Cruisers

The collision of two Berkeley County cruisers that were responding to back up a third officer around 1:30 a.m. Sunday is being investigated, according to a news release from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department. “Both officers and K-9 were checked and released,” according to the news release. Preliminary findings indicate the lead cruiser tried to “turn around” on a possible suspect vehicle in the 9000 block of Winchester Avenue and the second cruiser went to pass, then the cruisers collided, police said.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County Sheriff Everett "Ed" Boober said he wants to have video cameras installed in 12 of the department's cruisers to aid officers in their work. Last Thursday, Boober asked the Jefferson County Commission to approve a $40,000 contract to install the cameras in the cruisers. Under the deal, Boober said the company providing the equipment would install the cameras now but the county would not have to pay for them for another year.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office was selected by the Girl Scout Council of Nation's Capital, Troop No. 40733, to receive 95 hand-made blankets, which will be carried by patrol deputies for use and distribution during times of crisis. These blankets are primarily intended for use as a comfort aid to children involved in domestic violence incidents, vehicle accidents or other traumatic events. They may also be useful when dealing with vulnerable adults, such as people with Alzheimer's and dementia, who require police assistance.

City cracks down on cruisers Photo: RIC DUGAN / staff photographer Hagerstown City Police cracked down on cruisers Friday evening, citing 16 people for violating the city's cruising ordinance. Officers charged 13 adults and three minors. The no-cruising area includes part of Dual Highway and East Franklin Street between Cleveland Avenue and North Potomac Street, North Potomac Street from East Franklin Street to East Washington Street and part of East Washington Street and the Dual Highway from North Potomac Street to Cleveland Avenue, police said.

It was about 10 o'clock Friday night and the nighttime sky above Dual Highway in Hagerstown burned brightly with the lights from fast food restaurants and other establishments that line the road. It's the closest thing Hagerstown has to the Las Vegas Strip, and for hundreds of teens it's a mecca, drawing from all over the Tri-State area. By 10:15 p.m., there was a palpable chill in the air. But that hardly deters the Dual Highway cruisers, who on most weekend nights remain long after the McDonald's, Burger King and other businesses close for the night.

By CLYDE FORD Staff Writer, Charles Town CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Thanks to some fancy dealing the Charles Town Police Department is wheeling around in two additional cruisers. The police department traded a pair of obsolete radios to the Loudoun County, Va., Sheriff's Department for two used cruisers. "They're wheeling and dealing and keeping this place alive by doing this kind of thing," said Police Chief Mike Aldridge. The sheriff's department puts cruisers out of service after they have more than 100,000 miles, he said.

andrear@herald-mail.com The Cruisers will sail into Hagerstown on Friday, Aug. 1, for a concert that's sure to rock City Park. "We keep things pretty upbeat," says Chief Musician John L. Fisher, leader of the five-person rock ensemble. The newest specialty unit of the U.S. Navy Band, based in Washington, D.C., the Cruisers takes its name from the versatile class of Navy ships. The group is slated to perform at 7 p.m. at the Peter Buys band shell in City Park. "I've heard nothing but great things about them.

Rock to the beat of the Cruisers The U.S. Navy's rock band, the Cruisers, will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at City Park band shell in Hagerstown. The concert is free. The Cruisers feature five of the Navy's most dynamic performers. Under the direction of vocalist, chief musician John L. Fisher, the Cruisers rock ensemble is the newest specialty unit of the U.S. Navy Band. The group takes its name from the Navy's multi-missioned ship, the cruiser. The ensemble will play classic rock, rhythm and blues, and today's top 40 hits.

Hagerstown police officers to begin ticketing cruisers Motorists seen cruising in downtown Hagerstown will be ticketed beginning today, according to Hagerstown City Police Chief Arthur Smith. Smith said signs warning people against cruising will be up by today and officers will be on the lookout. Cruising is prohibited along East Franklin and East Washington streets between Potomac Street and Cleveland Avenue from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cruising is defined as driving past a point in the designated area three or more times during a two-hour period.

charlestown@herald-mail.com CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County Sheriff Everett "Ed" Boober could not generate support Thursday from the Jefferson County Commission to buy video cameras for the department's cruisers. Boober asked the commission last week to approve a $40,000 contract to install the video cameras. Boober said having video cameras inside cruisers serves a number of benefits, such as accurately documenting the actions of deputies in case a complaint is ever made against them.

Last year, fifth-grader Hannah Hearn and some of her classmates washed fire trucks; this year it was police cruisers. Hannah, 11, was one of nearly 300 Faith Christian Academy prekindergarten to 12th grade students taking part in their school's annual Labors of Love community-service project. Teams of students were sent to 48 work sites Friday morning in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia, and Washington County in Maryland. Their tasks ranged from simple landscape projects like raking, weeding and planting flowers to house-cleaning chores, pet care, roadway trash pickup, trail building, painting, washing windows and emergency vehicles and singing to nursing-home residents.

Two former Washington Township, Pa., police cruisers will be given to local fire departments for their use. The Washington Township Supervisors on Monday declared three old cruisers “surplus property” for disposal. They recently had graphics added to four cruisers to bolster their fleet. The Waynesboro and Blue Ridge fire departments will each receive a car. The third one will be sold via a bidding process, Township Manager Mike Christopher said.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office was selected by the Girl Scout Council of Nation's Capital, Troop No. 40733, to receive 95 hand-made blankets, which will be carried by patrol deputies for use and distribution during times of crisis. These blankets are primarily intended for use as a comfort aid to children involved in domestic violence incidents, vehicle accidents or other traumatic events. They may also be useful when dealing with vulnerable adults, such as people with Alzheimer's and dementia, who require police assistance.

The Washington Township (Pa.) Supervisors have purchased four 2011 Ford Crown Victoria cars to use as police cruisers, saying they wanted to buy the cars while they're still being produced. Township officials say they've been told 2011 is the final model year for the Crown Victoria, a car that is used throughout the Washington Township Police Department fleet. For $99,936, the township recently purchased four Crown Victorias from Day Ford of Monroeville, Pa. The supervisors budget money each year for cruiser replacement.

The collision of two Berkeley County cruisers that were responding to back up a third officer around 1:30 a.m. Sunday is being investigated, according to a news release from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department. “Both officers and K-9 were checked and released,” according to the news release. Preliminary findings indicate the lead cruiser tried to “turn around” on a possible suspect vehicle in the 9000 block of Winchester Avenue and the second cruiser went to pass, then the cruisers collided, police said.

A Hagerstown police cruiser was heavily damaged in a two-vehicle accident Saturday night. Capt. Mark Holtzman said the cruiser was traveling west on Dual Highway at about 10 p.m. when it was struck by an eastbound vehicle that was making a left turn onto Cleveland Avenue. "There was extensive damage," Holtzman said. "It might be a total loss. " The driver of the cruiser, Officer Chuck Johnson, was responding to a nonemergency call, Holtzman said. Johnson was taken to Meritus Medical Center east of Hagerstown as a precaution Holtzman said that the driver of the other vehicle, Kelly M. Valentine, 19, of Hagerstown, was not injured.

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association will host the U.S. Navy Cruisers as part of its annual Red, White and Blue Concert Series, on Tuesday, June 21, at 6:30 p.m. in HCC's Alumni Amphitheater. The U.S. Navy Cruisers is an eight-member contemporary music ensemble under the leadership of drummer Chief Musician Leon Alexander. The Cruisers take their name from the Navy's multimission ship, the Cruiser, and perform a variety of music, including classic rock, rhythm and blues, oldies from the 1950s and '60s, Motown favorites, as well as today's top-40 hits.

HAGERSTOWN -- One man was shot three times and another broke his leg fleeing the scene of a shooting Saturday morning in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Robinwood Court, according to police. Robert Earl Mitchell, 22, of 165 S. Potomac St., and Christopher Lee, 21, of 1900 Abbey Lane, were taken to Washington County Hospital after the 3:12 a.m. shooting, Washington County Sheriff Douglas Mullendore said Saturday afternoon. Mullendore pointed to cars in the parking lot damaged by the gunfire and said two firearms, one of them a handgun, were recovered.

The Hagerstown Community College Alumni Association will host the U.S. Navy Cruisers as part of its annual Red, White and Blue Concert Series on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 4:30 p.m., at HCC's Alumni Amphitheater. The group is an eight-member contemporary music ensemble under the direction of drummer musician 1st Class Leon Alexander. The Cruisers take their name from the Navy's multi-mission ship, the Cruiser, and perform a variety of music including classic rock, rhythm and blues, oldies from the 1950s and 1960s, Motown favorites, as well as today's Top 40 hits.

WILLIAMSPORT -- A Martinsburg, W.Va., woman was taken to the hospital Wednesday after the car she was driving collided with a Washington County Sheriff's Department cruiser near Williamsport, a sheriff's office press release said. Karen Deanne Tucker, age and address unavailable, was taken to Washington County Hospital for treatment of her injuries, the release said. A hospital spokeswoman said Thursday morning that Tucker was not listed as a patient. Tucker pulled into the path of the cruiser at about 8 p.m. as she merged onto U.S. 11 from Interstate 81, the release said.