FAQs

Police FAQ

• How can I contact the Frostburg City Police Department?

  In the event of an emergency, please call 911. The police department may be reached directly anytime 24/7 by visiting the police station at 37 Broadway (police entrance on side), by calling 301-689-3000, or by speaking with any on-duty police officer. 

• What hours does the Frostburg City Police Department operate?

  The Frostburg City Police Department operates 365 days per year and is open 24/7 every day. The police lobby is open for walk-in business 24/7 every day of the year. For clerical matters regarding parking, vehicle registration flagging, civil citation payment, or court appearance requests, we recommend calling or visiting during regular business hours. 

• Can I obtain a copy of a police report?

  Yes, with some exceptions. Reports containing juvenile delinquency information, medical information, information about open and active investigations, or information that unduly invades another’s privacy, for example, may be denied for release. 

  In some cases, unavailable portions of reports can be redacted and the rest of the report released; however, the requester is responsible for paying any costs incurred with locating, compiling, redacting, and preparing records for release to the extent permitted by the Maryland Public Information Act. This generally means the requestor will be billed for any time over 2 hours. 

  For reports other than routine reports containing none of the above prohibited information, we recommend consulting with the Office of the Chief of Police prior to requesting a report. 

  There is a flat processing fee of $10 per report for commercial/business requests. Crime victims and involved parties may obtain reports less than twelve (12) pages at no cost.

• How do I obtain a copy of a police report?

  You may request a police report by completing the Public Information Act records request form and submitting it to the front desk at the police department or by completing the records request form on the City website.

• How soon after an incident will the police report be available?

  Officers' reports are generally completed within 48 hours of the incident, and most reports are available for request at that point. Reports of open and active investigations are usually not releasable until the investigation is complete. Motor Vehicle Crash reports may take five days. 

• Can you expedite the process of providing me a copy of a police report?

  Sorry, but no. Maryland State law prohibits the release of certain information. Thus, a review is required by the Office of the Chief of Police and the Office of the City Administrator to ensure content is lawfully released.

• How can I pay a parking ticket?

  Parking tickets issued by the City of Frostburg can be paid in person or by mail. For payment by mail, please send money order or cashier’s check only to Frostburg City Police, 37 Broadway, Frostburg, MD 21532. We recommend calling to speak with clerical staff if the ticket is overdue to confirm the fine and late penalties.

• Can I take a parking ticket to court?

  Yes. You may request a court date by contacting the police department and completing a trial request form. If the ticket was issued in error (for example, if someone obtained valid permission to park where they were or a meter malfunctioned), you may contact the Office of the Chief of Police to request administrative review and voidance. Valid and proper citations will not be voided. They must be paid or taken to court.

• What happens if I do not pay a parking ticket or go to court?

  You will incur a late fee, the fine will double, and you will be unable to renew your license plate registration until payment is made. Accumulation of multiple unpaid parking tickets may result in the vehicle being towed.

• How do I pay a civil citation?

  Civil Citations for City Code violations issued by the City of Frostburg Police Department can be paid in person or by mail. For payment by mail, please send money order or cashier’s check only to Frostburg City Police, 37 Broadway, Frostburg, MD 21532. We recommend calling to speak with clerical staff if the citation is overdue to confirm the fine and late penalties.

  IMPORTANT: If your civil citation does not have a fine amount listed but instead is a “Must Appear” violation, you must appear in court. Failure to do so may result in a warrant being issued for your arrest. Please contact the District Court of Maryland in Allegany County for matters involving required court appearances.

• What happens if I do not pay a civil citation?

  The court may enter a civil judgment against you, similar to if you had been sued and received a default judgment. 

• What are the rules for overnight parking?

  Parking is generally prohibited year round from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. in City parking lots and in the Downtown Frostburg area of Main Street (from Water Street to Bowery Street). Please check the signs in the area to ensure you are parking there lawfully. 

  From December 1 to March 31 each year, winter parking regulations go into effect, during which overnight parking is prohibited from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on various City streets in addition to the Downtown and City lot areas. Please check the posted signs to ensure your vehicle will be parked lawfully.  

   

• Can I pay a speeding or other traffic ticket at the police department?

  No. All speeding and traffic citations in Maryland are paid to the State of Maryland at the District Court of Maryland. Recipients of a ticket must follow the directions from the court and are cautioned to pay close attention to deadlines for paying the fine or requesting a court date. If you do not pay the ticket to the court or request a court date within 30 days, your driver’s license may be suspended. 

   

• What is your policing philosophy?

  We firmly adhere to constitutional, professional, and community-oriented policing. We believe that mutual respect and positive police-community interactions make our City safer and help the City and the Community solve problems together. We think the best quality policing is found in communities where police officers are approachable, familiar to, and work well with the rest of the community. The police department is an integral part of the community, and we work hard to promote a positive and professional representation of City government and to be a public service resource. 

   

• How many officers do you have?

  The Frostburg City Police Department has 17 sworn police officer positions and 4 police communications officer dispatch positions. 

• How many incidents do you handle each year?

  The Frostburg City Police Department handles about 9,000 incidents each year. Some of these are criminal in nature or disturbances, others involve traffic enforcement, directing traffic, and public service functions, like well-being checks. 

• What training do your officers receive?

  Police officers in Maryland are required to have certification from the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to work as a police officer. Maryland has some of the most stringent training requirements of any state, including a required six-month, full-time police academy, followed by a minimum of 18 hours of in-service training each year. Most officers voluntarily go to training beyond the minimum of 18 hours each year.

• Do all officers handle calls for service and incidents?

  Yes, all officers, including the Chief of Police and Command Staff Officers, cover patrol shifts as needed, answer calls for service, and provide policing services as needed. In addition to maintaining good coverage and making it easier for officers to use their leave time as they wish, all officers being out and active in the community makes our department even more a part of the community. The Police Commissioner can often be found in downtown restaurants and community events, along with the Chief of Police, who is out and about in the City daily.

• Do you have specialized units?

  Yes. The department assigns one officer as the full-time School Resource Officer, one officer as the C3I criminal investigations detective, and one officer as the narcotics task force detective, when staffing and work volume permit. The department has one in-house investigator, who also covers shifts and calls as needed. 

  Policing primarily consists of uniformed patrol. Most officers work in uniformed patrol. Uniformed police officers have the closest knowledge of the community, respond to emergencies and crimes in progress, and are easily found and approachable if a community member has a question, needs help, or just wants to talk to an officer. These officers also conduct criminal investigations, follow-up work, and community policing activities, among many other duties.

• How do I apply to be a police officer or police communications officer?

  You must complete and submit a City employment application during an open application period. We advertise on our Facebook page, on the City website, and in the Cumberland Times-News when we are working to fill a vacant position. You may arrange to speak with one of our recruiters anytime by calling 301-689-3000.