New Deputy Sheriff Replaces Veteran In Snow Hill

SNOW HILL - Worcester County Sheriff Charles Martin and members of the police community swore in Deputy Sheriff Doug Dods as Worcester County's new Chief Deputy on Monday, June 18, in the Commissioners Meeting Room of the Worcester County Government Center in Snow Hill. As the new Chief Deputy, Dods is stepping into the post held by retiring Chief Deputy Reggie Mason for 23 years.

Mason served the residents and visitors of Worcester County as a member of the Worcester County Sheriff's Office for 28 years, where he and his K-9, Noble, joined as the office's first K-9 team. In 1984, he was appointed Chief Deputy by then Sheriff Danny McAllister. His appointment to that position was again reconfirmed in 1994 when Sheriff Charles T. Martin was elected to office, making his tenure as Chief Deputy one of the longest in the Maryland's history.

Dods began his law enforcement career in June 1975 as a summer patrolman with the Folly Beach Police Department in South Carolina. In July 1976, Dods joined the Charleston City Police Department in South Carolina as a patrolman, where he went on to be assigned to the Uniform Patrol Traffic Division as a motorcycle Officer specializing in traffic enforcement, motor vehicle collision investigation and traffic flow studies. Dods then turned his sights on a career with the Maryland State Police (MSP). He returned to the Eastern Shore and began his formal training with the MSP on Jan. 8, 1979 as a member of the 79th Trooper Candidate Class.

Following graduation in June of that same year, he was assigned to the Westminster Barrack. He was assigned to the Resident Trooper Program in 1980 with the Manchester Hampstead Patrol. It was during that time that he became part of a program that evolved into today's DARE program.

In 1997, Dods was promoted to First Sergeant, and in 1998 became the Assistant Commander of the MSP Berlin Barrack. Dods was later promoted to Lieutenant and assigned as Commander Berlin Barrack in 2001.

From January 2004 through December 2004, Dods was on active duty for the Army Reserves and then returned to the Berlin Barrack to continue serving as Barrack Commander.

Dods completed his career with the MSP on Jan. 1, 2007.