Frostburg City Police Moving On Campus

In May, the City of Frostburg passed a resolution which seeks to consolidate City Hall and the Public Safety Building into a renovated space at 37 S. Broadway called the Municipal Center Project. Construction will take approximately one year and cost the City over $2.8 million dollars. The site is the current home to the Frostburg City Police Department (FPD) and construction at the location will displace the department.

President Nowaczyk in his address to the Faculty Senate on Wednesday, Nov. 6 reported that, “the City asked if they could move their police station to our old police station, otherwise known as the Lincoln School, for up to a year. They will pay the utilities and $1 a year in rent. We have asked them to get involved with our students and do more in the way of community policing.” This announcement, which was followed by only one question regarding parking availability at the location, was unanticipated by faculty members who had been previously unaware.

It was not a surprise to SGA President Jenna Puffinburger, however. She told TBL, “the President came to SGA prior to our first meeting of the semester and asked us to brainstorm with him on how to roll out the decision. We talked about meet and greets and other ways to help build a positive relationship.” Indeed, the minutes for the Sept. 19, 2019 meeting of SGA indicate that the Senators knew about the proposed move. Moreover, Frostburg City Council meeting minutes from Sept. 12, 2019 say, “City police operations would temporarily relocate to the former public safety building on the campus of FSU during construction.”

Given the announcement of the move by President Nowaczyk, TBL reached out to Chief Nicholas Costello of the FPD for an interview. In a statement that contradicts the aforementioned announcements, Chief Costello sent an email response late this week that read, “There is not yet an agreement in place with Frostburg State University with regard to the former university police building.”

The level of communication and transparency to different groups on campus is further complicated by the absence of this announcement at a forum on policing held by the Black Student Alliance (BSA) on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Chief Costello of FPD and Chief Cynthia Smith of the Frostburg State University Police Department (FSUPD) were present, alongside Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Jeff Graham. The relocation of the FPD to campus was not announced or discussed at that forum. TBL reached out to the Black Student Alliance for their comments on the move. Similar to faculty members, BSA said they “had no idea this was happening.” SGA President Puffinburger defends Chief Costello, Chief Smith, and Dr. Graham in not announcing the FPD’s move to campus at the forum saying, “It was not a good time to bring it up. I don’t think there was a level of trust that allowed for that announcement.” Moreover, President Puffinburger says, “I assume the Administration plans to tell students in the Spring semester.”

The forum was held in response to a disturbance on Bobcat Court on Sept. 22 in which FPD dispersed a group of approximately 150 students through the use of OC fogger pepper spray. Body-worn camera footage from the incident was screened by SGA President Puffinburger, BSA President Korey King, and TBL. The footage substantiated claims by the FPD that rocks were thrown at the responding officers prior to the deployment of the spray. The footage also painted a scene of confusion wherein police officers repeatedly used obscenities in communicating with students.

FSUPD officers have been outfitted with body-worn cameras since 2016. FPD has yet to adopt this practice.

FPD’s move has some concerned about the use of the space by community members who will be coming to campus to conduct their normal business, including paying parking fines. FSUPD Chief Smith admits there will be an increase in traffic on University Drive, “but I don’t know how much,” she says. Smith also indicated that move would occur, “as soon as possible.” Furthermore, she says, “The University is working to accommodate the needs of the [FPD] department and the building would have otherwise sat empty.”  The University announced earlier this semester that the Lincoln School building will eventually serve as a Multicultural Center. Ms. Robin Wynder, Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion says that those plans are “likely a few years out” and that “it’s not a quick process.”

Others are concerned about jurisdictional changes as a result of FPD’s relocation. Chief Smith says those worries are unfounded. “While the City Police will be physically on campus, it doesn’t change their jurisdiction or responsibilities. They do not supersede the authority of University Police. The only difference is the likelihood of the City Police witnessing crime is greater,” she says. Smith sees this as a positive development saying, “One of the things that keeps me awake at night is the number of pedestrians who cross University Drive and the speed at which drivers travel through there. By having the presence of the City Police, perhaps it will be a safer corridor.”

Chief Smith says the relocation won’t impact the daily lives of students. “I don’t want students to get worked up. This creates opportunities for positive interactions and for us to build on positive relationships.”

SGA President Puffinburger agrees, “I think this will foster community relations.” She admits, though, “I don’t think this is what students want to see.”