Towns bids goodbye to officer

January 13, 2005|by TARA REILLY

HANCOCK - Michael Ruppenkamp has left the Hancock Police Department, but he said he'll always have a fond regard for the town.

"I'm going to come down here as much as I can," Ruppenkamp told the Hancock Town Council and a group of residents at a meeting Wednesday night.

"I just feel like I'm part of the community and always will be," he said.

He said he's going to try to attend town events, such as National Night Out and Canal Days.

Ruppenkamp, who worked for the town's police department for nine years, recently resigned to take a higher-paying job with Frostburg State University's police department.

That job is also closer to Ruppenkamp's home, town officials have said.

Ruppenkamp said the job change also was driven by personal reasons.

Mayor Daniel A. Murphy presented Ruppenkamp with a resolution from the Maryland House of Delegates and a Certificate of Excellence from the town for his nine years of service as a police officer.

A punch and cookie reception for Ruppenkamp followed the town meeting.

Murphy said Ruppenkamp, the town's first bicycle officer, always went above and beyond his duty as a police officer, such as helping out with town events and advising Hancock Explorer Post 38.

"Your enthusiasm for your job and toward the community did not go unnoticed," Murphy read from the certificate the town presented to Ruppenkamp.

The town's four council members thanked Ruppenkamp for his service and wished him luck with his new job.

"I miss Hancock very much," Ruppenkamp said.

"I hated to make the move ... Thank you for the opportunity to work within the community."

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