Jeff Wood was sworn in earlier this month as Ouray's new police chief after 25 years with the Charles County Sheriff's Office in Maryland. Wood said he was drawn to Ouray by the high quality of life, low crime rate and citizens' friendliness toward law enforcement. Plaindealer photo by Mike Wiggins
Feature, News
New cop on the beat: Meet Chief Wood
As a commanding officer for a sheriff’s office staffed by 300 sworn deputies just outside the Washington, D.C., beltway, there was too much opportunity for Jeff Wood to experience the worst in people.
It’s part of a vicious cycle for law enforcement officers in high-crime, urban areas, who can present a steely front because of the types of delinquency and people they encounter day in and day out, who in turn can be distrustful of those in positions of authority because they’re standoff-is...