Chestertown Police Department

08/31/2026

Monday, Aug. 31 is the big day! It is the first official day of the 2026-27 school year. Kent County Public Schools is continuing its traditional of a staggered start for the school year. Starting tomorrow are first through sixth grades and ninth grade. Seventh and eighth grades and grades 10 through 12 will begin Tuesday, Sept. 1. Prekindergarten and kindergarten start Wednesday, Sept. 2. Kent County Middle School and Kent County High School both begin their days with students arriving at 7:25 a.m. and dismissal is at 2:25 p.m. The doors open at the three elementary schools at 8:35 a.m. and dismissal begins at 3:25 p.m. Visit www.kent.k12.md.us for more information.

08/27/2026

Update: The area has been reopened for traffic

The area of Spring Avenue and Calvert Street will be closed from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm today, Thursday 08/27. The intersections of Calvert Street and Mill Street, Spring Avenue at Maple Avenue, Spring Avenue at Park Row will be closed to traffic for an event.

08/21/2026

On Thursday, August 20, 2026 at approximately 4:10 p.m., the Chestertown Police Department, along with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, was called to investigate a shots fired complaint from the 200 block of Edge of Town Drive, Chestertown, MD. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers heard additional shots being fired from a specific residence at that location. Neighbors in the immediate area were notified by law enforcement and Flatland Road in the area of Edge of Town Drive was closed to traffic for precautionary reasons. Law enforcement attempted to make contact with the resident, who was identified as Todd Edward Hughes, a 67 year old White male, but were unsuccessful. Over the course of the next two hours, law enforcement officers heard shots fired multiple times. Additional resources were provided by the Maryland State Police, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, Salisbury Police Department, and Delaware State Police, to include the assistance of a Maryland State Police tactical team and crisis negotiators. With the use of specialized equipment it was determined that the resident was having a medical emergency. The resident peacefully surrendered and was taken into custody without incident at 9:48 p.m. and transported to a local medical facility for evaluation. Once the individual was released from the medical facility, the Chestertown Police Department served criminal charges on the individual, to include for Assault-1st Degree, Assault-2nd Degree, and Reckless Endangerment. Additionally, officers seized approximately 80 fi****ms and a large quantity of ammunition from the residence. Upon being taken for an Initial Appearance at the Kent County District Court Commissioner the individual was committed to the Kent County Detention Center without bond. Also providing support at the scene were the Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Kent County OES – Emergency Medical Services, and Ridgely Volunteer Fire Department.

As mentioned in our previous post, we appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.

08/20/2026

Update at 10pm… one subject is in custody. We are working to reopen the roadway as soon as possible and appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.

We are currently on the scene of a potential barricade situation with multiple shots fired in the 100 block of Flatland Road near Edge of Town Drive. Please avoid the area.

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

As Chief of the Chestertown Police Department, I stand behind our response to the community party held on the 400 block of Calvert Street on 08/15/2026. I believe it is important that some information is clarified:

• The permit for the party was obtained at 3:30pm the day prior to the event
• The organizers specifically requested a timeframe of 3pm-9pm
• The organizers were cooperative and helpful throughout the event
• The event was in no way connected to the Legacy Day weekend celebration put together by Sumner Hall
• An overwhelming majority of the attendees were completely cooperative and respectful
• Many attendees were from outside of Kent County
• The few issues that did occur during the evening involved disruptive juveniles as the party was dispersing

As a result of the cooperation of all involved, only a single adult arrest is pending, which followed a disturbance at High Street and Dixon Drive after the party. Additionally, a disorderly juvenile was arrested after a disturbance in the Calvert Heights Apartment complex around midnight, not directly related to the block party. Hundreds of people, only two arrests, and many positive interactions with the public.

Past events in this area have included violence, unruly crowds, and damage to property. Additionally, similar block parties in nearby Caroline and Dorchester Counties over the past 6 weeks have involved gunfire, during which an individual was struck by a bullet, as were several structures and vehicles.

The weekend had several events previously planned, including the Legacy Day celebration downtown and a smaller gathering in Wilmer Party sponsored by the Kent County Public Library. To ensure the safety and security of everyone over the weekend, and out of an abundance of caution, a plan was developed to obtain the resources that could potentially be necessary, which included a response from the Maryland State Police, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, and Kent County Sheriff's Office. In addition to patrol personnel from MSP, a team from their Special Operations Division/Mobile Field Force was brought in and was on standby throughout the event. That team was staged in a remote location and was not brought in until 30 minutes after the event ended. We did not start walking the streets to gain compliance with dispersal until 45 minutes after the permit expired. No force whatsoever was used to move the crowd. By 10:30pm, nearly everyone had left the area, including the allied police agencies that came to assist.

Not everyone will agree with the way we handled this matter, and that is understandable. At the end of the day, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone in Chestertown, a responsibility that I have taken seriously for the past 5 years. We have worked to build a positive relationship with our entire community and will not take steps in reverse. I welcome public feedback, both positive and negative.

As always, I look forward to working together to build a stronger and safer Chestertown and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to lead your police department.

Respectfully,

Ronald M. Dixon
Chief of Police

08/13/2026

We can do better than this…

08/11/2026

Please consider coming out to support two very important causes!

08/08/2026

Another great day celebrating the athletes of Special Olympics Maryland!

Special Olympics, Kent County, Maryland
Maryland Natural Resources Police
Kent County Sheriff's Office
Washington College Campus Police