Bowie set to vote on getting own cops

Bowie residents want to create their own police department, saying Prince George’s County takes too long to respond to their calls and that escalating crime elsewhere in the county keeps officers away from their city.

“We’re not being critical of the county’s police personnel,” City Manager David J. Deutsch said. “The dilemma is one of staffing and resources.”

The issue is scheduled for a vote Nov. 8 and takes place as the county approaches a record-breaking number of homicides.

As of last week, there have been more than 125 slayings — on pace to break the 1991 record of 158 killings and to reach 170 by year’s end.

This is not the first attempt by Bowie officials to improve police protection beyond what the county provides. The county has 20 officers who patrol a police district that includes, but is not limited to, the city of Bowie.

The city has paid the county since 1994 for the services of an additional six officers to work within city limits.

But city officials say that they still do not have enough of a police presence.

Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin C. High responded to the concerns by vowing in 2004 to increase the number of officers to 40 by July 31.

However, Bowie officials said the county added only three officers.

“My understanding is that there are times when there are no uniformed police in Bowie because they are needed elsewhere,” said City Council member Dennis Brady, who supports the referendum.

In response to the question about whether enough resources are devoted to Bowie, Maj. Michael Blow, who commands the police district in which the city is located, said only that police are “always looking for more resources.”

He said officers patrolling the district are pulled away only in cases of a nearby life-threatening emergency.

Maj. Blow said officers are making more arrests in the district so four or five officers might be in court during their shifts.

Bowie Mayor Frederick Robinson has led the campaign to put the measure on the ballot and inform voters of its costs and benefits.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

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