I don't like that this is happening, but it's necessary.
So an armed member of HoCo's finest is attending County Council public meetings now, as reported in this article. It's an appropriate move given the times.
I don't buy the argument that having a police officer there is going to intimidate someone to the extent that they don't attend a Council hearing about something they care passionately about. Uniformed, armed police have been known to attend many a Council hearing as observers or if I recall correctly, participants. (Of course they're off duty.) So what's the big deal about having an on-duty cop around?
Unfortunately there are way too many nutballs out there who are ill-tempered and just goofy enough to do something foolish. If that, God forbid, were ever to happen at a Council meeting at least there would be help nearby. And yes, I know the police station is right next door. I mean immediate help.
No one's saying that Howard County's going to become the next site of some freak taking shots at public servants. But it's a possibility to be aware of and to take steps towards preventing.
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