SPD’s Bellomy: Time to Restore Confidence

There’s a new chief in town. Well, an acting chief. In September 2007, Terry Bellomy took over the running of the Shepherdstown Police Department.

Bellomy grew up in Putnam County, W.Va. He has had a long and varied career in law enforcement. He served 12 years in the army and air force. He has worked as a federal officer at Fort Dietrich in Maryland. He also spent six years with the Martinsburg City Police, where he worked in canine training, SWAT team, and field training for officers. In 2006 he joined the Shepherdstown Police Department (SPD). Bellomy also owned and operated the Daily Grind coffee shop in Martinsburg, which he recently sold.

Bellomy is on probation as acting chief for six months, until February 2008. At that time, he and the town will decide whether he will continue as chief of police. Bellomy, 39, lives in Berkeley County. His wife Lori Bellomy works as an accounts supervisor with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Bellomy has two grown children.

Looking Back

When asked about the past problems with the SPD, Bellomy acknowledges that previous police officers in Shepherdstown thought they were above the law. He gave the example of the accusations against Officer Mauk of sexual misconduct. “I absolutely would not tolerate it. There is no room for that in this force. It will not happen again,” he said. He added that if there is a problem with his officers, he will take care of it immediately, “as opposed to dragging it out or not dealing with it,” he said.

Bellomy added that there will be new rules and new policies, and he expects his officers to stick to them. Said Bellomy, “I know that Chief Keller said he would do things, and Chief Cole said he would do things, but if you talk to my staff or talk to the mayor, I think you will find I am putting my money where my mouth is.”

When asked if there would be any disciplinary action against Officer Mauk, who had resigned from his position effective September 15, Bellomy said that there had been none and that the case was now closed. Bellomy said that Mauk was on administrative leave until that time and had turned in all his police equipment.

Former Chief Keller was well known to stand in the doorway of the police station smoking. Bellomy said that in the future, smoking would not be permitted in the police station, nor would it be allowed in police vehicles.

Bellomy did say that the investigation into the money that disappeared from SPD’s custody a few years ago when Peter Wilson was mayor, approximately $7,500, would be reopened “as if it happened yesterday.” He added that the amount was enough to fall under a felony category. Under former Chief Keller, this case of missing money had been effectively closed.

Up until this point, the personnel files of police officers, including the chief, have been kept inside the police station, under the control of the police chief. Bellomy observed that the original files of recently terminated Chief Keller, as well as of recently resigned Officer Mauk, were missing from the Police Department. Mayor Lance Dom said that he had copies of the files for Keller and Mauk, but that these files were less than satisfactory in terms of their content. Bellomy said that in future, the personnel files would be under the control of Town Hall.