WOKE CONVICT SHERIFF TAKES THE TEETH OUT OF FIGHTING CRIMINALS IN ST. MARY’S COUNTY

ALL BARK, NO BITE CONVICT SHERIFF HALL KILLS K9 PROGRAM

St. Mary’s County, Maryland, once a beacon of peace and safety, now finds itself under siege as crime spirals out of control. Break-ins, assaults, and robberies have become the norm, leaving citizens fearful and angry. While the community demands action, Sheriff Steve Hall’s response has been bafflingly soft—a weak, ineffective approach emboldening criminals and failing residents.

Bring on the Donuts

Instead of deploying aggressive tactics to combat crime, Sheriff Hall has sent his COPS unit to local diners for “morning coffee engagement sessions.”

The strategy, which he claims is about “building community trust,” is seen by many as a laughable and impotent response to the real crisis on the streets. Criminals aren’t sipping coffee; they’re terrorizing neighborhoods, knowing full well they face little resistance from a weakened Sheriff’s Department.

Worse still, Hall has dismantled one of law enforcement’s most effective tools by eliminating patrol-certified K9 units. These dogs, trained to apprehend dangerous criminals, are being retired from service and replaced with dogs that can’t bite, even when necessary to subdue violent offenders. Hall cites “liability concerns” for the decision, yet the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT), which insures the Sheriff’s Department, has never stated that patrol K9s increase liability nor require their removal. Adding insult to injury, surrounding counties—such as Calvert, Harford, and Charles—continue to operate robust K9 programs, all insured by LGIT. The only exception is Prince George’s County, which is self-insured but equally committed to keeping its K9 units.

Major David Payne of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office made his stance clear: “The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office currently has no intention of removing any patrol K9s from our cadre of dogs.” Like many others, Calvert County understands that these units are critical for tracking suspects, recovering weapons, and safely apprehending violent criminals.

Meanwhile, Charles County also maintains its K9 program, regularly using it to capture fleeing suspects. Public Information Officer Diane Richardson was contacted but could not comment by the time this article was published and promised an update on December 23rd. However, members inside the Charles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Sheriff Berry’s ongoing commitment to support the current K9 unit as it operates.

However, in St. Mary’s, Hall’s feeble policies send a starkly different message. By retiring effective K9 units and refusing to implement tough-on-crime measures, the Sheriff’s Department has effectively opened the floodgates. “Welcome to St. Mary’s County—commit your crimes here!” might as well be the slogan under Sheriff Hall, Clay Safford, and Shawn Moses, whose leadership has been likened to an open border policy for criminals. While neighboring counties tighten their grip on crime, St. Mary’s offers a soft landing pad for lawbreakers looking for an easy escape.

The exodus of 27 deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department has further crippled its ability to combat crime effectively. As these departures pile up, the cracks in the department’s leadership and operations are becoming impossible to ignore. The root causes of this mass exodus—low morale, lack of support, and poor leadership—are now glaringly evident in the department’s inability to address the crime crisis. Yet, the department’s silence is deafening. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, the Sheriff’s Department appears content to let its problems fester, leaving residents and remaining deputies to suffer the consequences.

Residents who voted for a Republican sheriff expecting a tough-on-crime stance feel betrayed. Many liken Hall’s administration to a liberal Democratic regime, comparing his policies to those of President Joe Biden’s widely criticized open-border approach. Instead of cracking down on crime, Hall has embraced weak and permissive practices that embolden criminals and leave citizens vulnerable.

Adding fuel to the fire, the Sheriff’s Department’s Public Information Officer/Social Media Ambassador, who is supposed to provide transparency and accountability, has failed to respond to inquiries, as has become their norm. Still, she has had no problem contacting local media sources to ask for favors.

The consequences of Hall’s leadership are glaring. St. Mary’s County’s streets are becoming playgrounds for criminals while its residents are left to fend for themselves. Suspects fleeing crime scenes increasingly evade capture, and without the deterrent of effective K9 units or strong enforcement policies, lawbreakers operate with impunity.

Sheriff Hall’s inaction and soft policies are turning St. Mary’s County into a sanctuary for criminals while the rest of Maryland’s law enforcement agencies double down on effective strategies.

The question is no longer whether St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department can catch up—it’s whether the damage inflicted by its weak leadership can ever be undone. Once proud of their safe community, residents now ask: How much longer can St. Mary’s County residents survive under this regime of incompetence?