MONTGOMERY COUNTY

POLICE OFFICERS CLEARED

OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN

TUITION-ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

You won't find this in the Washington Post - the newspaper that falsely accused members of the Montgomery County Police Department of ripping off the taxpayer, simply by taking courses that had been approved by the county government, and outrageously referred to them as "crooked cops" - but the Examiner reported yesterday that Detective Aaron Bailey was not guilty of the trumped-up charges pressed by the county.

Remember I told you that no crime had been committed? Now a judge has said so, as well.

This was only the latest disgraceful episode in which the county executive and council tried to make our county police scapegoats for their own mismanagement of the county's finances.

Last year, they tried to accuse disabled officers of falsely collecting retirement benefits. Every officer was cleared in that case, too, by the Federal government and the Washington Post's own investigation.

According to the Examiner, the county isn't done disrespecting police officers yet; officials are now threatening to "reduce paid leave for officers involved."

Let me get this straight. Ike Leggett and the County Council are going to take away paid leave from police officers who have been cleared of any wrongdoing by a court of law?

It's outrageous.

Support our police officers, and volunteer and career firefighters by electing a councilmember who will restore their raises and COLAs, oppose any attempt to reduce compensation for public safety employees, and - perhaps most importantly - finally restore a sense of respect on the council for these employees and volunteers who risk their lives each day, to protect the citizens of Montgomery County. Elect Robert Dyer!