Pocomoke City Police Dept. Grand Opening Ceremony

Pocomoke City Police Department

GRAND OPENING CEREMONY

Friday June 22, 2012

Ribbon Cutting

Left to right- Councilman Clarke, Pocomoke City Manager Russ Blake, Senator Jim Mathias, Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin D. Sewell, Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison, Councilperson Tracey Cottman, Delegate Mike McDermott, Councilman Don Malloy, Councilperson Diane Downing, Worcester County Commisioner Meryl Lockfaw, State Director U.S.D.A., Jack Tarburton

(Don't worry about the arm in the photo- the time on the watch will forever show that things did, indeed, run on time.)

The men and women who so proudly serve Pocomoke City as Pocomoke City Police Officers. This is not all of them and I will do my best to find a photo that includes them all
It's official.

The Pocomoke City Police Department now operates 24/7/365 from the new headquarters on Market Street.

I have so much more to report and so many more photos so please be patient. This has been quite a day for so many... a very exciting day. A day that so many are proud to have been a part of, including myself.

Beauchamp Construction Gets A High Five !!

If you remember....back in 2011 the Pocomoke City Mayor and Council tooks steps in purchasing the  former Delmarva Auto Collision building on Market Street for the purpose of moving the Pocomoke City Police Department.

I started on my journey with this rennovation by taking photos  in January and watched this building go from bare walls with hanging wires to the showcase it is today.  It's  taken 4 months, maybe longer, of steady hard work!  I've seen workers walking on stilts gracefully (but probably can't dance a lick), men hanging through the rafters pulling wires.  I've been locked in a cell.  I've questioned Darren of Beauchamp Construction and he has told me more than I can remember.  In these few months I've seen carpet laid, tiles put down and seen  those same tiles waxed a week later.  I've left my toe print in a corner of a room in the building.

But the photos I take and display and all the newsy things I write are nothing compared to the authority and decisions that Pocomoke City Hall  has and makes.

On Friday April 20th City Manager Russ Blake, Mayor Bruce Morrison and Pocomoke City Council took a tour and inspected the work  of the soon to be new home of the Pocomoke City Police Department. 

The rennovations of the building met their expectations and was approved! 

GREAT JOB  Beauchamp Construction!! 

 All work inside the building has been done by Beauchamp Construction crews with the exception of twice.  Those jobs were contracted out to other  very local businesses. 

So  CONGRATULATIONS Tom Beauchamp,  Darren (operations manager) and all of you that had a hand in turning this buiding  into a masterpiece and something not only the Pocomoke City Police Department will be proud of but the people of Pocomoke City as well.......for many years.

It's not moving in time just yet........There's wiring to run for the radio systems and phones, etc.  That takes time too....

Another chapter begins.

Finishing Touches Being Put On the Pocomoke City Police Department

Pocomoke City Police Station

~Almost Completed~

Thursday  April 12, 2012

It had only been 7 days since I last visited what would be the new Pocomoke City police station to take photos.  But while I was in Pocomoke Councilman Malloy and I decided we really should get another peek....actually, it was my idea, I guess,  since I am so nosey.

WOW!!  What a difference just a few days makes!

Have you ever watched paint dry?  Watching floor wax dry is just about as exciting but with people you like, who engage in good conversation it isn't bad at all.  That 20 minute wait flew by in no time...Worth the wait. 

Thank you Mike Brady, of Peninsula Floor Service, for allowing us to walk across your newly waxed floor.

What a shine!  You may need your sun glasses...I'm not kidding.What was once dull gray tile  only a few days ago has enough shine now to see your reflection!

(below) Do you know what this is?

"The Box" "It's where we question both  witnesses and suspects....An OK Corral with a table and a couple of chairs." ( Words of Kelvin Sewell taken from his book  "Why Do We Kill?")  Now, Darren  has enlightened me in so many ways concerning  what has taken place in this soon to be police station.  The discussion about this room:  I say TWO chairs- because I read the book.  He says could be THREE chairs- depending on who is in "the box" at the time of interrogation. (He hasn't had time to read the book - he's been here!) 

So, I thought about it.  I looked the paragraph up in Chief Sewell's book when I got home.  Okay, Darren.  You win.  A couple could mean two or more- so I'll give you the three.  (But how odd was it when I opened the book and found that I had marked that page with an expired monthly GO PASS from the Baltimore MTA).  Here is how I feel about that room........I will NEVER sit there to be interrogated!  The only table I EVER intend to be seated at is a table that is surrounded by my  friends and family  waiting to partake in a meal!

All cells are completed.  The beds have been bolted to the floor, cots put in place and ready for occupancy really soon.  This is the female holding cell....NO bling! 

So, on this trip everything seemed to be just about wrapped up and ready for the "white glove" test.  Restrooms and showers have been cleaned.  And I'm sure by this writing the floors have been buffed. (What if I told you I left my toe print in a corner in that building?)

Anyway, I was able to show the police chief a photo of the shiny floors....(I like to always be first). But it made his day and when I left that day he made sure I had my cell phone. (For those that don't remember: the first time Chief Sewell and I met I accidently left my cell phone in his office.  Embarrassed?  ME?  Hell, yes!)

But anyway, the Second Street police department that so many of us have known for many years....the walkway that my son, as a small boy,  would ride his bike up and coast down when he could get away with it will soon be history.  I never realized it until I walked down the stairway and out those black doors that I never go photos of the inside...the stairway...

But here is what I want you to do when you visit the new police station.  Please take full advantage of your reflection in the windows on the end of the building.  Take time to fix you hair and straighten your cap so you look nice when walking inside.  And once inside WIPE YOUR FEET! 

Thanks Councilman Malloy, Chief Sewell, Mike Brady and assistant and of course "the go to man" Darren.