(12/20) Thurmont Police Chief Gregory Eyler briefed the town mayor and commissioners at their December 15th meeting regarding the municipal Police Department’s goals, challenges, and successes.

Chief Eyler, a 15-year veteran of the force, stated that the department has 12 sworn-personnel, and three civilian employees, which include a code-enforcement officer, an administrative coordinator, and a receptionist.

He stated the department is short two officers, but that one of those positions will be filled shortly by the imminent hiring of a recently retired, Rederick City officer. He said the department is actively looking for a viable recruit to fill the remaining position.

Major challenges which the department faces are staffing, recruitment, and retaining qualified personnel. "There’s a lot of people not willing to put-in to be a police officer because of what’s going on – police reform, etcetera."

Eyler also noted, "With the issues and civil unrest occurring across the country, it makes it very difficult to maintain public trust. Thurmont PD personnel will continue with its efforts in this area by providing the best service possible, being professional, dedicated, holding ourselves accountable for our actions, maintaining the highest integrity, and maintaining high standards. No matter what happens throughout this country, we’re going to do the best we can to maintain that professionalism and get that trust … and keep that trust here in town."

As part of fostering public trust, he said the department remains active in the local community in a number of ways.

"I think our community involvement is excellent … and from the feedback we get everybody says the same thing," adding that anyone who would like to see the degree of community involvement in which the police department participates, should view the annual police-reports, which are online (Refer to annual police reports, visit thurmont.com/2158/Police-Department-Resources).

The chief described several recent programs in which the police have been active, including "Operation Chill," a partnership with 7-11, which is designed to enhance relationship among 7-11 stores, the police and the youth. Under this program, officers can reward youth doing good deeds or exhibiting examples of positive behavior with a free Slurpee coupon.

Other programs initiated include "Safetypup" contests … conceived as a means of teaching children the importance of safety, and a "Gobble, Gobble" competition in which the public was invited to submit their "best turkey gobble," with the winner being awarded a Hillside turkey. The chief said that the "gobble" submissions "were hilarious."

Eyler credited Code Enforcement Officer Kristi Wood and Administrative Coordinator Stephanie Kennedy by their involvement in a number of community programs.

The chief stated, "One of our goals, which was among many, is to provide the citizens of Thurmont with a cost-effective, professional la- enforcement agency and we’ve done that. And we’re going to continue to do that. And I want to make sure you know that, and that the citizens know that we will do this for here-on-out as long as I’m here as your chief and hopefully, after I leave it continues."