all major crimes that happen in the City. These detectives also assist and co-ordinate with other agencies.

Although all officers receive basic training in dusting for fingerprints, sometimes an object or a crime scene requires more sophisticated processing. The station houses an evidence and digital photo lab and 2 full time Evidence Technician. The Evidence Technicians handle latent fingerprint examinations, digital imaging, and the collection of evidence from major crime scenes.

The Department has a detective assigned full-time to a Maryland State Police Drug Task Force.  The Task Force was created in 1991 and investigates drug violations in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Having a detective assigned to a task force allows for more effective use of investigative resources. The Task Force is supervised by a State Police sergeant and, in addition to the Greenbelt detective, includes investigators from the State Police and the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety.

As part of the Community Oriented Policing Program, two officers are stationed at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and provide service to the other schools in the City as well. These officers handle problems at the schools and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Most importantly, they interact with the student in a positive way. They act as role models and give many teens their only chance to interact with a police officer in a positive manner. 

In addition to their positions at ERHS, one of the SROs teaches the D.A.R.E. program at the Greenbelt Elementary School, and began teaching the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program at the Greenbelt Middle school.

The Crime Prevention Unit conducts residential and commercials security surveys, provides training in Neighborhood Watch, also known as Crime Watch, training to communities and neighborhoods, and conducts both general and specialized crime prevention presentations to homeowners' associations, citizen and community groups, schools, and businesses upon request. The officer assigned to this Unit also prepares the Department's Weekly Activity Report, which is available to residents. In addition to being posted on the website, it is also printed in the "News Review"  and e-mailed to the media and interested citizens. This officer also teaches the D.A.R.E. program at the Springhill Lake Elementary School.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE UNIT

The ERU has successfully completed more than 150 operations. Some of the more notable ones include assisting with security at the Pentagon after the September 11^th terrorist attack. The ERU also assisted the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety with the security details for Nelson Mandella, November 2001, and Kofi Annan, November 2002, as well as civil disturbances following sporting events, including the NCAA basketball championship game in April 2002.  

The Crisis Negotiations Unit (CNU) was established in 1998 and works in conjunction with the ERU during barricade situations.

The members of both Units serve on a voluntary basis after passing a rigorous selection process. Both Units train on a regular basis and the members of the ERU must also maintain a certain level of physical fitness and firearms proficiency. 

The Homeland Security Coordination Unit is a four officer part-time unit supervised by a corporal.  It was created in 2004 in order to address the Department’s homeland security needs.  The Unit researches and applies for grant funding, and provides training to the rest of the Department.

Click here for Emergency Preparedness Information.