Good that they are clearing warrants, but it seems that there's a little too much self-promotion involved. I'm thinking that Ron Bateman might be interested in another office.

If they knew the addresses, why not go to the house and pick them up. Answer: probably because that isn't worthy of a blog post in the Baltimore Sun.

I was wondering how much money was wasted making less than 20 arrests. All the logistical planning and everyhting else associated with this stunt. Wouldn't it be more efficient to send out the deputies and make arrests instead of doing publicity stunts and embarrassing the fellow who just forgot to appear in court for a TRAFFIC ticket, I'm sure a telephone call may have initiated a resolution. It's one thing to get hardened criminals off the streets but these arrests were for people with minor infractions. Many that could have been resolved by a phone call or an appearance by the person or their lawyer.

Sheriff Bateman has made a very significant reduction in the number of unserved warrants. He inherited a massive amount of warrants and he has introduced a significant number of initiatives to get them served...the majority of these operations have not gotten any press.
I don't know where Dave H. gets his information about traffic ticket warrants being served...I saw possession of illegal drugs listed for one of the served warrants. I've got a feeling that Dave "forgot" to pay a ticket sometime (and ignored the endless notifications that are mailed afterwards) and got "embarrassed"...i'll bet that he won't forget next time.

The warrants being cleared by these sting operations are ones in which the Sheriff's Office has had no luck in serving in a conventional manner. While the publicity does serve to promote the deeds of the current Sheriff, it also brings in others who have warrants and want to get them taken care of. Warrants have to be cleared (even if it is for a minor offense) and it's the job of the Sheriff's Office to do that any way that works.

To address the two comments posted, the readers need to learn a few facts. First, I have no immediate plans to run for another office. I love my job and have the greatest staff I have ever worked with. News releases like this one is a great way to promote what the men/women in the sheriff's office do, which many people do not know.

Stings have several advantages to them rather than, knocking on the door, which we do every day, with and without success. And oh by the way 16 arrest normally takes 8-16 hours and we did it in 5 hours. Great job deputies. That is do in part of one of the benefits of a sting. It almost ensures that people will be at a certain location. Normally they will look out their door and they'll see an unmarked crown vic out front and two men standing there. It screams cop and many times they don't open the door.

And secondly, a sting set up puts my deputies in a somewhat safer environment, which is very important to me. The person may either by coming to a place to pick up a prize, which is on my turf in a controlled environmnet, or in this case standing on their front porch and vulnerable for arrests.

And as for the cost. I am very frugal with the taxpayers money and we were able to pull this operation and several others in the past and still some more coming with GRANT MONEY. Grant money from the federal gov that is to be used for special crime reducing operations. And since my office is responsible for serving arrest warrants, this money was put to use without touching my dwindling county budget. And remember 16 arrest from the candigram scheme went along with a standard sweep on the same day (grant money) that netted about 40 othe arrests. Oh yeah, and they all weren't traffic warrants either. We served a variety of warrants on V-Day, including locking up a Peeping Tom.

Trying standing by your law enforcement, it's a good thing.

Warrants are down 37%!!!!!!

Sheriff,

Just wanted to say good job. I read the comments and your's and I understand what your saying. I'm not sure why some people are so pessimistic to everything, it sounds like you guys did a good job and were successful. I grew up in AACO only leaving for 3 years while I was staying at college but drove home every weekend. I think AACO is a pretty safe county for the most part and as the world gets worse, the county has seen it's "spats" as well. Overall, the county is much, much better than some of the other counties in MD. Good job and don't let people get to you for being critical, it was a good thing what you guys did.

Quick question for you, I now live in the Crofton area and I've heard reports that gangs seem to be picking up around the area. Have you seen that to be the case as well or is that more blown out of proportion? I'm just curious on your thoughts because I've heard the reports a few months back on this issue but haven't heard anything more on it. Thanks for your time and congrats on the success with the sting.

I am standing, clapping and cheering the A.A. Co. Sheriff's Office as I hear and read more on this excellent piece of police work. These stings are not new by any means, but always prove to be very successful to capture people who are knowingly and willfully defying the laws of the land.
Before any case turns into a warrant for arrest, numerous notices are sent to the defendant giving them a chance to clear the matter, most just ignore these notices. I having been in law enforcement for 42 years know all too well the wasted hours an officer spends tracking down these eluders of justice.

A person knows well in advance that they are involved in some incident that in due time must be resolved. When an officer goes to the person's home, knocks on the door, the person looks out the window and sees a marked or even an unmarked police car and see a officer they just don't answer the door. Constitutional law guarantees all persons against any unreasonable search & seizure, therefore an officer is NOT allowed to break the door down and enter your home on a minor charge.

Well embedded in the laws of this country, there are case laws that allow law enforcement to use trickery and deceit against a defendant.

These stings work out very well for all concerned. The main thing is officer safety, a person thinking they are getting something for FREE is not on the defensive and is not prepared to think to harm the officer.
The defendant is safer as well, because being relaxed they are in custody before they know what happened. WIN, WIN for all....No officers hurt, No defendants hurt.

Congratulations to Sheriff Bateman. Using creative tactics to save money and keep officers safe is something that no one should be complaining about. I'm sure the individuals who posted negative comments on the threat would have felt differently about Sheriff Bateman's "publicity stunt" if the arrests had involved a crime for which they were the victim.

As a law enforcement defensive tactics instructor, I hear complaints from police officers nationwide about high-level administrators who would rather continually expose their officers to unnecessary risk as opposed to take bold steps to accomplish their mission. Sheriff Bateman deserves any incidental praise he receives from this step.