Fighting Maryland Crime:  Actions speak louder than words

Tonight, as communities across Maryland celebrate National Night Out, we are reminded that the first duty of any public servant is to keep people safe.

Thanks to bold action by the O’Malley administration—in partnership with our outstanding police force and members of local communities—neighborhoods across Maryland are safer than they’ve been in decades.

Violent crime is at its lowest rate since 1975, and property crime is at its lowest level ever recorded. There is still much work to be done, but the facts are indisputable: Marylanders are safer than they were when Bob Ehrlich left office.

A Record of Reducing Crime - Using the latest technology, Governor O’Malley helped facilitate unprecedented information sharing between state and local governments and law enforcement agencies to help make our communities safer.

He signed tough bi-partisan legislation to protect our children from sexual predators, and fought to take firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.  To keep the brave men and women who risk their lives everyday for their communities safe, Governor O'Malley closed the notoriously dangerous House of Corrections in Jessup and provided our officers with stab-proof vests.

A Plan to Make Maryland Safer- During this campaign, Governor O’Malley has laid out specific proposals to build on his record of success on public safety.

Last week, Governor O’Malley joined Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld, III to announce three public safety grants totaling $7.1 million to help keep Baltimore City residents safe. 

Tomorrow, Governor O’Malley will announce another major public safety initiative in Prince George’s County. O’Malley’s plan with expand the use of innovative public safety technology to help local and state law enforcement reduce vehicle thefts.

Bob Ehrlich: Still Stuck in Fantasy Land - Bob Ehrlich is still stuck in fantasy land when it comes to his public safety record. In a blatant attempt to score political points and deflect attention from his own failures on public safety issues, Ehrlich declared that the dramatic drop in statewide crime in 2009 does not count as “progress.”

Take a look at Ehrlich’s record on public safety, and you can see why he’d be sensitive about the subject.

Ehrlich mismanaged the state DNA database, leaving office with a backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed and 15,000 uncollected DNA samples. Under Bob Ehrlich, attacks on our Correctional Officers went unchecked even as officers worked under violent conditions without the proper equipment. Ehrlich even tried to pay paroled prisoners not to break the law.

No wonder the Baltimore Sun said that Ehrlich was trying to “redefine reality” when it comes to his public safety record.

Rick Abbruzzese