Gnegy says office should have ‘personal presence’

Jeffrey Alderton
Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — If elected as sheriff of Garrett County, Republican candidate Larry E. Gnegy would “maintain a personal presence in the community.”

A retired captain who served more than 27 years with the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office following five years as an Oakland City Police officer, Gnegy is a former criminal and narcotics investigator and jail administrator who worked in every aspect of the sheriff’s office operation. Following retirement in July 2007, Gnegy worked as a security consultant for several months at Garrett College prior to being appointed as a special police officer in Garrett County District Court where he currently serves as a bailiff.

“The sheriff is elected by the people to serve the people. The best way to do that is to maintain a personal presence in the county and to keep contact with the people in the county,” said Gnegy, who ran for sheriff in Garrett County in 2006. He said he lost the primary election by 15 votes and failed in his bid as a write-in candidate in the general election by 133 votes.

“The personal contact is something that has not been done enough in the last several terms, and it’s something we need to get back to,” he said. He also invited citizens to visit his website, www.larrygnegy.com

“We want the public to know who we are, what we are and what we can do, and make their choice for the next sheriff,” he said. If elected, Gnegy said he would name George “Butch” Zimmerman as his chief deputy. Zimmerman is a retired Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police officer with 26 years’ service and a native of Garrett County.

Gnegy also said he would work to improve the sheriff’s office relationship with Maryland State Police and allied law enforcement agencies.

The Garrett Bureau of Investigation is a “good idea” that worked much better when Maryland state troopers from McHenry worked in the unit, he said. “They had a high rate of closure of cases,” he said, indicating he would continue the GBI operation with the help of state police.

“We have some work to do in re-establishing relationships with Maryland State Police and all allied law enforcement agencies.”

He said he wants to improve morale of the officers in the sheriff’s office. “Taking care of the officers is a priority and that will help improve morale.” He said he would also look at scheduling of officers and attempt to obtain grant funds that would help improve officers’ compensation.

Gnegy also said he sees a need for improvement in media relations. “We would like the media to be an advocate rather than an adversary,” he said. Publicizing most wanted fugitives in local newspapers is another idea that Gnegy would like to implement.

If elected, he would seek to establish a fire police unit as part of the sheriff’s office, similar to Allegany County’s Fire Police, if there is enough interest in the idea.

“I think it would be a great asset to assist fire departments, traffic accident scenes and emergency situations,” said Gnegy.

As for any new hires in the office, Gnegy said he would “prefer looking for officers who are local residents who are looking for a career in law enforcement.” At the same time, Gnegy complimented the men and women who work in the sheriff’s office, calling it a “great department.”

“If elected, I will get in there and evaluate the whole program. I’m sure there are things that we can do to work things better,” he said.

Concerning the jail, Gnegy said the office will “have to work with what we have.” He also welcomed some improvements currently being made at the detention center in Oakland.

Gnegy would also like to establish an inmate work program in connection with the State Highway Administration. He said such a program existed in the past in the sheriff’s office and was successful.

Gnegy worked for six sheriffs during his career. He was hired by Sheriff John “June” Evans, who was succeeded by Frank Finch, Van Evans, Randy Sines, Dick Sanders and current sheriff Gary Berkebile, who is not seeking re-election.

Gnegy resides in Loch Lynn with his wife, Jerry.

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