Cape Charles Police Chief and Town Planner Retiring in 2013

Police Chief 'Sambo' Brown

Police Chief ‘Sambo’ Brown
(Photo: Harry Gerwien)

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo

CAPE CHARLES WAVE

February 7, 2013

Two long-time Town of Cape Charles employees are planning to retire by the end of the year.

Town Planner Tom Bonadeo has announced that he will retire as of November 1, and will take accumulated vacation time for about a month before that, making his last day of work around October 1.

Police Chief Charles ‘Sambo’ Brown has made no formal retirement announcement, but Mayor Dora Sullivan told the Wave yesterday that the Chief also plans to retire around the end of the year.

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According to a timeline contained in information about Town Council’s annual retreat this Friday, the Town will advertise for a new Planner beginning July 1.

The timeline envisions that a new Planner will be chosen quickly and begin work August 1, creating a two-month transition overlap.

Asked if the 30-day window to advertise, interview, hire, and have the new Planner begin work indicated that the Town already had a candidate in mind, Mayor Sullivan replied “absolutely not.” She said that no one had yet even expressed interest in the job.

The mayor stressed, however, that candidates would be “lining up” for both the Planner and Police Chief positions.

According to the Town website, a hiring freeze remains in effect for all staff positions.

Brown, previously a police officer for the Town, was promoted to Chief in July 2009 following the resignation of David Eder. Before becoming Chief, Brown was a member of Town Council.

Town Planner Bonadeo began working for the Town as an IT consultant after purchasing property here in the late 1990s.

 

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3 Responses to “Cape Charles Police Chief and Town Planner Retiring in 2013”

  1. Jim Blanchard on February 8th, 2013 9:31 am

    Both of these men will leave big shoes to fill. The police presence is Cape Charles is visible every time I roll into town (under the posted speed limit of course). As a part-time resident it’s comforting knowing that the streets are being patrolled the way they are. Our town is safer because of the strong police presence.

    As our Town Planner, Tom has played a key role in supporting projects that have been transformative for Cape Charles including the park renovations, beach replenishment, and water treatment plant upgrades, among many others.

    As my neighbor, Tom has saved me more times than I can count by lending me tools, help and wisdom on numerous projects we’ve taken on at our home on Monroe. Tom has saved me a trip across the bridge on a Saturday afternoon countless times.

    Both of these men should be applauded for the work they’ve done to make Cape Charles a better place.

  2. David Gay on February 8th, 2013 10:49 am

    Jim – I agree. Tom and Sambo have been strong supporters of the community and major players in the transformation of Cape Charles. Both of these men have shown that they care about our town and have invested their personal time and energy beyond what is normally required in their jobs to make a positive difference. I wish them well in their retirement and look forward to their continued support of Cape Charles as private citizens.

  3. Bruce Lindeman on February 9th, 2013 8:21 am

    A term you don’t hear much these days is “civil servant”. My dad worked for the state pretty much his entire career and was proud that he was just what that term implied: someone who served the people for the better good.

    I think of both Tom and Sambo in that light. Gentleman who gave back to our community for the better good. My Sambo story…

    About 5 years ago I had parked Fred, my pick-up, down on Bay Avenue on Memorial Day weekend. I think it was a Saturday. I had the usual too-much-to-carry beach stuff loading Fred down. I saw a spot and parked. There weren’t any others close by.

    After a fun day with friends and family down on the beach, I went back to Fred with a load of beach stuff only to find a ticket on my windshield. I had unknowingly parked in front of a handicapped sidewalk access.

    The next morning I found myself in front of the house talking to Sambo and another officer, when I mentioned my parking ticket. Sambo asked, “That was you? Why’d you park there?” I told him that there was no other parking available, I honestly didn’t realize I was parking illegally and that it was totally my fault. He said, “Well, tear it up and don’t park there next time.” And, he did so with a smile as he drove away. My kind of guy.

    Happy retirement, gents!