Police chief, officers take on new leadership positions

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2006

Three important members of the Laurel Police Department have enjoyed recognition for their work in recent weeks in taking on new leadership positions.

The Prince George’s County Municipal Chiefs Association elected Laurel Police Chief David Moore to serve as president. For that honor, Laurel Mayor Craig Moe commended Moore on his leadership and expressed confidence in his ability to solve issues facing the county’s municipal police departments.

Moore and Moe also recognized David Crawford, the department’s new deputy chief. Crawford was officially sworn in at the Jan. 9 City Council meeting.

The city also promoted former officer Randy Snearly to the rank of corporal at the same meeting.

‘‘Both David and Randy ... understand that it takes good leadership to get the tasks done,” Moore said. ‘‘These individuals place the good of the department above their own needs.”

Crawford, a 29-year law enforcement veteran who served as a major in the Prince George’s County Police Department, said coming to Laurel in November had been a ‘‘blessing” for him.

Snearly, who already served 18 years in Laurel, also officially took his new position in November.

‘‘I hope to continue serving the city of Laurel for many years,” he said.

Deerfield Run‘Students of the Month’

Deerfield Run Elementary School recognized the following pupils as ‘‘Students of the Month” for December 2005: Ester Iluyomade, Katherine Ortiz, Michael McPherson, Toomey Vo, Calvin Kamara, Isaiah Bishop, Larry Cauley, Cristopher Gonzalez Alvalos, Jessica Cook, Ali Jilani, Jasmine Perez, Burak Baycan, Sidharth Parsana, Darrylena Jackson, Menfry Veliz Orantes, Alijandra Moreno Medina, Meshala Williams, Crystal Williams, Joycemary Amponsem, Joy Ricardo, Syed Jilani, Denzel Johnson, Kareem Crumlin, Horatiu Bican, Erin Francis and Karen Tavarez De Leon.

Nominees namedto military academies

U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th-Md.) of Mechanicsville announced nominations to the four U.S. Service Academies from his congressional district, which includes part of Prince George’s County.

‘‘All of these bright and talented nominees are deserving of the privilege of attending one of our fine military academies,” Hoyer said.

Only a handful of students nationwide are admitted into the academies each year. In addition to teaching the leadership, discipline and communication skills necessary to be an officer in the nation’s military, these academies teach skills that are invaluable in tomorrow’s job market.

The nominees for the class of 2010 from Hoyer’s district are Kant Klingenstein from Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Anna Morrison from Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg and James Stranges from St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel. Any students interested in attending one of the academies can visit Hoyer’s Web site, at www.hoyer.house.gov, for information about the application process.

Army news

The son of a Laurel man has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Army Pvt. Luis De La Cruz spent nine weeks studying the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, and received instruction and training in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

De La Cruz is the son of Luis De La Cruz of Laurel.