An Open Letter to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

To Sheriff Scott Adams, the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, and those seeking to lead it next:

As Sheriff Scott Adams prepares to step down after three terms in office, the future direction of the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office is now a matter of public consequence. His endorsed successor, Todd Creek, has publicly stated that Sheriff Adams “did a great job” and that he would not change anything if elected.

If that is the case, then the record of the past ten years must be examined in full—and answered for.

Cecil County News has reviewed source materials, internal accounts, and documented incident summaries that collectively raise serious and specific concerns about leadership decisions, internal discipline, and the handling of misconduct within the agency. These matters are not theoretical—they involve identifiable patterns of behavior, documented incidents, and decisions made at the highest levels of command.

We present the following not as conclusions, but as questions that demand clear, public answers:

1. Hostile Work Environment and Promotion Despite Findings

A current Lieutenant, identified in source material as Mike Zack, is reportedly the subject of an active hostile work environment investigation. This follows a prior completed investigation in which he was found responsible for creating a toxic and retaliatory workplace environment severe enough to contribute to the early retirement of a supervisor.

Rather than resulting in meaningful disciplinary action or removal from leadership, that finding was followed by promotion.

This raises a fundamental question of command philosophy:
What message does it send to rank-and-file deputies and civilian staff when substantiated misconduct—particularly conduct that drives out experienced personnel—is followed not by accountability, but advancement?

If this pattern is accurate, it suggests either a tolerance for such behavior or a failure of internal disciplinary mechanisms.

2. Political Maneuvering in the Selection of Leadership

Source accounts indicate that Todd Creek’s candidacy for Sheriff did not emerge organically, but rather after internal discussions and shifting political calculations. Specifically, it is alleged that he acknowledged being asked to run only after negative publicity affected the originally preferred candidate, Mike Zack.

Additionally, another potential candidate, Steve Brownhill, reportedly declined to run due to a projected pay decrease—while simultaneously being positioned to receive a pay increase under a Creek administration as second-in-command.

Taken together, these details suggest a coordinated internal effort to shape succession—not through open competition or public vetting, but through strategic positioning.

The public deserves to know:
Was the leadership transition process influenced by internal alliances and financial incentives rather than merit and transparency?

3. Deputies Arrested for Misconduct and Abuse of Authority

Two separate deputy cases outlined in the source material point to serious lapses in conduct:

• In one case, a deputy was arrested following a hostile work environment complaint involving sexual harassment. Despite the seriousness of the allegation, the deputy reportedly remained assigned to the same shift as the complainant for several days after the complaint surfaced. He was later charged with misconduct in office and served prison time related to coercive and threatening behavior tied to a personal relationship.
• In another case, a deputy had already raised concerns among local businesses, reportedly being informally banned from establishments such as Walmart and Wawa after female employees described his behavior as inappropriate and unsettling. He was later charged with misusing law enforcement databases to obtain personal information about women, including former partners and individuals he was pursuing.

These are not minor infractions—they involve abuse of authority, misuse of sensitive systems, and behavior that undermines public trust.

What safeguards were in place to detect and prevent this misconduct earlier?
And why were warning signs—such as informal bans from businesses—not escalated into formal review sooner?

4. Alleged Cover-Up of an Off-Duty Intoxicated Crash

One of the more serious allegations involves a deputy who reportedly crashed his personal vehicle while intoxicated in Harford County, fled the scene with assistance from family members, and was later identified by responding officers.

According to the source material, the incident was “quietly buried,” with no apparent public accountability. Even more concerning, the deputy was later assigned to Internal Affairs—the very division tasked with ensuring integrity and investigating misconduct within the agency.

If accurate, this sequence presents a profound conflict of interest.

How can the public trust Internal Affairs investigations if individuals with unresolved or concealed misconduct are placed in positions of oversight?

5. Intoxicated Patrol Crash and Lost Evidence

Another case involves a deputy who allegedly crashed a patrol vehicle while intoxicated and left the scene. When located, he was still intoxicated, yet instead of immediate testing, he was encouraged to seek medical treatment—delaying alcohol and drug testing.

Following the incident, his off-duty driving privileges were revoked but later reinstated. Subsequently, in-car camera footage reportedly captured him driving recklessly with his children in the vehicle—speeding, nearly leaving the roadway, and striking a sign multiple times.

That footage, once circulated internally, is now described as “difficult to locate.”

This raises serious evidentiary concerns:
Was critical video evidence lost, misplaced, or intentionally made inaccessible?

6. COVID Policy Disparities and Operational Integrity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheriff Adams reportedly authorized broad work-from-home arrangements for much of the law enforcement bureau—excluding patrol deputies—while some civilian staff were paid despite lacking secure access to necessary systems.

There are also accounts of detectives publicly posting about engaging in personal activities, such as yardwork, during work hours.

When normal operations resumed, concerns raised by personnel were reportedly dismissed as being “in the past.”

This is not simply about fairness—it is about operational readiness, accountability, and whether taxpayer-funded time was used appropriately.

7. K9 Use-of-Force Incident and Command Override

A K9 handler reportedly allowed his dog to bite a suspect who was already complying with commands—a serious use-of-force concern. Command staff initially responded by removing the deputy from the unit and retiring the K9, citing a loss of trust in the handler’s judgment.

However, the following day, after a direct appeal to Sheriff Adams, that decision was reversed. The handler was reinstated, despite prior command objections, and the dog was later retrained for bite work under the supervision of a personal associate of the deputy.

This sequence raises concerns about whether disciplinary decisions are subject to consistent standards—or personal intervention.

A Direct Request for Transparency

In light of these documented concerns, Cecil County News formally requests that the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office provide clear, public answers to the following:

1. What disciplinary or corrective actions were taken in each of these cases?
2. Were any of these matters referred to independent or external investigative bodies?
3. What safeguards exist today to prevent similar incidents from occurring?
4. How does the agency ensure that Internal Affairs remains free of conflicts of interest?
5. On what basis should the public accept that “nothing needs to change”?

The citizens of Cecil County deserve more than assurances—they deserve transparency, accountability, and evidence that their law enforcement agency operates under consistent and enforceable standards.

If the current administration stands by its record, then it should have no hesitation in addressing these questions directly.

Cecil County News invites a formal response and will publish it in full.

Respectfully,
Cecil County News

The post An Open Letter to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office: A Call for Transparency and Accountability appeared first on Cecil County News.

A voicemail left on May 19, 2023, at approximately 11:31 a.m. has prompted serious concerns after it allegedly captured a private conversation among several county law enforcement officials.
* Click on the image above to play audio

According to the recipient of the voicemail, who has asked to remain anonymous, due to possible and/or very likely retribution, the recording resulted from an apparent accidental call placed by Lt. Joseph Wilson that went to voicemail. The message allegedly contains a conversation involving Lt. Michael Zack, Sgt. Fran Wallace, Cpl. Jeremy Strohecker, and Lt. Wilson.

In the recording, the individuals (Mainly Mike Zack and Fran Wallace) are allegedly heard making explicit and degrading remarks about County Executive Danielle Hornberger, including statements that implied their intentions of sexual violence. The conversation reportedly turns to Wayne Tome, longtime Paramedic and firefighter in the county, and derogatory comments involving all firehouses and firefighters as well as Mr. Tome, who was at the time the county’s Director of Emergency Services. 

The existence of the voicemail has raised questions about professional conduct, workplace culture, and potential abuse of authority. No official statement has yet been released by the county, the CCSO, or the individuals named regarding the recording or its contents.

As of this report, it is unclear whether an internal and/or external investigation has been initiated.

The post Voicemail Raises Serious Allegations Involving County Officials appeared first on Cecil County News.

Elkton, MD – July 23, 2025 – The Cecil County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and the public are hereby informed that all charges against Sergeant Brian Soler, previously accused of theft, have been dismissed by the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office via a “nolle prosequi” decision on July 22, 2025, one day prior to the scheduled pre-trial hearing. Evidence uncovered during discovery has fully exonerated Sgt. Soler, revealing not only that he did not engage in any unauthorized leave or overtime as alleged, but that he is, in fact, owed over $2,500 in unpaid compensation by the CCSO.

The allegations against Sgt. Soler stemmed from an internal complaint lodged on June 4, 2024, by Lt. Michael Zack, a fellow supervisor, claiming Soler failed to report to work without proper leave. This complaint triggered a criminal investigation, authorized by Sheriff Scott Adams, despite the absence of sufficient evidence to warrant such action over a standard administrative review. Discovery documents reveal that the investigation, led by Lt. Zack, was incomplete and contained discrepancies, with the reported amount of alleged theft not aligning with the evidence presented.

Further investigation has uncovered that Lt. Zack’s actions may have been motivated by retribution. Prior to the complaint, Sgt. Soler was ordered to conduct an internal investigation into Lt. Zack two years prior, finding credible claims of Zack’s retribution against fellow officers and other behavioral issues. In response, Lt. Zack initiated the criminal complaint against Soler, seemingly as an act of retaliation. Despite the option to pursue an administrative inquiry, the CCSO opted for a criminal investigation, which lacked the necessary evidence to substantiate the charges.

Sgt. Soler, a dedicated and exemplary officer, refused to accept a plea deal, steadfast in his innocence. The false accusations led to severe consequences, including the loss of his job, public defamation through media coverage, and significant emotional and financial strain on his health and family. Despite these challenges, Sgt. Soler has shown resilience by starting a new venture, **The Turd Burglar**, a septic business serving the Cecil County community. We encourage the community to continue supporting the blue by backing Soler’s new endeavor as he moves forward from a law enforcement career that ended abruptly due to nefarious actions within the Sheriff’s Department.

Sgt. Soler’s legal team and supporters commend the State’s Attorney’s Office for dismissing the baseless charges and call for a review of the CCSO’s investigative practices to prevent similar injustices. Soler remains committed to restoring his reputation and serving his community with integrity through his new business.

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