Evans Ready to Rumble for 2nd Term as Calvert Sheriff
as Bartlett Throws Challenge in GOP Primary

ST. MARY’S TODAY

PRINCE FREDERICK — He said he spends too many sleepless nights but that he is not complaining. And if it takes extreme courage to confront drug pushers, he has it.

“I am a gentleman first,” said Sheriff Mike Evans, who is proud three generations of his family have served the police force. “Being in the police is in my genes, absolutely.”

Explaining the main issues confronting Charles County, he said the three priorities for him are increase in crime and how to manage that, including the drug issue that is part of the crimes as it goes hand in hand with all other crimes, saving lives on the road by aggressive patrolling so people don’t die on the highways, and the third main issue that overlaps other issues growth in the community and pulling the resources together.

Evans considers creation of the Calvert Investigative Team that’s a joint force with MSP and States Attorneys office among the achievements. “I also managed to get a $500,000 grant for mobile data terminals and car video cameras to allow deputies stay in the street and do the reports.”

Evans said he agrees diversity in the police force should correspond to the diversity in population. “But I also believe in hiring the best qualified candidates and that’s what I have done so far,” Evans said. “We are actively recruiting minorities and women in the Sheriff department. In our current academy class, we have two females and one African American.”

Evans admitted much ground has yet to be covered. “We need more work on it and we are trying. Recently, we hired someone who speaks fluent Russian and another who speaks Spanish.” He thinks people with multi-lingual skills would help combat crimes better.

Evans was criticized last week by his three detractors, who are trying to unseat him, for allowing the crime graph to go up by 19.6 percent. He explains that since the crime rate has been low in Charles County even a small number translates into a high percentage.

“I say that when the crimes happen we respond quickly and set up an operation to bring the culprits to justice. Armed robberies have been cut in half this year.” He said overall crime is also going down this year.

Evans said in 2005 there were a total of around 300 cases, 250 of which were thefts.

He said the officer per 1000 population is the lowest in the state with 1.5 officer per 1000 and that seriously bottlenecks the performance of his force. “I asked the commissioners for 37 deputies and got 17. We need to get it up higher,” Evans said.

Evans said he does not suffer from an infallibility complex, and wants to admit his errors honestly. In one incident, Evans was criticized for allowing deputies to compete in a Virginia Beach softball tournament while they were on the clock. “They had my permission. I realized the error and that was corrected. The deputies used their personal leave to make up for the time,” Evans said.

He absolutely denied there was any kind of a quota system tied to work performance as some of the contenders trying to unseat him have tried to convey to the public. “There’s an accountability issue and I require the deputies to be accountable for their time,” Evans said.

He said drug pushers in the county were constantly on the police radar screen and a Task

Force addresses the drug issue. “We are better off, absolutely,” Evans said, when it comes to comparing the drug issue in Calvert County to St. Mary’s and Charles.

Evans said confronting the drug issue demands creativity and high level of intelligence on the part of the police force. He called it completely irresponsible and height of stupidity for a political turncoat whom he had beaten in 2002 elections, former sheriff John “Rodney” Bartlett, for giving out the names of officers who are in-charge of sting drug operations at a public meeting last week. he won’t be discouraged by his critics. member of Special Tactical Assault Team. He is recipient of Prince Frederick Barrack Trooper of the Year Award, Maryland State Police Superintendent’s Commendation for Extreme Courage Award, and Recipient of Republican Man of the Year Award.

He has been married for 26 years to Susan who works at the Calvert County Detention Center. Susan’s family resides in Dunkirk.

Evans was born Prince Fredrick Hospital, April 30, 1956. Raised in a law-enforcement family his dad, Ted Evans is a retired Maryland State Police Lt. Colonel and his mother Audrey Evans, is a former Clerk of the Circuit Court for Calvert County, now residing in Dowell.

“My family and friends get together at my house for cookouts, swimming, horseshoes, and volley

Like father, Evans sons are troopers. One is a state trooper and the second is in the academy. “Eric is 24 and he works in the Leonardtown Barracks and Charlie is 22 and is at the academy in Sykesville,” he said. The two sons enjoy playing softball for Calvert County leagues as well as for Trinity United Methodist Church.

Evans has been a youth sports coach for nine years. He enjoys weight lifting, softball, swimming and playing various sports with his two sons.

Evans was elected Sheriff on November 5, 2002, by beating Bartlett. A retired Maryland State Trooper of 17 years, during 12 of which he was also a

Evans pointed out Calvert County is the 5th safest county in terms of violent crimes, superseded only by Garret County, and three other counties on the eastern shore.

Evans in particular felt hurt over Bartlett switching over to the Republican Party, just to jeopardize his smooth victory. “The Republican Party is very happy with Sheriff Evans,” he said.

Evans thinks it was cheap politicking of some of his political rivals that he deploys too much of his men of Route 4/2. He believes checking road death in a country with the highest number of vehicles anywhere in the world is a duty of the sheriff’s office and