Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office has a dedicated staff of 94 sworn deputies and 52 civilian personnel who provide judicial protection to the courts, traditional law-enforcement services to the citizen and unprecedented protection to the communities they serve. The agency has developed the Criminal Investigation Division, helped initiate the Wicomico County Narcotic Task Force, began placing deputies in the community substations, at times on bicycle patrol, created a K9 program that would become the model program on the shore and staffed the school resource officer program. This was all in addition to maintaining a patrol force that answered the county's calls 24 hours a day. Wicomico County's current Sheriff, Michael A. Lewis built on the foundation laid by previous Sheriffs. Technology upgrades that included Mobile Data Terminal, In Car Camera Systems and the issuance of patrol rifles enable deputies to enhance their efforts at fighting crime and keeping our county safe. Under Sheriff Lewis, the agency saw increased participation with the Wicomico County Narcotic Task Force and the Maryland State Apprehension Team. A new public safety complex was necessary to properly house this agency. The complex will include offices, meeting rooms, holding cells, storage areas, evidence rooms, weapons rooms, communication equipment and repair garage in a highly secured facility.
About the Speaker: Major Tod Richardson was raised on the family farm on Richardson Road Willards, Maryland. He graduated from Parkside High School in May of 1980 and entered the United States Army the following July. He completed Basic Training and A.I.T. in September of 1981 and gained a Top-Secret Clearance and was assigned to N.S.A. He was stationed at Field Station Augsburg, Augsburg Germany. He was promoted to the Rank of Sergeant at 24 months Service. In 1985, Major Richardson re-enlisted and was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Ayer, Massachusetts. He attended Airborne Jump School and Special Forces Training (Green Beret). At the completion (including 3 recycles) was assigned to a Special Operations Team Alpha as a Communications/Intelligence officer for the team. After multiple deployments in South America assigned to the DEA under the Reagan Administration separated from the Army in October 1988.He was hired by the Town of Vernon in Connecticut, in October of 1988. After completion of the Academy was assigned to the Road Patrol Division in February of 1989. Major Richardson was a K-9 Handler from 1991 to 1993, until leaving CT to return to the Eastern Shore. After returning, he was hired by the Wicomico County Sheriff’s in May of 1994 and returned to Road Patrol Duties. He was promoted Corporal in 1996 and lead the Bike Patrol Division until 1998, promoted to Sergeant 1998 and became a Road Patrol Shift Supervisor and promoted to Lieutenant in 2000. In 2003 Attended the F.B.I. National Academy. Major Richardson has commanded all Divisions within the Sheriff’s Office to include forming and Commanding the Sheriff’s Emergency Response (SERT) until present. He was promoted to Captain in 2011 Commanded both the Field Operations Division and the Special Operations Divisions while serving as the Chief Financial Officer. He was promoted to Major in 2021 and continued as the CFO and was assigned as the Primary Coordinator for the new Public Safety Building.
Required PPE: Hard hat, safety glasses and steel toed boots.
There will be a happy hour at Burnish Beer immediately following the tour.
Address: Northwood Dr Suite E, Salisbury, MD 21801