Between 2002 and 2005, Howard County police engaged in three major drug investigations, arresting nearly 100 suspected dealers in Columbia and making a major dent in the county?s drug trade.
Operations Clean Sweep and Mesmerize are the kind of long-term investigations new County Executive Ken Ulman plans to fund by adding about 20 more police officers every year to free up police for these high-end probes while keeping patrol officers in the community, Ulman said Thursday.
“Often times, our police department has been reactive,” he said. “When we have a spree of robberies, we pull together a robbery task force. Chief [William] McMahon and I would like to see more proactive efforts, like the task force that did Clean Sweep.”
Operation Clean Sweep, which ended in 2004, resulted in charges against 37 people and Operation Mesmerize, in 2005, in 52 arrests.
“Because of these specialized units, the chances you will see an officer in your neighborhood decreases,” Ulman said, referring the officers being pulled from the neighborhoods and put on the long-term investigations. “We need more police officers to give us a more visible police department.”
Council Members Courtney Watson, D-District 1; Calvin Ball, D-District 2; Jen Terrasa, D-District 3 and Mary KaySigaty, D-District 4, said they support an increasing the amount of sworn police officers in Howard.
Council Member Greg Fox, R-District 5, said he wanted to meet with McMahon today to discuss how the staffing needs fit into this year?s budget picture.
“As the county grows, we have to make sure we?re growing the resources with it,” Fox said. “But we need to be careful with adding too many new spending initiatives.”
Ulman said he realizes Howard County?s crime rate is noticeably lower than some surrounding counties. In 2006, Howard County police reported four homicides, while neighboring Baltimore County tracked 34 and Anne Arundel County, 26.
“Our statistics are excellent when compared to our neighbors,” Ulman said. “But it?s hard to stay a low-crime community.”
