PG County Top Cop Retiring

Aug. 4, 2008

Karen Bune
Victimology Contributor
Officer.com

Chief Melvin High had a tough job in county with significant violence. It’s not an easy job being a police chief under any circumstances in any jurisdiction. Some geographic areas may be tougher than others, and some may present different and, perhaps, more diverse challenges, but the bottom line is that it is a demanding job. If anyone knows that to be true, it is Chief Melvin High of the Prince George’s County Maryland Police Department. High, with 40 years of experience in law enforcement, has been around. He served as former Assistant Chief of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Chief of the Norfolk Virginia Police Department, and for the past 5 years, he has been the Chief in Prince George’s County, Md. Prince George’s County has, historically, been plagued with a high volume of violent crime, controversies about police use of force, and tension with police-community relations. When High entered the scene, he had a number of challenges to confront and he knew, from the start, that he could not please everyone. He had to do what he felt was in the best interest of the department and also the community but, at the same time, realized that no matter what he did there would always be a certain number of individuals, groups, and factions within the community that would be displeased with his actions and, perhaps, the resultant outcomes. Then, too, there would be those who accused him of bowing to political interests and not being the “Teflon†man to run his own independent show. From the outside looking in, it is always much easier for critics to pass judgment—whether fair or unfair—because, oftentimes, they have not walked in the chief’s shoes nor are they privy to the full range of information that he has at hand. In his tenure in Prince George’s County, Chief High has dealt with a multitude of situations from the heart-wrenching and tragic shooting deaths of Corporal Steven Gaughan and, most recently, Corporal Michael Findley to the nationally publicized drag racing incident in which a number of people were killed, and police were criticized for not being more proactive and vigilant in monitoring such activities. Though Chief High has not frequently been lapping up the media limelight and relishing the flashing cameras at a podium, he has consistently strived to reduce crime by engaging in cross borders initiatives with the neighboring Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, and he has also worked with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat gang violence and other violent crime that has plagued the county. Known for being a good listener, Chief High has made himself aware of the community’s concerns and worked diligently-- in a non-ostentatious fashion-- to combat the variety of crime that has victimized the residents of Prince George’s County. Now, after a 5-year stint as the county’s top cop, he has announced his retirement effective August 31, 2008. As residents of the county, colleagues in the criminal justice system, and others bid him farewell, replete with best wishes, may he depart knowing that he did make a difference and that there are those who, in fact, appreciate all that he did.

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