FSU and Frostburg City Police Dissolve Wood Street Disturbance

On the night of Sunday, September 6, and into the morning of Monday, September 7, the Frostburg State University Police Department and the Frostburg City Police Department responded to a large disturbance on Wood Street, where rowdy students crowded the street during a wild party.

The chaotic scene prompted a helicopter flyover and a police presence. It would appear that multiple parties in the vicinity were concluding at around the same time, leading to the collection of a massive crowd in the area.

According to a press release from the Frostburg City Police Department, “Officers estimated 500 people were congregated in the area, moving between various parties. Officers observed several altercations occurring in the crowd and, due to the large size and concentration, were preventing cars from passing down Wood Street. Officers slowly dispersed the crowd before altercations escalated, there was some passive resistance from a few of the individuals involved, but officers were able to restore peace to the area within minutes. Frostburg City and Frostburg State University officers as well as Allegany County Sheriff deputies maintained presence in the area for the remainder of the night without further incident. Alcohol was considered to be a major factor in this event.”

FSU Police Chief Cynthia Smith clarified when there is “concern it [the party] might turn violent or into a destructive crowd, which thankfully it didn’t, the Frostburg City Police calls the state police and sheriff’s office to assist in the situation.”

For situations like these, the City of Frostburg has primary jurisdiction to call for more protective measures, such as the helicopter, and “a trooper on the ground can request a helicopter who believes it is a public safety issue,” Smith explained. She goes on to say, “there’s a Night Sun, a large light on the helicopter or aircraft, which they utilized to light up the area.” Smith also explained that the helicopter is used for medevac — responding to serious injuries, typically automobile crashes, but “having a helicopter close by is good preventive medicine in the event that someone gets hurt.”

Operations Lieutenant Scott Donahue, who accepted a position at FSU in 1991, is a Patrol Lieutenant for the University Police. In this position, he is responsible for all of the campus police officers. He ensures there is adequate coverage and sustains his officers’ knowledge of their daily duties. He is also in charge of Clery, a log that holds both criminal and non-criminal activities that may occur both on and off campus.

Donahue’s number one priority is “making sure that students feel safe.” He added, he wants to “make sure the Frostburg State property is maintained and safe as well, and making sure the faculty and staff are safe.” Donahue believes the most rewarding part of his job is “being able to help people.” He explained that students come to Frostburg for an education, and he wants to ensure all students, whether on or off campus, feel safe in their environment.

With duty comes responsibility, and sometimes those responsibilities can be challenging. “I think the biggest challenge that I see is just the generation changes,” Donahue said. He explained, as years and time go by, he becomes a little bit older, but the students are always staying the same age. As with any police officer, the generation gap between both parties can make the job more challenging. Officers strive to keep up-to-date, especially with the crowd or environment in which they are serving, in order to have a better connection with them. He described that police all around the world run into this issue. Nevertheless, Donahue’s goal is to protect FSU students, faculty, and staff, as well as their property.

While out on patrol, Donahue is “looking at everything” that may suggest suspicious activity, in order to maintain safety. In deeper detail, well-known problem areas with a record of past incidents are regularly monitored. In addition, recognizing questionable behavior plays a key role in picking up any suspicious activity. However, all activity does not warrant suspicious activity. To maintain this safety, FSU Police established “knock and talks” about four or five years ago.

“Knock and talks” occur when police officers see a potential party—people out on their porches, with loud music playing, etc. The officers will establish a relationship with the house or apartment owner, and simply remind them to be safe. The goal is to make the police presence known, and to encourage safe behavior. This confrontation also serves as an attempt to prevent return police visits. The police understand that students will party, but strive to advise that students be cautious of their surroundings, and how they act.

Lieutenant Donahue truly believes “some students sponsor parties that are safe, and organized, and legal.” On the other hand, “there are parties going on that are opposite of that. That causes huge concerns.”

For more information on the University Campus Police, please visit their page on FSU’s website under the “Office of University Police” page.

You can also contact them for emergencies: 301-687-4222

Non-emergencies: 301-687-4223

Anonymous Police Tip Hotline: 301-678-STOP (7867)