The Montgomery County Council has thwarted County Executive Ike Leggett’s plan to merge the county and park police forces, a decision Leggett says reveals the council’s lack of commitment to saving money. Leggett asked state lawmakers to withdraw legislation that would have given local officials the authority to consolidate the police units after a majority of council members came out against the move. It is the second straight year Leggett has failed to gain enough support for the reorganization.
“It’s an opportunity for savings that the council isn’t taking,” Leggett spokesman Patrick Lacefield said. “People talk about how we need to restructure, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, they resist change. I think they are just looking for a reason not to do it. They’re hearing from [park officials] that the world is going to come to an end if they do it. It’s a simple political calculation.”
Leggett has repeatedly insisted that merging the two forces would save the county roughly $2 million annually with little effect on service at the parks. But council members say the transition has lacked planning, and some have questioned the public safety effect. The Park Police has about 90 officers who patrol one-tenth of county land.
“You can’t just merge stuff with the swipe of a pen,” said Council President Valerie Ervin, D-Silver Spring.
The Park Police serves both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, and officials there have also been resistant to the change.
“We can’t do anything without first understanding the implications of the move to Prince George’s County,” Ervin said. “There were too many holes in this thing that will have implications on our park system. Have Ike and his people even considered these things?”
Amid recent budget struggles, work-force redundancies have become a popular topic in the county. Leggett has endorsed some recommendations from the public but stopped short of calling for the elimination of commissions devoted to women’s and human rights as a citizens group proposed.
“Reorganization is not going to be how the budget crisis is solved,” said Councilman Phil Andrews, D-Gaithersburg/Rockville, attacking Leggett’s plan. “If anything, it would produce small savings. Eighty-two percent of the budget is salaries and benefits. That is where we will need to make substantial changes.”
The county is facing a more than $300 million shortfall next fiscal year, and Leggett will present his budget next month.
