Troopers Ready for Busy Weekend Serving and Protecting

[Howard Hartman]

	NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208 (410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677 Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555
July 1, 2010

Troopers Ready for Busy Weekend Serving and Protecting

(Pikesville, MD) – From “Operation Centipede” on the Capital Beltway, to “Operation Gauntlet” on the route to Ocean City, to “Smooth Operator” enforcement in Garrett County, to Inner Harbor assistance in Baltimore, Maryland state troopers are ready to implement traffic and criminal enforcement initiatives throughout the holiday weekend in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities and keep Marylanders safe.

In every Maryland county and Baltimore City, state troopers will be involved in a variety of enforcement efforts targeting drunk drivers, aggressive drivers, and speeders, while also assisting with security and traffic control at fireworks displays from Deep Creek Lake, to the Inner Harbor, to Worcester County. Troopers not normally assigned to road patrol, as well as supervisors and commanders will add more than 75 extra troopers to the regular on-duty patrol force throughout the weekend.

“Our priority is to keep Marylanders and those visiting our state safe through this busy holiday weekend,” Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan said. “Our troopers will be on patrol in every Maryland county, conducting enforcement operations that target specific highway safety needs and working with local law enforcement to keep communities safe. I am urging drivers to obey the speed limit, not to drink and drive, to ensure everyone in their vehicle is buckled up, and to make traffic safety their priority.”

Troopers are reminding those headed to Ocean City not to try to reduce their travel time by increasing their speed. “Operation Gauntlet” will be positioning troopers in strategic locations along Rt. 50 from Kent Island to Ocean City. Troopers will be focusing on speed and aggressive driving violations.

“Operation Centipede” will ring the Capital Beltway with extra troopers who will be on the alert for traffic violations that cause crashes and tie up traffic. Troopers at each of the 22 State Police barracks will be conducting saturation patrols in areas known for high numbers of drunk driving crashes and/or arrests. Troopers will also be working to provide prompt assistance to disabled vehicles and to quickly move crashes off the roads to keep traffic moving smoothly.

More than 30 state troopers will be providing assistance to the Baltimore Police Department Sunday evening for July 4th festivities at the Inner Harbor. They will assist with traffic direction, commercial vehicle enforcement, and other security initiatives. State Police helicopters will provide aerial support in the area when returning from medevacs to Baltimore hospitals.