ST. MARY’S SHERIFF CORRECTIONAL OFFICER GOGUL AND CPL MATT ROGERS GOT DRUNK AT EASTON TRAINING FOR FUNERAL COLOR GUARDS AND CRASHED INTO DUNKIN DONUTS
SOUTHERN MARYLAND POLICE BEAT / One year’s probation in plea bargain of DUI arrest of St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Officer Gogul; Cpl. Matt Rogers resigned
DWI HIT PARADE ADDS ARREST OF ST MARYS SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT CORRECTIONAL OFFICER MATTHEW WHITLEY TO THE HALL OF FAME
HIT AND RUN TOO, AS CHARGE ALLEGES WHITLEY FAILED TO REMAIN AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH INVOLVING PROPERTY DAMAGE
WHITLEY, MATTHEW A CFC1-CORRECTIONS
2023 Salary- $60,465.60 Overtime – $11,822.55
According to Maryland Court records, St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department CO Matthew Alan Whitley was arrested at 1:54 am on April 21, 2024, by Maryland State Trooper Snyder as he operated a Chevy northbound on Maryland Rt. 4 at Scarlett Drive.
Whitley (DOB 03/05/1997) is a correctional officer First Class as of April 9, 2023, after he was promoted by St. Mary’s Sheriff Steve Hall. The charge placed against the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department Correctional Officer is driving while under the influence of alcohol. In addition, Whitley fled the scene and was charged with failure to remain at the scened of a crash involving property damage.
Whitley bought a condo in the Chestnut Oak Condominiums of Wildewood in California, Maryland on September 18, 2020.
Soon to be a Doctor of Psychology; Will Have A Ignition Interlock If Convicted
After pursuing a degree in psychology from Frostburg State University Whitley began to work as a correctional officer at the St. Mary’s County Jail. Whitley, according to the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department undertook online instruction and obtained a master’s degree and is currently pursuing a doctorate. Whitley was raised in St. Mary’s County.
For his attorney in the pending trial on June 17, 2024, in Calvert County District Court, Whitley chose the services of DUI attorney Kevin J. McDevitt, of Leonardtown.
It remains to be seen if Whitley will be able to drive to work at the St. Mary’s Jail where he rides herd on convicted DUI drivers, among other guests of the Hotel St. Mary’s, who are serving sentences, or if he will be using the county’s transist system between his home in California, Maryland and the St. Mary’s Jail, as both locations are served by the public bus.
If Calvert County States Attorney Bob Harvey extends the same get out jail free deal to Whitley as he did for the cocaine arrest of St. Mary’s Sheriff Steve Hall’s son, Trent Allen Hall, Whitley won’t have to worry about being incarcerated in a jail instead of working in a jail.
Whitley wasn’t booked at the Calvert County Jail by the Maryland State Police, according to the Calvert Sheriff’s Department, therefore, Whitley avoided have a booking photo taken, a consideration not given to most DUI drivers. The Maryland State Police sometimes release an arrested driver to a sober driver and issue a citation. The Media Relations of the Maryland State Police has been asked to provide any photo taken of Whitley at the time of his arrest.
St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department Public Releations Officer ALisa Casas was requested to provide a statement about the arrest of Matthew Whitley and when such a statement is provided, it will be added to this article.
Unless Bob Harvey gives Whitley a plea deal, the law requires him to have an ignition interlock, shown below, installed in his vehicle.
Maryland General Assembly Passes Fix to Noah’s Law
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a proud part of a Maryland highway safety coalition celebrating the Maryland General Assembly’s passage of a fix to Noah’s Law, passed in 2016 in memory of Montgomery County, Maryland, Officer Noah Leotta. HB 105 strengthens Noah’s Law by requiring ignition interlocks for drunk driving offenders who plead down to Probation Before Judgement (PBJ), which accounted for 60% of the 10,161 DUI / DWI offenders in 2023 in Maryland.
From Noah’s father Rich Leotta:
“Thank you for honoring the memories of my son Noah and all victims of impaired driving with the passage of this bill that will finally close the loophole in Noah’s Law and save lives. I am truly grateful to the lead sponsors – Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary and Senator Jeff Waldstreicher, the House and Senate judiciary committees, and the persistence of many advocates who made this much needed change to Noah’s Law a reality. Also, our thanks to the Moore Administration for its support. We look forward to the Governor’s signature.”
From Vickie Brown, whose 12-year-old son Darius was killed by a drunk driver:
“I am grateful that Maryland legislators passed this fix to Noah’s Law to ensure more drunk drivers will use an ignition interlock. Requiring these devices for all drunk drivers will stop repeat offenses and protect other families from being shattered by this violent, 100% preventable crime.”
STATEMENT OF ST. MARY’S SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT UPON PROMOTION OF MATTHEW WHITLEY
Please join us in congratulating two of our Corrections Division staff for their well-deserved promotions as we continue to celebrate National Correctional Officers and Employees Week.
Sgt. Mickey Adkins was promoted to Lieutenant, effective May 8, 2023.
Correctional Officer Matthew Whitley was promoted to Correctional Officer First Class, effective April 9, 2023.
Sheriff Steve Hall congratulated CFC Whitley on his “first step up the ladder” in the Corrections Division.
Sheriff Hall told Lt. Adkins that as a squad leader, “You’re the captain of the ship now. Make sure that everybody realizes the importance of why they’re there: The mission.”
BACKGROUND ON MATTHEW WHITLEY
Working at a detention center is one of the most challenging jobs in the public safety industry. Working nights, holidays and weekends, corrections employees often have to deal with a great deal of stress throughout the workday. At times, inmates may become violent and unpredictable. Employees work in tight spaces and are often required to work overtime. A great deal of training must be completed prior to beginning work in this field.
Corrections Officer Matthew Whitley has maintained a pleasant and professional demeanor as he continues to build on his formal education.
Whitley, age 25, was born and raised in St. Mary’s County. He attended and graduated from Frostburg State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
While obtaining his education, he worked as a public safety dispatcher over the course of four summers in Ocean City, Maryland.
When it came time to get a full-time job, Whitley applied to become a public safety dispatcher in St. Mary’s County, but his mother informed him that the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office was also hiring corrections officers.
He applied to the Sheriff’s Office and has been a corrections officer for three years now, working at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
“It’s not bad,” he said of his job. “I have fun, but I can make anything fun. You gotta spice it up now and then,” he said.
But Whitley didn’t stop at a four-year degree while he continued to work full time.
During the height of the pandemic and while also looking for house to buy, Whitley completed his master’s degree in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.
As part of the benefit package for St. Mary’s County government employees, Whitley was able to be reimbursed for continuing his education.
And Whitley is still not done with his education. He is pursuing a doctorate degree in Psychology and is about 1/3 of the way completed. If he stays the academic course, he will complete his post-Master certificate program in 2 ½ years.
Once completed, Whitley would be the first employee of the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and its long history to have earned a Doctorate degree.
Even as he continues his formal education, Whitley said he’s not planning on leaving the Sheriff’s Office.
With tuition reimbursement provided by the county for employees, Whitley advised his peers and co-workers, “utilize any opportunity given to you. If they’re going to offer something to you, take it.”
“Officer Whitley has set himself apart as a leader in the corrections profession since hired and was the class speaker at Corrections Entrance Level Training Program graduation,” Warden Mary Ann Thompson said. Officer Whitley sets the example to be able to work full time and achieve higher education goals which the county government assists with tuition reimbursement.”
“Corrections Officer Whitley is an impressive young person and represents the very best of the Sheriff’s Office and the corrections profession,” Sheriff Steve Hall said. “He is enthusiastic about his work and knows that continuing his education enhances his opportunities by bringing additional skillsets within the detention center. We are grateful to have him on our team.”