Police Chief

Michael C. Zotos, who takes command of the Aberdeen Police Department June 19, said his new job as police chief really began when he applied for the post and walked around the streets to "get a feel for what people are thinking."Mr. Zotos said he has done a lot of walking and talking since that cold January day. He has concluded that law enforcement problems in Aberdeen are the same as in almost any town in the United States."I was interviewed by a panel of about a dozen community leaders and then by the mayor and City Council, and they mainly wanted to know what thoughts I had about crime and crime prevention," he said.

For more than 10 years, the Annapolis Police Department has been a caldron of discontent.Officers have complained repeatedly of racial discrimination, mismanagement, inadequate job benefits and no chance to advance. Last year, the union representing the 120 sworn officers voted no confidence in Chief Harold Robbins. Now Chief Robbins is gone and the job has fallen to Assistant Chief Joseph S. Johnson, an Annapolis native and veteran of the Washington and Baltimore police departments.City Council members, union officials and the officers have high hopes for Colonel Johnson, 51, whose official appointment at the end of the year will make him the city's first black police chief.

In a simple but eloquent pledge of support, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke said this morning that the man he selected to be Baltimore's new police commissioner has the character and integrity to crack down on the city's worst crime problems.Mayor Schmoke reiterated his support for his nominee, Thomas C. Frazier, who was hit with a barrage of criticism about police indifference and ineffectiveness at a 4 1/2 -hour confirmation hearing last night."I believe he did well. I'm looking forward to him taking over as police comissioner," Mr. Schmoke said.

IN THE GLARE of the TV lights, Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose's scowl seemed to deepen with each idiotic question thrown his way, to the point where you wondered if the poor man's features could ever return to normal. This was the other day at the chief's daily news conference outside police headquarters on Research Boulevard in Rockville. Some lunatic with a high-powered rifle was going around killing people in the Washington area, and now a good part of Moose's day was spent stepping to a podium, fielding questions and replying with various permutations of: "Sir, as this is an ongoing criminal investigation, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on that."

Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke's security chief -- a veteran police lieutenant with extensive experience as a narcotics investigator -- has been selected from a group of six finalists to head the Housing Authority of Baltimore City's police force.Lt. Hezekiah Bunch will become "Chief" Bunch in two weeks, but it remained uncertain yesterday whether he will be taking a leave from the Police Department or retiring with a pension from his current $45,000-a-year job.The 43-year-old lieutenant said such details -- even his salary as director of the housing agency police force -- were still being negotiated.

DETROIT -- This city's police chief and a former deputy chief who was a business partner of Mayor Coleman Young were indicted yesterday in a federal probe of the theft of nearly $2.6 million from a secret police fund.A grand jury indicted Police Chief William Hart on seven counts and the former deputy chief, Kenneth Weiner, on five counts, said U.S. Attorney Stephen Markman.The grand jury cleared Mr. Young of any wrongdoing, he added.For 18 months, the grand jury has been investigating the alleged disappearance of money from a secret police department fund set up to pay informers, buy drugs and conduct undercover investigations.

Robert O. Mathews Jr., a former Howard County police chief, died of cancer Jan. 12 at Talbot Hospice in Easton. He was 66. Mr. Mathews began his career in 1959 with the Howard department and was the first officer to rise through the ranks to become chief. He was named chief in 1975 and resigned in 1978 after backing a losing candidate in the election for county executive. "Bob Mathews was truly dedicated to his role as police chief in Howard County," said Howard police Chief G. Wayne Livesay.

Wallace Mitchell, Sykesville's police chief for the past 14 years, announced yesterday that he is retiring June 30. Mitchell has been in law enforcement for 40 years. He took over in Sykesville in 1987. He has served as president of the Maryland Association of Chiefs of Police and is vice chairman of the Maryland Municipal League Police Executive Association. "Chief Mitchell established a level of professionalism that has made our Police Department a leader and a model for police departments statewide," said Sykesville Mayor Jonathan Herman.

Taneytown police Chief Melvin Diggs raised $1,806.62 for the Maryland Special Olympics in nine hours as a performer and master of ceremonies of a karaoke program.The Aug. 10 program was part of a statewide fund-raising effort by police chiefs.The Taneytown American Legion donated proceeds from food and drink sales. In addition, food counter and drink servers donated $45 they received from tips.FireTaneytown: Firefighters responded at 1: 49 p.m. Monday to a truck fire on Mayberry Road at Route 140. Units were out 41 minutes.

County police Chief Larry Tolliver will promote nine officers and four sergeants at a ceremony tomorrow at Anne Arundel Community College, a police spokeswoman said.The ceremony will begin at 11: 30 a.m. in Building K on the campus in Arnold.Rhonda Osborne, Fred Plitt, Jeffrey Collins, Pamela Davis, James Davis, James Batten, S. Vaughn Dykes, Edward Bergin, and Wayne Vernon are to be promoted to sergeant.Athena Baker, Thomas Wheeler, Timothy Walker and Jeffrey Kelly are being promoted to lieutenant.