A quest for control underlies Carroll lawmakers? decision to create a countywide police force with an appointed chief, critics say.
“It?s all about control; they just seem to be hell-bent on controlling totally what goes on in the county,” said John Stephens, a Westminster resident, echoing the sentiments of many county residents.
But Commissioner Michael Zimmer countered: “I don?t look at it as control. I look at it as having a more thorough accountability process.”
He said a sheriff is held accountable only in elections every four years, but commissioners can make changes in the department whenever residents want.
“Having commissioners involved, you can have more subtle and nuanced adjustments over time,” Zimmer said.
But Tim Brown, an Anne Arundel County police officer and Westminster resident, disagreed.
“If the chief of police is elected by the commissioners, he?s going to do their will instead of doing what?s best for the county,” Brown said.
Commissioners did not hold a public hearing before voting unanimously in October to transition to the county force. The move would reduce the roles of the sheriff?s office and Resident Trooper Program, in which the county pays for state troopers to patrol.
The lack of a public hearing before the vote intensified residents? skepticism and fueled their reluctance to allow commissioners to appoint the head of police.
“What worries me, as a citizen of the county, is how much research has been done that none of us had” access to, said Kevin Fisher, a Westminster resident and former Baltimore County police officer.
Zimmer conceded the county erred in not having a hearing before voting. He said the county was trying to make up for that by holding one next week on the addition to the county code that would create the department.
State lawmakers have raised the possibility of taking the decision to a referendum, which would bypass the commissioners? vote.
Zimmer has mixed feelings about the possible referendum.
“This case is unique because we made a mistake at the beginning, and the question becomes, ?What?s the levy for that?? ” Zimmer said. “And I don?t know.”
Speaking of the countywide force, Steven Powell, chief of staff for the county, said, “Maybe these good intentions weren?t well-executed.”
Powell added that all sheriff?s deputies would be offered jobs on the police force.
Commissioners Julia Gouge and Dean Minnich did not return calls for comment.
