The Advisory Board of the Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I) is proud to announce that the C3I Unit is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2012. The C3I Unit is comprised of criminal investigators from the Maryland State Police, the Cumberland Police, the Allegany County Sheriff's Office, the Frostburg Police, the Frostburg State University Police, the Allegany County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Support staff includes evidence collection technicians, a polygraph examiner, and secretarial staff.

            The C3I Unit is composed of two separate entities. The first is the C3I Criminal Unit, which is tasked with investigating the majority of the serious, complex, and time consuming cases involving crimes which occur in Allegany County. The former Allegany County Narcotics Task Force, now known as the C3I Narcotics Task Force, became a part of C3I in January 2001, and is the other half of the C3I Unit. The Task Force investigates violations of the controlled dangerous substance laws which occur in Allegany County.

            Since it’s inception in September 1992, the C3I Criminal Unit has investigated over 20,600 cases and made over 6000 arrests. The Unit has successfully closed over 94% of the cases it has investigated.           

            Since it became a part of C3I in 1999, the Narcotics Task Force has investigated over 4000 cases, executed over 680 search warrants, and made over 3100 drug arrests. They have consistently led the State in cases investigated and total arrests.

            In May 2007 the C3I Warrant/Fugitive Unit was formed. Since that time the Warrant/Fugitive Unit has arrested over 1600 wanted subjects.

The Unit is governed by the C3I Advisory Board, which is comprised of the leaders of all the different agencies that make up C3I, including the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, the Chief of the Cumberland Police, the Sheriff of Allegany County, the Chief of the Frostburg Police, the Chief of the Frostburg State University Police, the State’s Attorney for Allegany County, and the Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore Division of the FBI. The Advisory Board determines the objectives and provides direction to achieve the Units long term goals. An Administrative Supervisor and an Operations Supervisor supervise the daily operations of the Unit and the assigned investigators.

            As part of the anniversary celebration, all the members of the C3I Advisory Board will be in attendance on April 25, 2012, at Cumberland City Hall, 57 N. Liberty Street, Cumberland, when the updated agreement which serves as the memorandum of understanding between the involved agencies will be signed.

            The success of the C3I Unit over the past 20 years is a result of the hard work put in by all the different investigators who have been a part of C3I during that time. That, and the commitment that all the agencies involved have made to C3I, along with the support of the citizens of Allegany County, should ensure the C3I Units continued success for years to come.

On December 12, 2011, the Cumberland Barracks received a call from an employee at a nearby hotel concerned about a vehicle outside with keys left in the ignition and several firearms in the back seat.  Responding troopers identified the registered owner of the vehicle and attempted to make contact by telephone, but were unsuccessful. 

Since it was only one mile from the hotel, Senior Trooper Eric Schramm responded to the home of the registered owner, to investigate the status of the vehicle.  Upon his arrival, Senior Trooper Schramm found the front door opened and damaged.

  Without regard for his own safety, Senior Trooper Schramm entered the residence and announced his presence. He was met with a return cry for help from the elderly female home owner who was lying, tied up on the floor.  Her home had been invaded by three masked men several hours earlier. 

The suspects had terrorized the elderly women, pushed her to the floor, tied her hands and feet with zip ties, ransacked the home, and stole approximately 16 long rifles and shotguns, which they used in a subsequent home invasion in Pennsylvania.  Senior Trooper Schramm freed the victim and comforted her until EMS personnel arrived, then reassured her safety after a thorough search of the residence was completed. 

For his investigative initiative that led to the rescue of the elderly victim, the recovery of the firearms and for bringing the suspect’s crime spree to an abrupt end, Trooper First Class Eric S. Schramm is awarded a Superintendent’s Salute.

On November 7, 2006, Trooper First Class Christopher Roy and Trooper First Class James Layton were dispatched to a domestic disturbance with a known firearm involved.   Prior to the troopers arriving, the Allegany County Sheriffs Office, radioed a broadcast for the suspect’s vehicle because the two suspects had apparently left the scene of the dispute. 

On their way to the scene, TFC Roy and TFC Layton observed the suspect vehicle and subsequently conducted a traffic stop.   TFC Layton approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and ordered both occupants to place their hands on the dashboard.  When questioned about the domestic dispute, the female passenger denied any arguing.  Both occupants were then asked to exit the vehicle.

As the driver got out, he walked toward TFC Layton and continued to walk away, as if attempting to flee the scene. TFC Roy grabbed his arm to stop him.  Immediately, the man spun around toward TFC Roy and pointed a gun to his face. 

Fearing for their lives, TFC Roy and TFC Layton drew their agency issued firearms and ordered the man to drop the gun.  He refused and continued to point the gun at the troopers. 

Fearing what the armed man’s next move would be, the troopers discharged their firearms, incapacitating him.  While the man continued to hold on to the handgun, with obvious intention to use it, TFC Roy cautiously approached him and kicked the gun out of the his hands.

For their bravery and quick actions which undoubtedly saved their own lives and potentially the lives of others, Trooper First Class Christopher Roy and Trooper First Class James Layton are awarded Governor’s Citations.