COUNTY EXECUTIVE,

COUNCILMEMBERS

TRY AGAIN TO DENY

DISABILITY BENEFITS

FOR DISABLED COUNTY

POLICE OFFICERS

Shameful Attempt Continues;

Washington Post Blacks Out Coverage

(So Far) of January 15 Public Hearing

10 degrees was an appropriate temperature for a public hearing where Montgomery County councilmembers Phil Andrews and Duchy Trachtenberg continued their cold approach to compensation for our county police officers.

As regular readers remember, county officials began this bizarre quest to deny disabled officers retirement benefits a few months back. The public was growing more outraged by the minute about the fiscal disaster our county executive and council had mismanaged their way into. Desperate for a sideshow to divert attention, Ike Leggett and some of the councilmembers invented a "scandal," suggesting that a majority of retiring police officers were defrauding taxpayers by improperly receiving disability benefits.

Other than two high profile cases being investigated at the federal level - and neither of those has yet reached the legal threshold to win a fraud case - not a single shred of evidence has been presented by Mr. Leggett, Mr. Andrews, or Ms. Trachtenberg.

Yet at last Thursday night's hearing, Andrews and Trachtenberg not only weren't apologizing for this shameless smear against Montgomery's finest, but were continuing to make disparaging remarks.

When I arrived at the council building, all nearby street parking was filled with county police cruisers. This impressive display was matched by the crowded hallway and hearing room filled with officers, many in uniform.

Those of us testifying in support of our county police were limited to just 3 minutes. Then councilmembers not only babbled on and on themselves, but also chose to only call upon the speakers who supported their attempt to deny disability benefits to retiring disabled officers.

Councilmember Valerie Ervin tried to suggest I did not know that the executive negotiates with the unions, not the council. I knew that, and did not suggest otherwise in my speech - but of course, as a citizen I am not allowed to rebut the endless jabbering of our councilmembers. In fact, my speech was correct - the executive reaches the agreement, BUT, the council MUST approve the agreement by appropriating the funds. So it is Ms. Ervin who needs a civics lesson, not me.

In short, the council "signed" these labor agreements and is trying to get out of this and other union deals for political reasons.

The attempt to deny benefits to disabled police officers is a new low in Montgomery County politics. It is shameful. It is outrageous.

Yet this attack on our officers, who risk their lives each day to protect the citizens of Montgomery County, was not condemned by the remaining councilmembers. Many appear to be hedging their bets. Marc Elrich is on both sides of the issue at once; hardly the hallmark of strong leadership. Other councilmembers had little or nothing to say.

As I said in my speech, after our elected officials are done lashing out at schoolchildren, senior citizens, volunteer firefighters, Upcounty residents, and disabled cops, I shudder to think who else is on their list of scapegoats? Girl Scouts? Puppies?

Maybe you can catch this hearing on Channel 6 when it is replayed.

Don't miss the end - kudos to Gino Renne for saying what others might have liked to all evening. Lashing out at the offending councilmembers. And punching the microphone button off with panache, standing up, putting his coat on, and leaving while exchanging words with Andrews.

Like the rest of us there to support our county police, you had to be passionate about this issue to come out on a brutally cold night like this.

What I found most despicable of all, was the suggestions dropped all evening by Andrews and Trachtenberg. Such as the claim which gave the impression that there is a sizeable number of convicted felons on our police force. Or Trachtenberg's suggestion that officers would not respond to emergencies if this immoral legislation is passed by the council. Such outright false statements are outrageous, out of bounds, and truly disgusting; both councilmembers owe our police officers an immediate apology (at least).

I have no clue how our elected officials can launch such a crusade against the men and women of our police department.

But I and many, many others know one thing for sure: we won't let this happen, and this legislation must and will be defeated. As I always say regarding compensation for our police officers and firefighters: as Dan Marino said in the old glove commercials, you need to "take care of the hands that take care of you."