Officers will be assigned to the security detail during their normal shifts and the move will not require overtime, Chief Michael Pristoop said Thursday.
"We don't have any reason to believe that there are threats of any sort," Pristoop said, calling the move a precautionary measure. Cohen did not ask for the detail but is deferring to his judgment, the chief said.
The city faces a $12.1 million budget deficit, and Cohen announced last week that there will be about 60 layoffs built into the budget he will unveil to the City Council on WFL Stevensville Monday night.
Pristoop said it's not unusual for mayors or other public officials to have security. County executives have had protective security details for years.
When elected, County Executive John R. Leopold thought about getting rid of his, but the county police chief convinced him it was necessary.
The security detail assigned to Cohen will not affect other public safety efforts in the city, Pristoop said.
He declined to comment on specifics of the detail, but said it would be "modest." It will likely be temporary, but decisions about when it will end have not yet been made, Pristoop said.
Cohen declined to be interviewed regarding the security measures, but issued a written statement Thursday afternoon.
"As a lifelong Annapolitan, I understand how unusual this step appears. I did not request it. But my police chief strongly advised it, and I am deferring to his judgment," he wrote.
Pristoop said he wants the department to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to safety.
In some cases when city businesses have had layoffs, they've informed the police department, Pristoop said. Based on problems officials feel might arise at the business, sometimes police will be in the parking lots as laid-off employees are leaving to make sure no trouble arises.
"We don't know what could create anger," he said.
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Kurt - 2010-03-10 07:56:30
Good Advice for most. However, the trolls are who they are, and they only have one agenda.
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Rick M - Laurel, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Read b4 Write - 2010-03-10 04:21:04
All the idjits out there complaining about OT...
2nd paragraph dum dums:
Officers will be assigned to the security detail during their normal shifts and the move will not require overtime, Chief Michael Pristoop said Thursday.
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Kurt Riefner - Crownsville, Md - Karma: Excellent
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Ugh. - 2010-03-08 14:40:44
Shubbie - "I don't get it . What if the police advised the mayor that for the sack (sic) of his well being (sic) that all downtown bars be required to stay open until 2am, would Josh the ax-man defer to his judgement then too. (sic)"
Exactly. You know thats the next step. Protect the mayor one day, you'll have to keep bars open until 2 am the next. Heck, by next week, he'll make us open all of the East facing windows in our house! Shubbish.
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A K - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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wasteful spending - 2010-03-07 09:11:44
Josh has shown he is a man of hollowness, also know as a hollow man in certain circles. He must NOT allow the police to force him to pay the police money so that he will be protected against pay cuts. Stand up against this type of thuggery Mr. Mayor use your own noggin, not the one you failed to use when you involuntarily dropped-out of St Johns.
Try your best to see the BIG picture mr. Cohen and see that this recent ploy by the police does not fit in with the one you are trying to paint.
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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible
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Pristoop's Comment - 2010-03-07 08:56:11
Pristoop has said it is not unusual for Mayors and other public officials to have security.
Aside from Baltimore, do the other Mayors of Maryland have security? Ocean City, Frederick, Bowie, Gaithersburg?
I agree that these cuts likely need to be made, but I question the police protection. If it does not involve overtime, it HAS to involve less police activity on our streets. We have not had armed officers in patrol cars sitting in front of Mayors' houses before, so where are they coming from?
Jen R--interesting point. Who is the one recommending this? Smith or Pristoop? Was Pristoop told by Smith to do it?
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John Frenaye - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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When I wrote... - 2010-03-06 22:54:56
Protection! I was referring to the violent society we live in today because of our children emulating the bloody shows on TV. Gun violence? etc.etc.
So if anyone missed the point I sincerely hope this will clarify it for you. Grammar etc. was intentional. Oh! How about disgruntled employees... did ya think about that? HUH? No? To busy worried about my english. Get a grip...
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David Cross - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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And if they didn't? - 2010-03-06 10:30:07
In reading some of these comments I have to wonder if the money being spent on the Mayor's security wouldn't be better spent on education... Specifically grammar, typing, etc.
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M Walker - Bowie, MD - Karma: Neutral
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security for the mayor - 2010-03-06 09:33:32
I don't understand all the negativity in the comments about this issue. Mayors, County Executives, etc. all need security. Especially when they are having to make the tough decisions that are necessary as a result of the fiscal irresponsibility of their predecessors.
I applaud the decision to put some reasonable security around the mayor.
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Marc Boensel - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral
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Protection - 2010-03-05 23:22:16
Now a days we have a generation that grew up and the tv was mommy and daddy. Did you see tv last night to know what mommy and daddy are teaching our children?
God Help America.
Josh, do what you have to do. We are with ya.
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David Cross - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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We all With you Mayor - 2010-03-05 16:37:46
Do wath you have to do
bravo Josh
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J L - annapolis, md - Karma: Terrible
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Police rule the Mayor - 2010-03-05 15:26:04
I don't get it . What if the police advised the mayor that for the sack of his well being that all downtown bars be required to stay open until 2am, would Josh the ax-man defer to his judgement then too.
And what if the head of the transportation dept. thought it was in the best interest for a once day shuttle to BWI to continue until all the current riders could make new arrangements, what then ?
And what if someone from the Dept of labor advised Josh not to fire anyone right now because the job market is week ?
Why can not Josh explain anything to us in his own words ?
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Fred Shubbie - annapolis , md - Karma: Terrible
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Mayor - 2010-03-05 14:56:52
If you think there is a problem with someone who because of the layoffs, don't you think they should be fired, not a layoff. You might say no overtime, but this isn't the officers regular duty, so who is covering the gap?
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Virginia Tepper - Arnold, MD - Karma: Neutral
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O.....K..... - 2010-03-05 14:11:09
interesting that yesterday's story stated "I did not request it. But my Chief Admin Officer advised it, and I am deferring to his judgment". Today it reads " I did not request it. But my police chief strongly advised it, and I am deferring to his judgmen:. WOW (To bad the Capital took out that part of yesterday's story)
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Jen Rhoades - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Excellent
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Does this help? - 2010-03-05 12:33:15
"Officers will be assigned to the security detail during their normal shifts and the move will not require overtime, Chief Michael Pristoop said Thursday"
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M reader - , - Karma: Neutral
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Really? - 2010-03-05 11:33:24
How many hours of overtime in a fiscally lean budget are goint be used to protect him for eliminating the positions relying fiscally lean times as an excuse.
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Shane McMahon - Laurel, MD - Karma: Neutral
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