Officer Paul S. Corridean and his K9 Yumber, received the Region III 

quarterly award from the United States Canine Association.  The 

association supports and  recognizes exemplary performance of 

canine handlers and their dogs through training and competitions.

The incident that Paul and Yumber were involved in occurred in 

June.  Officer Corridean was summoned by the Bladensburg Police 

to assist with the search for a rape suspect.  After an exhausting 

and grueling search, the suspect was apprehended.  During the 

incident, it was learned that the suspect was armed with a gun that 

further jeopardized both Paul and Yumber safety. Way to go Paul!

As part of the departments stepped up effort to provide safe 

communities, letters have been sent to residents where suspected  

drug use and sale are occurring.  These letters warn the residents 

(and owners if rental property) that they are to take corrective action, 

cease and desist the illegal activity.  Failure to do so can result in 

eviction and seizure of the property without criminal charges.  Other 

crimes such as drunkenness, disorderly and prostitution may result in 

a letter being sent. This process also applies to any business in the City.

Recently, through the efforts of an apartment complex manager, we 

discovered that a significant number of Chinese residents were living in 

an apartment building.  Most of these residents did not speak English and 

were alleged to be crime victims.

Through our officers and the Executive Assistant efforts, Chinese interpreters

were contracted to help us speak with the residents. To our surprise, nearly 

forty Chinese-speaking residents came to a meeting at 10:00 am to discuss 

the recent crime and speak with our officers.

This event was extremely challenging to us since there are three different 

major Chinese dialects that had to be interpreted.  During the meeting we 

learned that there was only one crime which we had already had reported 

to us. The Executive Assistant position is funded by our Hot Spots grant as 

the Hot Spots Coordinator and Victims Services Advocate.  Staff working 

together to help our residents is part of the Hot Spots theme.

At the September conference of the Maryland Chief ’s of Police Association, 

Chief Fred Keeney was named as the organizations Secretary for the 

2001–2002 terms.  Chief Keeney previously served as the Associations 

Sergeant-at-Arms for the 2001-2001 terms. Chief Keeney also serves on 

the Maryland Municipal League ’s Legislative Committee serving with 

mayors and councilpersons from throughout the State.  The League 

pursues legislation that is advantageous to cities and towns like our 

Mount Rainier.

Jefferson "Jeff " Herriott joined the Department on September 4 as a 

police officer.  Jeff left the Baltimore Housing Authority Police after 8 

years of service as a police officer to join us in Mount Rainier.  Jeff is 

currently in field training and we expect him to be a valuable asset to 

our force.

On Monday, September 24, Charles Williams joined the Department as 

a lieutenant.  Lt. Williams will serve as the deputy chief. He comes to us 

from the Baltimore Police Department where after serving 26 years.  His 

assignments with the Baltimore Police included patrol, investigations, 

to include assignment as a state ’s attorney investigator and as a body 

guard on the Mayor ’s security detail.

Lt. Charles Williams