Berwyn Heights, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Berwyn Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by College Park
to the west, Greenbelt
to the northeast, East Riverdale
to the southwest, and Riverdale Park
to the south.
was the scene of active and continuous development as the population of the city increased and railroad suburbs such as Berwyn Heights, originally Charlton Heights, gradually grew and expanded around it. The O'Dea House
, a home listed on the National Register of Historic Places
is one of the houses erected by the Charlton Heights Improvement Company to spur development of its new community.
from Arizona to Trinity Calvo, the wife of town mayor, Cheye Calvo. A drug-sniffing dog detected the marijuana in the package, and Prince George's County Police Department
intercepted the package. The police department called for help from the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office
SWAT
team, but did not contact the Berwyn Heights Police Department.
On July 29, 2008, a deputy from the sheriff's office took the package to the house and knocked on the door, pretending to be a delivery person. After the package was retrieved and taken inside, the SWAT team entered the house without knocking. The SWAT team shot both of the mayor's dogs, one of which while it was running away. While the package sat unopened in the house, the mayor and his mother-in-law were both handcuffed and questioned.
The police soon determined that the mayor's family was likely the victim of a drug trafficking scheme. Two other individuals were later arrested, accused of shipping drugs to innocent people and intercepting the packages before the packages are taken in to the houses.
The Washington Post
reported that, while the team had a warrant to enter the house, the warrant did not allow entry without knocking. In this case, police would only be allowed to enter without knocking if specific circumstances cause police to believe that evidence would be destroyed or police would be harmed; otherwise entering without knocking would be a violation of Maryland law. According to PG County Police, they entered the dwelling without knocking due to their security being in danger, they were spotted by someone inside the home, as they were surrounding the house.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
is investigating the police raid.
:
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,942 people, 1,022 households, and 713 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,552.9 people per square mile (1,747.6/km²). There were 1,047 housing units at an average density of 1,620.3 per square mile (621.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.79% White, 12.00% African American, 0.54% Native American, 8.57% Asian, 8.23% Hispanic or Latino, 4.38% from other races
, and 2.72% from two or more races of the population.
There were 1,022 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,744, and the median income for a family was $69,013. Males had a median income of $42,525 versus $34,831 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,793. About 0.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
. Berwyn Heights Elementary School is located in Berwyn Heights. Berwyn Heights is served by Berwyn Heights Elementary, Greenbelt Middle School (Greenbelt
), and Parkdale High School (Riverdale Park
).
The town has a police department http://www.berwynheightspd.com, with Patrick Murphy as the Officer in Charge; a public works department, directed by Joseph Coleman; and a code enforcement department, directed by Sonjia Solomon. In 2005, the town became the first municipality in Maryland to establish a Public Safety Taxing District, which was authorized that year by the General Assembly. The district imposes a special tax on businesses to fund the cost of one full time officer and brought the authorized strength of the department to eight officers. Over the past several years, the town has struggled to maintain its full strength due to increased competition for police officers in the region, and due to qualified police officers leaving the department to seek more reasonable positions. The Town has responded in recent years by increasing salaries and is considering joining the Maryland state pension system. At 48.6 cents per $100 per assessed value, Berwyn Heights retains one of the lowest real property tax rates in Prince George's County. The town also benefits from numerous town committees and organizations. The town as of October 2008, has joined a State Retirement Pension, for its employees, and police officers. This was done in order to try to compete and to retain the police officers.
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
to the west, Greenbelt
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
to the northeast, East Riverdale
East Riverdale, Maryland
East Riverdale is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,961 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Riverdale is located at ....
to the southwest, and Riverdale Park
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
to the south.
History
Beginning in the 1870s, the area northeast of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
was the scene of active and continuous development as the population of the city increased and railroad suburbs such as Berwyn Heights, originally Charlton Heights, gradually grew and expanded around it. The O'Dea House
O'Dea House (Berwyn Heights, Maryland)
The O'Dea House, is a historic home located in Berwyn Heights, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The house was built in 1888 from a pattern book design and is a -story frame Queen Anne-style dwelling...
, a home listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
is one of the houses erected by the Charlton Heights Improvement Company to spur development of its new community.
2008 police incident with mayor
In July 2008, package containing 32 pounds of marijuana was shipped by FedExFedEx
FedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
from Arizona to Trinity Calvo, the wife of town mayor, Cheye Calvo. A drug-sniffing dog detected the marijuana in the package, and Prince George's County Police Department
Prince George's County Police Department
The Prince George's County Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States, servicing a population of over 850,000 residents and visitors within 498 square miles of jurisdiction.-History:The Prince George's County Police Department...
intercepted the package. The police department called for help from the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office
Prince George's County Sheriff's Office
The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Upper Marlboro. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of Prince George's County and is elected by popular vote of the...
SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
team, but did not contact the Berwyn Heights Police Department.
On July 29, 2008, a deputy from the sheriff's office took the package to the house and knocked on the door, pretending to be a delivery person. After the package was retrieved and taken inside, the SWAT team entered the house without knocking. The SWAT team shot both of the mayor's dogs, one of which while it was running away. While the package sat unopened in the house, the mayor and his mother-in-law were both handcuffed and questioned.
The police soon determined that the mayor's family was likely the victim of a drug trafficking scheme. Two other individuals were later arrested, accused of shipping drugs to innocent people and intercepting the packages before the packages are taken in to the houses.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
reported that, while the team had a warrant to enter the house, the warrant did not allow entry without knocking. In this case, police would only be allowed to enter without knocking if specific circumstances cause police to believe that evidence would be destroyed or police would be harmed; otherwise entering without knocking would be a violation of Maryland law. According to PG County Police, they entered the dwelling without knocking due to their security being in danger, they were spotted by someone inside the home, as they were surrounding the house.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
is investigating the police raid.
Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in Berwyn Heights identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning CommissionMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
:
| Site Name | Image | Location | M-NCPPC Inventory Number | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berwyn Heights Schoolhouse | 5814 Ruatan Street | 67-022-07 | ||
| 2 | Cissel House | 8911 57th Avenue | 67-022-18 | ||
| 3 | Cross House | 5805 Ruatan Street | 67-022-13 | ||
| 4 | Kleiner House | 5603 Ruatan Street | 67-022-17 | ||
| 5 | O’Dea House O'Dea House (Berwyn Heights, Maryland) The O'Dea House, is a historic home located in Berwyn Heights, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The house was built in 1888 from a pattern book design and is a -story frame Queen Anne-style dwelling... |
 |
5804 Ruatan Street | 67-022-11 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , 1987-06-04 |
| 6 | Pickett House | 8616 57th Avenue | 67-022-16 | ||
| 7 | Sportland | 5933 Natasha Drive | 67-005 | ||
| 8 | Elwood J. Taylor House | 8516 58th Avenue | 67-022-21 | ||
| 9 | Wetherald House | 8411 58th Avenue | 67-022-10 | ||
| 10 | Wolfe House | 5617 Ruatan Street | 67-022-15 |
Geography
Berwyn Heights is located at 38°59′38"N 76°54′44"W (38.993810, -76.912344).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,942 people, 1,022 households, and 713 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,552.9 people per square mile (1,747.6/km²). There were 1,047 housing units at an average density of 1,620.3 per square mile (621.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.79% White, 12.00% African American, 0.54% Native American, 8.57% Asian, 8.23% Hispanic or Latino, 4.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.72% from two or more races of the population.
There were 1,022 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,744, and the median income for a family was $69,013. Males had a median income of $42,525 versus $34,831 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $25,793. About 0.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Berwyn Heights is served by Prince George's County Public SchoolsPrince George's County Public Schools
The Prince George's County Public Schools system is a large school district administered by the government of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education...
. Berwyn Heights Elementary School is located in Berwyn Heights. Berwyn Heights is served by Berwyn Heights Elementary, Greenbelt Middle School (Greenbelt
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
), and Parkdale High School (Riverdale Park
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
).
Government
The current mayor of Berwyn Heights, first elected in 2004, is Cheye M. Calvo. Current council members are Patricia Dennison, Jeffrey Gourley, and Darald Lofgren. The town administrator is Edward J. Murphy.The town has a police department http://www.berwynheightspd.com, with Patrick Murphy as the Officer in Charge; a public works department, directed by Joseph Coleman; and a code enforcement department, directed by Sonjia Solomon. In 2005, the town became the first municipality in Maryland to establish a Public Safety Taxing District, which was authorized that year by the General Assembly. The district imposes a special tax on businesses to fund the cost of one full time officer and brought the authorized strength of the department to eight officers. Over the past several years, the town has struggled to maintain its full strength due to increased competition for police officers in the region, and due to qualified police officers leaving the department to seek more reasonable positions. The Town has responded in recent years by increasing salaries and is considering joining the Maryland state pension system. At 48.6 cents per $100 per assessed value, Berwyn Heights retains one of the lowest real property tax rates in Prince George's County. The town also benefits from numerous town committees and organizations. The town as of October 2008, has joined a State Retirement Pension, for its employees, and police officers. This was done in order to try to compete and to retain the police officers.