Harford County Has New Deputy State's Attorney

From Harford County: State's Attorney Joe Cassilly appointed David Ryden as Deputy State's Attorney on January 3, 2018 replacing Diana Brooks who retired after 31 years of service.

In a ceremony presided over by Judge Angela Eaves of the Circuit Court, Ryden was sworn in before his wife and two daughters, members of the State's Attorney's Office, Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler and his command staff, former Sheriff Joseph Meadows, and Havre de Grace Police Chief Teresa Walter and Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore.

In her remarks, Judge Eaves recalled Ryden's "integrity, and passion for protecting victims of crime, especially the vulnerable" in ascending to the role of Deputy. Cassilly remarked that the role of prosecutors in Harford County is unique in that they consider themselves law enforcement officials first. He added that this is not Ryden's first time with experience in running an office - Ryden was previously appointed by the judges of the 23rd Judicial Circuit in Virginia as Acting Commonwealth's Attorney in 2005 for the City of Salem.

He joined the office as an Assistant State’s Attorney in 2007 and has previously led the Drug and DUI Court programs and served as the assigned Safe Streets Initiative prosecutor targeting the top repeat violent offenders in the county. Most recently, Ryden was a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney who supervised a trial team in the Circuit Court.

Ryden joins fellow Deputy State's Attorney Diane Adkins Tobin in Cassilly's administration.

Photos supplied by Jim Lockard Photography