BERLIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF POLICE CHIEF ARNOLD DOWNING AFTER TRANSFORMATIVE THREE DECADE CAREER

BERLIN, Md. – The Town of Berlin announced the upcoming retirement of Chief of Police Arnold Downing, marking the end of a career that reshaped the Berlin Police Department across more than thirty years. Downing joined the department in 1991, moved into… The post BERLIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF POLICE CHIEF ARNOLD DOWNING AFTER TRANSFORMATIVE THREE DECADE CAREER appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.

BERLIN, Md. – The Town of Berlin announced the upcoming retirement of Chief of Police Arnold Downing, marking the end of a career that reshaped the Berlin Police Department across more than thirty years. Downing joined the department in 1991, moved into the role of acting chief in 2000, and was appointed chief in 2002. He became the first African American administrator and the first African American chief in the department’s history.
During his tenure, the agency expanded into a modern, multi-unit department with a broad range of specialized capabilities. In its announcement, the town highlighted the development of a SWAT team that completed more than fifty missions and assisted during the 2015 Baltimore riots. The agency added traffic reconstruction, five K9 units, a drone unit, a defensive tactics instruction team, and a firearms training group. Town officials also noted the growth of officer support programs through peer wellness initiatives, participation in the Law Enforcement Officer Pension System, the Take Home Car Program, and new incentive based pay options tied to technical roles, investigative assignments, and shift demands. Infrastructure also advanced during Downing’s administration. The opening of the new Berlin Police Station in 2018 offered updated facilities and long term support for the department’s growth. The town described the project as a major step forward in public safety operations.
Beyond departmental operations, Downing spent much of his career focused on child and family advocacy across Worcester County. The town’s announcement cited his work helping establish the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center, which later received national accreditation, and his leadership roles with Lower Shore CASA and Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services. He also held roles on statewide and regional boards tied to law enforcement standards, municipal leadership, criminal justice education, and local investigations.
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall underscored the impact of Downing’s tenure, saying, “Chief Arnold Downing has dedicated his career to protecting and uplifting the people of Berlin. His commitment to community centered policing, officer wellness, youth advocacy, and public safety has left a lasting mark on our town. We are a stronger, safer, and more connected community because of his leadership. On behalf of the Town of Berlin, I want to express our deepest appreciation for Chief Downing’s decades of service and his unwavering dedication to our citizens and officers. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”

Photo: Town of Berlin, Maryland Facebook Page

The post BERLIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF POLICE CHIEF ARNOLD DOWNING AFTER TRANSFORMATIVE THREE DECADE CAREER appeared first on TV Delmarva Channel 33.