Talbot County Sheriff's Department

TALBOT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Administration

Major Scott Mergenthaler | Chief Deputy


Smergenthaler@talbotcountymd.gov | 410-829-0957

Major Scott Mergenthaler serves as the senior ranking officer under Sheriff Joe Gamble and directs/oversees all operational and administrative activities in the Office. Major Mergenthaler has 49 years of law enforcement experience in sworn and command positions:

  • After serving 26 years with the Maryland State Police, retired in 1999 as a Lieutenant Commander of the Waterloo Barrack in Howard County.

  • 1999 appointed Chief Deputy of the Howard County Sheriff’s Office, serving 8 years.

  • December 2006 appointed to Talbot County Sheriff’s Office as Commander Administrative Services Division.

  • 2014 appointed by Sheriff Joe Gamble as Chief Deputy of the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office.

Major Mergenthaler is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School, University of North Florida Institute of Police Technology and Management, and the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute.  In addition, he has studied criminal justice at the Community College of Baltimore County and Chesapeake College. Major Mergenthaler is also a member of numerous law enforcement associations throughout the State and Nation.

Captain John Bollinger | Administrative Commander 


Jbollinger@talbotcountymd.gov  | 410-770-8114

Captain John Bollinger is the Administrative Commander.

Captain Bollinger joined the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in March 2007 as a Lieutenant, Commander of the Criminal Investigation Unit. He was promoted to Captain in July 2018 and transferred to the Commander of the Patrol/Operations Division. In July 2019 Captain Bollinger was assigned as the Administrative Commander over seeing rules and regulations, training, civil process services, mandated reporting as required by Maryland Law and recruitment. During the 2021  Maryland Legislative session, many laws were adopted dealing with Police Reform. Captain Bollinger has been tasked with bringing the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in compliance with the new mandates, which has been no easy task. 

Captain Bollinger retired from the Maryland State Police in February 2007 after 27 years of service. He began his career as a road trooper in Charles County before being transferred to the Narcotics Unit working on the eastern shore of Maryland. Captain Bollinger spent the next 18 years working in various investigative divisions, with the last 11 years spent in the statewide homicide unit as the regional commander.

Captain Bollinger recently celebrated his 42nd year in law enforcement, having spent the majority of that time working in and around Talbot County. 

Captain Steve Elliott | Patrol / Operations Commander

Selliott@talbotcountymd.gov | 410-770-8115

Captain Steve Elliott is the Commander of the Patrol / Operations Division which encompasses the road patrol, Circuit Court Deputies, School Resource Officers, D.A.R.E. Officers, Crisis Response Unit (S.W.A.T) and the K-9 Unit.  

Capt. Elliott joined the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in August 2016 as a civilian employee as the first Heroin Coordinator for Talbot County. In July 2018, Steve Elliott was appointed as a Lieutenant, Commander of the Criminal investigations Division. In July 2019 Lt. Elliott was promoted to the rank of Captain over seeing the Patrol/Operations Division. 

Prior to working with the Sheriff’s Office,  Elliott enjoyed a 27 ½ year career with the Maryland State Police, retiring as a Commander in the Criminal Enforcement Division-Eastern Region.

First Sergeant J.R. Dobson | Assistant Patrol/Operations Commander

Jdobson@talbotcountymd.gov | 410-770-8106

First Sergeant J.R. Dobson is the Assistant Patrol/Operations Commander and oversees Deputies assigned to the Patrol Division, School Resource Division, Circuit Court Security Division, Crisis Response Unit (SWAT), and the K-9 Unit.

1/Sgt. Dobson began his career with the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in 2004.  He has risen through the ranks of Deputy First Class, Corporal and Sergeant while spending his entire career thus far in the Patrol Division. He was promoted to his current rank in January of 2019 by Sheriff Joe Gamble.  He is also responsible for managing our Records Management System, along with all other technological advancements that help Deputies with their everyday duties.  He is also a member of the Crash Reconstruction Unit where he became the first Deputy with the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office to be certified in Crash Reconstruction in 2008.  

Lieutenant Steve Hall | Criminal Investigations Commander

SHall@talbotcountymd.gov | 410-770-8112

 Lt. Steve Hall is the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and over sees the detective unit and deputies assigned to the narcotics task force.

Lt. Hall joined the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in February 2018 appointed as a Det./Sgt. assistant Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division. In November 2020 Hall was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant becoming the Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division. 

Lt. Hall retired from the Maryland State Police with 28 year of service. He started his career working road patrol on the Eastern Shore before moving into a criminal investigation assignment at the Easton Barrack. He was assigned to the statewide Homicide Unit for 15 years where he worked in every county in the state as well as Baltimore City.  During his tenure with the Homicide Unit, he served as an investigator, supervisor and commander

 

 

Det./ Sgt. Marlene Gieratltowski| Criminal Investigations

MGieraltowski@talbotcountymd.gov | 410-770-8118

Detective Sergeant (D/Sgt.) Marlene Gieraltowski is the Assistant Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and oversees the detective unit and deputies assigned to the drug task force.

D/Sgt. Gieraltowski began her career with the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office in 2007 and was assigned to the Uniformed Patrol Division until 2012 when she was transferred to Criminal Investigations Division.  In April of 2019, D/Sgt. Gieraltowski was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by Sheriff Gamble and assigned  as a second line supervisor in the Patrol Division. As a supervisor in the Patrol Division, she was responsible for supervising a patrol group consisting of three deputies.  In February 2020, D/ Sgt. Gieraltowski was transferred a second time to the Criminal Investigations Division. While assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, D/Sgt. Gieraltowski was promoted to her current rank of Detective Sergeant by Sheriff Gamble in October 2022. In her current position,  she is responsible for the supervision/management/compliance of all the registered sexual offenders in Talbot County.  She is a member of the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children task force and Talbot County Child Advocacy Center.  She is a certified DARE instructor within the Talbot County Public Schools.  She completes the first line review of agency reports submitted by deputies to ensure completeness and accuracy.  In 2008 she was recognized for her excellence in law enforcement and was awarded  Talbot County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Knights of Columbus.  In 2012, she was again recognized for her leadership and awarded Talbot County Police Officer of the Year and Northeastern District Police Officer of the Year by the American Legion.  In 2021, she was awarded Supervisor of the Year by the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office.