By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Dec. 24, 2020) Senior Officer Claude Holland was honored during a small retirement ceremony at Town Hall on William Street in Berlin on Dec. 18 along with the swearing in of Officer Jason Odegaard.

PHOTO COURTESY BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Senior Officer Claude Holland was honored with a proclamation for his service to Berlin during a small retirement ceremony at Town Hall on William Street on Dec. 18.

“It was very humbling,” Holland said. “It was a very emotional day for me as well as my family, I think. I didn’t know that my wife and son were going to be there and that was a surprise. It had actually been in the works for almost half a month, and I can’t believe that nobody slipped up and told me about it.”

Holland officially retires Jan. 1, 2021, but his last workday was Dec. 18.

“My son’s home from Afghanistan and was able to get home for Christmas, so I wanted to spend the last two weeks with him,” he said. “I missed a lot of time when he was growing up because of my job.”

Holland grew up in Somerset County. He joined the Coast Guard after school and served for 21 years.

Then, he went on to have a 30-year police career between the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office and the Berlin Police Department. He worked for the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office from 1990 to 2004.

Holland was hired at the Berlin Police Department as an officer in 2006 then was promoted to patrolman first class before becoming a senior officer.

“Chief Downing was basically the best person I’ve ever worked for,” he said. “He doesn’t get enough credit.”

During his service, Holland organized the town’s annual National Night Out.

“National Night Out was typically on the first Tuesday of August of every year,” he said. “I would actually start working on it around March just to set everything up.”

The event aims to inform Berlin residents about crime prevention and develop community relations with the police.

Holland will continue to do contract work with the Berlin Police Department on voice stress examinations — lie detector tests. He also plans to spend his retirement

PHOTO COURTESY BERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
Jason Odegaard, who recently graduated from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy, was sworn in as an officer of the Berlin Police Department on Dec. 18. Pictured, from left, are Odegaard, Mayor Zackery Tyndall and Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing.

fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with his family.

Within the next few years, he and his wife plan to move south.

Odegaard joins the Berlin Police Department after graduating from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy.

He completed 970 hours of field training to become an officer.

“During the academy, we trained in multiple different scenarios doing everything from mock vehicle pursuits to traffic stops as well as building searches and domestic disputes,” said Odegaard, who is from Snow Hill. “There is an entire two-week period that is dedicated to practical exercises.”

He had his first shift with the department on Wednesday.

Odegaard added that he hopes to make a difference in the community through his service.