Lawrence Chester “Bootsie” Stinnett
Broomes Island, MD – Lawrence Chester “Bootsie” Stinnett, who served one four-year term as sheriff of Calvert County, died at his residence on Broomes Island Friday, Jan. 5. Stinnett, 79, who had a 24-year career with the Maryland State Police (MSP) prior to becoming sheriff, was a Calvert County native.
He was elected sheriff in 1990, succeeding Adrian Joy. “He was a good friend,” said Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans, who was also a state trooper prior to his election in 2002. “I learned a lot from him. I learned how to investigate crimes. I learned some things about being sheriff also.”
“He was a very good sheriff,” recalled former Maryland Agriculture secretary Hagner R. Mister. Stinnett and Mister, both Democrats, won elections in 1990, with Mister winning a seat on the Board of County Commissioners.
In the 1994 election, Stinnett lost his bid for re-election, finishing second behind Independent candidate Vonzell R. Ward in a three-candidate race. Mister said many of Calvert’s political insiders at the time had figured Stinnett would likely serve several terms as sheriff. However, an acrimonious relationship with some members of the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police became public and may have led to his defeat. Stinnett ran against Ward again in 1998 and was defeated.
According to an obituary posted by Rausch Funeral Home, Stinnett then went to work as a process server, a job he did for 20 years.
Stinnett is survived by a daughter, a son, a brother, two nephews and several grandchildren. Funeral services for Bootsie Stinnett will be held Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Rausch Funeral Home in Port Republic at 10 a.m.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
