Sheriff Mike Evans announced that he will defer changing the color scheme of the Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles until fiscal year 2010.
This decision comes after careful consideration of the information presented to him from the Attorney General’s Office and after discussion with Calvert County Commissioner president Wilson H. Parran.
Sheriff Evans believes the change will have a positive impact on community policing as has been widely reported through the research completed by Lieutenant Dave McDowell, the agency patrol commander.
The research information will be publicly presented to the County Commissioners in the near future during open session to discuss the merits of his proposed vehicle color change.
Sheriff Evans indicated it is his constitutional authority that allows him to decide the markings of the vehicles to be used by deputies, as was illustrated in an advisory letter to the Sheriff from the Attorney General’s Office which cites an opinion that “requires…county-funded State entities to submit to county budget procedures, not county budget control”.
Commissioner Parran agreed to support the new paint scheme with the understanding that the Sheriff will present his implementation plan that incorporates painting the vehicles as replaced.