Hagerstown Police Department (Maryland)

The Hagerstown Police Department is a full-service, 24/7 law enforcement agency serving a population of 43,527 (US Census Estimate 2020) in 12.56 sqmi within the municipality of Hagerstown, Maryland, county seat of Washington County. Hagerstown closely borders Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia.

History
On May 24, 1824 the council created the modern Hagerstown Police Department.

There have been six line-of-duty deaths within the HPD.
 * Officer Charles E. Gall, EOW October 10, 1866
 * Officer Murphy E. Flory, EOW June 26, 1901
 * Officer John C. Middlekauff, EOW August 17, 1914
 * Chief of Police George W. Fridinger, EOW February 28, 1918
 * Officer Lynwood N. Vewcomer, EOW June 3, 1951
 * Officer Donald Ralph Kline, EOW December 13, 1975

HPD has had a total of 23 Chiefs of Police since 1867


 * 1867 - unknown .... William Freaner
 * 1882 - 1893 .... D. Williamson
 * 1893 - 1909 .... John E. Benner/Alexander John E. Benner (one source has Benner retiring in 1900.)
 * 1912 - 1918 .... George W. Fridinger
 * 1918 - 1931 .... Thomas H. Barber
 * 1931 - 1933 .... J.J. Cassidy
 * 1933 - 1937 .... Clarence G. Emmert
 * 1937 - 1940 .... Carl H. McCleary
 * 1940 - 1943 .... William H. Peters
 * 1943 - 1946 .... Max M. Rickard
 * 1946 - 1956 .... Jesse Bailey Brown
 * 1958 - 1966 .... Blair P. Overton
 * 1966 - 1968 .... Harold Kisner (Acting)
 * 1968 - 1968 .... Grayson Wigfield (Acting)
 * 1968 - 1972 .... Grayson F. Doarnberger
 * 1972 - 1986 .... Clinton E. Mowen
 * 1986 - 1993 .... Paul L. Wood
 * 1993 - 1994 .... Robert I. Hart (Acting)
 * 1994 - 1999 .... Dale J. Jones
 * 1999 - 2000 .... Robert I. Hart (Acting)
 * 2000 - 2012 .... Arthur Smith (Charles Summers, Acting while Smith was in Afghanistan.)
 * 2012 - 2015 .... Mark Holtzman
 * 2015 - 2016 .... Paul Kifer (Acting)
 * 2016 - 2018 .... Victor Brito
 * 2018 - Present .... Paul Kifer

Organization
Captain Paul “Joey” Kifer is Hagerstown's current Chief of Police.

The current headquarters of HPD is 50 N Burhans Blvd, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Before being renovated for law enforcement use, the building was the Western Maryland Railway Passenger Station.