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ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

ANIMAL CONTROL

Responsible for enforcing State and County animal ordinances, the Animal Control Authority employs officers with approval of the County Executive. These officers monitor the issuance of vaccinations and dog licenses, conduct inspections of animal shelters and pet stores operating in the County, and may impound dangerous or nuisance animals. Animal control officers also enforce the rulings of the Animal Appeal Board (County Code, secs. 133-1 through 133-23).

ANIMAL APPEAL BOARD

Advising the County Council on animal-related legislation, the Board also advises the County Executive on budget matters related to animal control expenses and fines issued.

Five members and two alternates constitute the Board. Members are appointed by the County Executive with County Council approval to three-year terms (County Code, sec. 133-20).

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Incarceration and rehabilitation programs are administered by the Department of Corrections, which oversees the Detention Center, and is responsible for the treatment and needs of inmates and those awaiting trial in County custody. Receiving those arrested in the County, the Department processes and detains them pending judicial review. For inmates being released, the Department conducts pre-release programs, and oversight once paroled (County Code, secs. 20-1 through 20-5).

The Department of Corrections is comprised of the Central Booking Unit, Community Corrections, and the Detention Center.

DETENTION CENTER

With a maximum capacity of 509, the Detention Center holds those awaiting trial and those convicted to sentences of up to eighteen months (County Code, sec. 20-2).

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

Due to national safety concerns, Wicomico County Civil Defense was created during the 1950s to oversee County emergency planning and response, and was renamed as Emergency Management in 1993. To coordinate fire and emergency medical responders, Central Alarm formed in 1975, and the two agencies merged in July 1997 to form the Department of Emergency Services.

The Department of Emergency Services develops the County's emergency plan for disaster preparation, response, and mitigation, and receives all 911 calls. Calls are received through the Communications Center, which coordinates response units to most efficiently and effectively respond to emergencies. Response units include municipal and independent fire companies, municipal police departments, the Sheriff's Office, and the State Police. During disasters, the Department coordinates federal, State and local response and relief efforts (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 14-109 through 14-113; County Code, sec. 15-1 through 15-12).

The Department also provides Citizens Emergency Response Training, which offers emergency medical and response training to County residents.

Assisted by the Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Department oversees three divisions: Communications; Emergency Management; and Radio.

FIRE MARSHAL

For the Lower Eastern Region (Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico & Worcester counties), the Deputy State Fire Marshal serves as an assistant to the State Fire Marshal, and is responsible for fire safety in the Region. The Deputy investigates and enforces laws regarding arson; fire prevention; the installation and maintenance of fire detection and extinguisher equipment; the availability and adequacy of fire exits at public and commercial establishments; and the storage, sale, or use of explosives and combustibles (Code Public Safety Article, sec. 6-305).

The Deputy State Fire Marshal is appointed by the State Fire Marshal (Code Public Safety Article, sec. 6-303).

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