State Law Enforcement Officers Endorse O’Malley/Brown

Call O’Malley Best Candidate to Keep Maryland Families Safe

COLUMBIA, MD (September 6, 2006) – Earlier today, Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown proudly accepted the endorsement the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance (SLEOLA) at a press conference at the O’Malley/Brown campaign headquarters in Howard County.

“I am honored to have earned the endorsement and support of SLEOLA and Maryland’s law enforcement officers,� said Martin O’Malley. “Working together, we will make sure our officers have the training, equipment and resources necessary to improve public safety in every jurisdiction in our State.�

SLEOLA is the official representative for the officers and employees of the Maryland State Law Enforcement Agencies, including the Maryland State Police, the Natural Resources Police, the State Forest and Park Service, the Maryland Department of General Services, and the Maryland State Fire Marshals.

Ed Eicher, SLEOLA President, stated, “When we came together and talked about who we wanted to support in this election, we asked ourselves a basic question – which candidate based on their record and vision will best keep Maryland’s families safe? The choice became real clear real quick. Martin O’Malley is a candidate with a record of working in partnership with law enforcement, and he will work with us to keep Maryland families and communities safe.�

O’Malley and Brown were also joined at the event by Howard County Executive Jim Robey who stated, “In government I have watched as some leaders talk about making us safe, but when it comes time to get the resources that are needed to keep us safe they haven’t always delivered. In fact with the current administration there hasn’t been a spirit of cooperation. That’s why we need to send leaders to Annapolis who will work with our officers, not against them. When Mayor Martin O’Malley was first elected he made fighting crime his number one priority, and he will do so as the next governor of the State of Maryland.�

Going into the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the SLEOLA endorsement today marks the second major endorsement by law enforcement officials of the O’Malley/Brown campaign this week.

On Saturday AFSCME Council 92 Corrections Locals, representing over 4,000 Corrections Officers in the State of Maryland endorsed Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown at an event in Hagerstown, Maryland.

During that event, corrections officers spoke of the need for security upgrades at correctional facilities, adequate staffing levels, the need for protective equipment and competitive wages, including pension benefits that have not been provided under the failed leadership of Bob Ehrlich. Officers also spoke of increased “mandatory� overtime due to staffing shortages that cause many officers to have to work mandatory double shifts, and at times up to 20 hours per day.

Ron Bailey, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 92, who participated in the endorsement stated, “Our corrections officers need a state partner in the Governor’s Office everyday, not just in an election year. Under the Ehrlich Administration, we have endured 3 years of hell. Martin O’Malley and Anthony Brown understand the needs of our officers, and will work with us to make sure we have the staff and the equipment we need to go to work everyday in a safe environment.�

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Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston St., Suite 203 – Baltimore, MD 21202 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218
Authority: Friends of Martin O’Malley, Martin F. Cadogan, Treasurer