Anne Arundel County Police officers can now work part-time jobs at restaurants and bingo halls in the county.
The County Council on Tuesday passed a bill 6-0 that removes an ethics violation prohibiting police officers from secondary employment at certain places where they have special policing powers.
Secondary employment “aides in reducing crime and the fear of crime by adding a presence,” County Police Chief Col. James Teare told the council.
Councilman Daryl Jones, D-District 1, recused himself because his business holds a liquor license and could be subject to the bill.
The council?s decision bucks an ethics commission report that said secondary employment violates state ethics laws. The commission testified before the council against the bill.
“Adding special caveats to the law spells disaster for the law,” said commission chairman Christopher Rizek.
The council thanked the commission for its work, but was not swayed.
The council also voted down a bill that would have modified the county?s sign law and severely restricted the use of electric message boards.
Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4, said knew his bill would fail; only he and co-sponsor Councilman Josh Cohen, D-District 6, voted for it.
Benoit and Councilwoman Cathy Vitale, R-District 5 ? both lawyers ? spent 45 minutes arguing the legality and wording of the bill.
The council also approved:
- Money for FluMist for public elementary school students and funding for bus service in west county;
- A requirement that developers hold public meetings for developments within five miles of the site; and
- A requirement that the county Board of Education provide updates to the council on the progress of African-American students closing the achievement gap.
