Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold, who has moved to cut spending in his first two weeks in office, plans to continue using a police security detail that costs at least $125,000 a year and that drew criticism during the fall campaign.
Leopold, a former state delegate known for knocking on thousands of doors and waving campaign signs from the sides of county roads, took a skeptical stance during the fall campaign toward keeping a security detail that cost an estimated $1 million during the eight-year tenure of Democrat Janet S. Owens.
But after taking office, Leopold said he was persuaded by the outgoing police chief, P. Thomas Shanahan, and the incoming chief, James Teare Sr., to continue using police officers to drive him and provide protection.
"Frankly, I have wrestled with it," Leopold said, but he ultimately deferred to the judgment of his police commanders.
"I have an obligation to the citizens of the county to follow the advice of the experts," Leopold said. "It's no longer about what John Leopold wants. It's what the police say County Executive Leopold should do."
Leopold's decision illustrates the debate over what level of security is required for public officials in the post-9/11 world, and whether some county executives in Maryland require more police protection than most U.S. senators and representatives.
"It's an excess for the county executive to have continued coverage," said Tom Angelis, a former sergeant in the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington and a Republican who has run twice for Anne Arundel county executive. "We need to put people back on the street."
Security experts and police officials say with such details, officials can be relocated quickly to respond to disasters, such as a terrorist attack.
"It's a trend throughout the country," said Gerald A. Cavis, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who is a security consultant and instructor. "It's the recommended way to go to ensure the continuity of government."
Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George's are among the suburban counties that provide security for their executives. Baltimore's mayor and Maryland's governor have long had round-the-clock police protection.
Baltimore County spokeswoman Ellen Kobler declined to discuss specifics about the security detail of County Executive James T. Smith Jr. Montgomery County provides a security detail for new County Executive Isiah Leggett through its homeland security department, county spokeswoman Donna Bigler said.
