HCC Police & Security Officers

HCC Police

__________________________________________________

Eric Byers, Director of Public Safety

ecbyers@hagerstowncc.edu | Office: 240-500-2501 | Cell: 240-675-0619

Chief Eric Byers has 27 years of combined law enforcement experience, having retired from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Byers last assignment at the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office was as the commander of the Narcotics Investigation Section. Chief Byers worked with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies at the Frederick County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area group. Prior to that, Chief Byers was the commander of the Criminal Investigation Section and the Evidence and Property Unit. Chief Byers also served as a team member, team leader, and eventually commander of the FCSO Crisis Negotiation Team. Chief Byers spent most of his career as a criminal investigator for the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Byers started his law enforcement career in 1995 with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. While with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Chief Byers was in the resident deputy program and an agent with the Washington County Narcotics Task Force.

C. Brian Hook, Police Sergeant

cbhook@hagerstowncc.edu | Office: 240-500-2203

Officer Hook has 26 years of law enforcement experience, having retired from the Hagerstown Police Department as a Federally Deputized Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Officer Hooked served as a member of the Washington County Special response Team, K-9 unit and Street Crimes Unit investigator throughout his career. Officer Hook is a certified trainer through the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission as a General Academic Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Taser Instructor and Use of Force Instructor.

Jeff Pepple, Police Officer

jwpepple@hagerstowncc.edu | Office: 240-500-2203

Officer Pepple has 28 years of law enforcement experience, having retired from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy. Officer Pepple served as a School Resource Officer and Courthouse Deputy throughout his career. Officer Pepple is a certified trainer through the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission as a General Academic Instructor.

Michelle Deavers, Police Officer

mddeavers@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2203

Officer Deavers has 26 years of law enforcement experience, having retired from the Hagerstown Police Department as a patrol officer. Officer Deavers served as a School Resource Officer and Street Crimes Unit Investigator throughout her career. Officer Deavers is a certified trainer through the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission as a General Academic Instructor. Officer Deavers serves as a Behavioral Intervention Team Member for the Hagerstown Community College.

Scott Lewis, Police Officer

salewis3@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2203

Officer Lewis has 26 years of law enforcement experience, having retired from the Montgomery County Police Department as a patrol officer. Officer Lewis served as a District Detective and Crisis Intervention Officer throughout his career. Officer Lewis is a certified trainer through the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission as a General Academic Instructor.

Thomas Bartles, Police Officer

tabartles@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2203

Officer T. Bartles served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps as a corporal. After serving in the USMC, Officer Bartler was hired as a police officer with the Hagerstown City Police Department. During his time at HPD, Officer Bartles was a member of the Honor Guard Unit and a SWAT officer with the Washington County Special Response Team for 21yrs. Officer Bartles was a K9 Handler and K9 Coordinator/K9 Trainer for 18yrs. For 20 years, Officer Barltes was a Field Training Officer/Instructor and responsible for training new police officers. Before Retiring, Officer Bartles served 2 years on the HPD Warrant Task Force.

Security Officers

__________________________________________________

Kasey Fagan, Security Officer

klfagan@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2334

Officer Fagan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Studies and Criminology from the University of Maryland. Officer Fagan is pursuing a career in Federal Law Enforcement.

Rodney Kreps, Security Officer

rwkreps@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2334

Officer Kreps is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is a retired Corrections Officer having spent 20 years at the Maryland Correctional Training Center. Officer Kreps retired from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office as a Courthouse Deputy/Special Police Officer after 17 years of service. Officer Kreps worked part time with Frederick Community College, and Montgomery Community College, Rockville Campus.

Eric Leather, Security Officer

ewleather@hagerstowncc.edu | 240-500-2334

Security Officer Leather graduated from Hagerstown Junior College in 1993 with an AA degree in Criminal Justice. He then went on to serve 4 years in the United States Air Force as a firefighter from 1994 to 1998. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, he was hired by the Washington County Sheriff's Office in May of 1998 as a Correctional Officer. Throughout his 27-year career with the Washington County Detention Center, he earned several promotions. Officer Leather worked 9 years as a front-line officer, going from Deputy to Deputy First Class. In 2007, Officer Leather was promoted to the rank of Corporal and then a year later promoted to Sergeant. In 2012, Officer Leather reached the rank of Lieutenant where he spent my last 13 years before retiring in August of 2025.