Chief Arnold Downing

Downing: ‘Being a part of a lot of people’s lives has enriched me … When I started this job, I never thought I would have the ability to touch so many people’s lives, and have my life touched in such a way.’

Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Berlin Police Chief of Police Arnold Downing has said he will be stepping down from his post after three decades of service to the Town of Berlin, with an official retirement date of March 1.

“Chief Arnold Downing has dedicated his career to protecting and uplifting the people of Berlin,” said Mayor Zack Tyndall. “His commitment to community-centered policing, officer wellness, youth advocacy, and public safety has left a lasting mark on our town. We are a stronger, safer, and more connected community because of his leadership. On behalf of the Town of Berlin, I want to express our deepest appreciation for Chief Downing’s decades of service and his unwavering dedication to our citizens and officers. We wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”

Downing began his career with the Berlin Police Department (BPD) on Aug. 26, 1991, and was appointed acting chief of police on Feb. 17, 2000. He was officially appointed chief of police on Dec. 1, 2002, becoming both the first African American administrator and the first African American Chief of Police in the department’s history.

Throughout his career, Downing championed the development of specialized units within the BPD. Under his leadership, the department strengthened its operational capacity through SWAT, which assisted with the Baltimore riots in April 2015 and completed more than fifty successful missions.

In addition, during Chief Downing’s tenure, the department added a traffic reconstruction unit, five K9 units, a drone Unit, a Defensive Tactics Instruction Team, a Firearms Training Unit, expanded peer support and wellness initiatives and implemented a speed camera program.

Downing also advocated for enhanced officer benefits, including enrollment in the Law Enforcement Officer Pension System (LEOPS), the Take-Home Car Program, specialized pay for technical and investigative roles, and additional pay incentives such as shift differential, inclement weather pay, special holiday pay, and compensation for fluency in Spanish.

One of the most significant accomplishments during his administration was the opening of the new Berlin Police Station in 2018, a major investment in modernizing public safety infrastructure and preparing the department for future growth.

In addition to his departmental leadership, Downing has been a tireless advocate for vulnerable children and families. He is a founding member of the Worcester County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), formerly known as the C.R.I.C.K.E.T. Center, which has achieved national accreditation and continues to serve as a vital resource for abused and neglected children.

His service with the CAC, including roles as president and vice president, earned him recognition as the 2009 Heroes of Child Protection Community Partner of the Year Award.

He has also served as a board member of the Lower Shore CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and a board member of the Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, including terms as president and treasurer, helping guide key initiatives that support youth and families across the county.

“I’m proud of the advocacy work for abused and neglected children in Worcester County that I have been allowed to assist in accomplishing,” Downing said. “The development of a community policing approach that fostered partnerships and mutual respect was highlighted annually with the Tri-County’s best National Night Out. I am also proud to have assisted with obtaining a crosswalk at US Route 113 and Bay Street and helping to change the light sequence to create a safer intersection.”

During his tenure, Downing served on the Maryland Municipal League Police Executive Police Association Executive Board in leadership roles including President, vice president, secretary, and sergeant-at-arms.

Additionally, he previously served on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors, Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, and Wor-Wic Community College Criminal Justice Program Advisory Committee.

Downing’s distinguished service has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force Award in 1993, the “Charitable Soul” honor from The Dispatch’s Shore Stars Awards in 2012, the Sun Award from Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services in 2014, the Coastal Style Magazine Public Safety Official of the Year Award in 2020, and the Tri-County Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition Worcester County Award in 2023.

Downing has stated that his official retirement will begin March 1, 2026. However, the chief added that his actual last day in the office is yet to be determined.

After more than 30 years with the BPD, Downing maintained that the relationships he formed throughout his career has been an indescribable, rewarding experience.

“Being a part of a lot of people’s lives has enriched me,” he said. “Being somewhere for 34 years, that itself is a great accomplishment. A lot of people work their whole career and go from one place to another. But to be accepted in a community for that long and be supported, that has added so much value. When I started this job, I never thought I would have the ability to touch so many people’s lives, and have my life touched in such a way.”

As for his post-career plans, Downing hopes to kick retirement off with a “reset.”

“After 34 and a half years, I’m going to have to sit still somewhere and reset before I move anywhere else,” he said.