History

History of the University Park Police Department

Early Police Development

The Town of University Park incorporated in 1936 and grew as a municipality through the forties and fifties, boasting that the community was crime free for its early decades - not even a traffic violation. With the growth of the community, crime was an inevitable consequence. Police services were left to the county police forces or the town councilmen themselves. The latter were honorary deputy sheriffs and for a number of years functioned as the chief guardians of law and order. In those years, violators could obtain a hearing at the Prince George’s County Service Building in Hyattsville every first and third Monday evening at 7 p.m.

The first special policemen were hired in the mid fifties for just the Halloween season, to patrol from 7 to 10 p.m. in an effort to stem vandalism. The practice of hiring four special officers for Halloween went on for several years. In 1956 the Council had surveyed the town via a questionnaire which asked for approval of an ordinance prohibiting dogs running at large and a police force. There is no record of the results of the poll, but the dog ordinance was defeated in a council session, and therefore an ordinance establishing a police force was not adopted. In 1962-63 the town hired part-time special police officers to monitor the problems impacting the town as a result of the newly constructed Northwestern High School adjacent to the town on Adelphi Road. The school boasted the only lighted football field in the county, therefore night games and the associated problems were abundant. Traffic, parking, crowds of teenagers and noise were common issues during games and events that often spilled into the Town roadways and residential properties.

Establishment

The University Park Police Department was established in March of 1965 after another “special” study was conducted of the situation. The first officer, Richard Dunham, was trained at the County Police Academy and given authority to hire an assistant. Sharing a 1965 Chevy Biscayne, Chief Dunham and his assistant, Sergeant Nolan, provided the community a greater sense of security, and a third officer was hired by 1967. The department grew slowly as the need increased and a permanent location for the police station was determined.

The Town Hall located at 6724 Baltimore Avenue is the current headquarters for UPPD.

Currently, the department has grown to a compliment of eight officers, professionally trained to provide 24-hour full police services to a diverse community of over 2300 citizens.

Officer List

Many police officers have served in the Town of University over the past 45 years. If you do not see your name included, please drop an email with the years of service to be added as a part of our history. Dates indicate year of hire.