By Debra Messick

Retired Cambridge Police Chief Russell Wroten led the force for 30 of his 38 years of service. He not only holds the record for the longest to serve as chief locally, but in the U.S. overall.

On Friday, June 8, Wroten added another noteworthy milestone to his impressive career, as the first inductee to the newly created Cambridge Police Department Hall of Fame.

Surrounded by family, friends, former colleagues, many of whom he hired, and smiling caregivers, Wroten graciously accepted accolades and awards during a ceremony and reception at OakBridge Terrace in Easton, an Acts/Bayleigh Chase assisted living community.

“We would usually do this at a City Council meeting or other public venue,” current Chief Justin Todd said. “But this time we wanted to bring the award to Chief Wroten.”

Todd explained that he and Captain Antoine Patton were the last two officers hired by Chief Wroten.

“At one of our first staff meetings in 2022, after I became chief, we discussed giving Chief Wroten and others who had served the department with such dedication the recognition they deserve,” Todd said. “We decided to start a department Hall of Fame, with Wroten as its first honoree. There are many more deserving who will also be honored in coming years.”

Todd’s current vision is to eventually have a Hall of Fame display set up featuring a glass enclosed display case with pictures of those inducted and plaques engraved with their names at a designated location within the department’s headquarters in the Edward E. Watkins Public Safety Complex at 8 Washington Street.

Along with Todd and Patton, current Cambridge Police Department representatives included Detective Sergeant Christopher Flynn,  Community Liaison Mr. Montre Jenkins, Lt. Robert Ball, and Lt. Greg McRae. Captain Ronald Hinson would have been there, but was busy acquiring the city’s upcoming July 4^th fireworks, to be set off at Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh, Todd said.

OakBridge Terrace engagement coordinator Bernadette Alderson commended CPD for setting up the event. “This was all done by the police department,”  Alderson said, noting that the officers brought a decorated cake and department cloth, along with Chief Wroten’s official service photo, a crystal plaque, balloons and refreshments.

“We were glad to help make this moment happen for Chief Wroten, who is loved here,” she said.

OakBridge Terrace executive director George Clemes shook Wroten’s hand, congratulating him, and thanking him for being part of the community there.

Sam Yockey, whose wife Jane is the OakBridge Terrace receptionist, has returned for his second tour of duty with the Cambridge Police Department. Hired as a dispatcher by Chief Wroten in April 1985, Yockey retired in July 2016, then returned in December 2022 when Chief Todd offered him a position in the records department. “It was like coming home,” Yockey said.

He was glad to be on hand to help celebrate Wroten, who he remembered as a very proactive boss, who knew the work his team did because he’d been out on patrol himself.

“He understood the job, and always had your back,” Yockey said.

Bruce Jones, currently the police chief of Hurlock, was hired by Wroten in 1980, serving with CPD until retiring in 2015.

“To be in a position as chief of police for as long as he was, it’s unheard of,” Jones said. “I don’t think anyone will ever come close to his record again.”

“He was, above all, a very kind person, a people person, who was wise enough to surround himself with very good people,” Jones said.

Now age 83, Wroten has been married to wife Regina (Jeannie), the daughter and granddaughter of watermen from Toddville, for 60 years.

After meeting at the skating rink, Wroten followed her and her father home, and the rest was history, she recalled.

On this day, the couple was joined by daughter and son-in-law Chrissy and Tom Thompson, granddaughter and grandson-in-law Savana and Jonathan Linthicum, and smiling 7-month-old great-granddaughter Arya, who shared several with her great-grandfather.

While expressing gratitude to everyone for the honor, Wroten also mentioned what wonderful care he received from the staff at OakBridge Terrace.

Asked about the secret of his successful career, the chief was characteristically humble, deferring the credit to God. “He gave me the ability to do the job,” Wroten said.