He should lose his job over this, and why the heck did the cops go along with it?
A Maryland lawmaker has apologized for using a police boat and helicopter to create a diversion so he could surprise his girlfriend with a marriage proposal.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld told reporters Tuesday that Delegate Jon Cardin also offered to pay expenses from the incident.
The department is investigating. Officials don’t know yet how much Cardin’s proposal cost the department.
Sigh…
The guy did a romantic thing. And the cops, who often have to deal with society at its worst, took the opportunity to take part in something sweet and hopeful and optimistic.
Tell the cops to not do it again. Let the guy pay for the costs associated with his gesture. And let it slide.
We all need stories like this every now and then…
J.
(Good lord, I just defended a Maryland Democrat. I feel like I need a shower or something…)
Abuse of power is abuse of power. What bothers me most is not the act itself, in this case, but that he apparently didn’t think there was anything wrong with using police resources in that manner. Legislators do enough damage with the powers they’re supposed to have; they don’t need to branch out.
Err…I agree…um, geesh…with…ah, Mr….uh…Mr. Tea.
There. I said it.
Buzz, I can’t argue the facts with you. I’m just overwhelmed by my inner romantic, and feel the compulsion to be a “compassionate conservative.”
Guess I’m just a bit of a softie sometimes…
J.
First time’s the most painful, Quaker.
It gets easier.
J.
More reason why kids of politicians shouldn’t become politicians themselves. They act like they’re entitled to this crap.
Well I don’t want to string the guy up or anything, but he should be censured and I certainly wouldn’t vote to reelect him if I was in his district.
Serious lapse in judgement. Public resources are not there for personal use. Shouldn’t there be some check in the system that allows a bureaucrat to push back on demands like this?
That has to be one of the stupidest marriage proposal ideas ever. If that is his idea of romantic, his girlfriend might want to reconsider.
He’s a Democrat, iron. You gotta grade this stuff on a scale.
J.
Girls love that kind of thing. Hopefully for him, she’s worth the career hit he’s going to take and the money he’s going to have to shell out.
My question is: how much of a special effort was required by the police who took part in this?
If they launched a boat and helicopter just for this, well that’s bad.
If they agreed to meet a friend during regular patrols–provided there was no urgent business–what’s the big deal?
He only offered to pay when he got caught, he is just like his dad, get this guy out before he does some serious damage. Time to get a real job Jon. The police who did this should pay for the time and use of the boat and copter also, The city police are running short of funds, this doesn’t help.
If his girlfriend is smart she will get out too.
Well, I think it’s just fabulous that our media has nothing better to do than get screamingly self-righteous over things like this, where people are just acting human, trying to have some spontaneity and enjoyment in life. Next thing, let’s root out nickel-ante card games in firehouses and couples making out on the beach after curfew. Vengeance is ours, sayeth the humourless and frustrated.
Dennis: Girls love that kind of thing.
That, and the new washer/dryer sets they get so they can have more time to make sure hubby’s shirts are properly ironed.
Girls love that kind of thing.
“Girls love that kind of thing”? Whaa???? Did your really type that? Unironically, I mean?
Oh wait, that’s Dennis. He thinks that any girl that wouldn’t love that kind of thing must be some sort of FemiNazi.
Good fucking grief.
What really happened, and what has been reported; 2 different things. He never asked them to “scare” her, just distract, and only to show up while on their patrol IF there was nothing else going on, AND in the area they were supposed to be monitoring anyhow. The helicopter was added by the police, and again, already supposed to be patrolling the area. No added expenses.
I agree with Mr. Tea, in this age of corruption and awful politics, this was just a marriage proposal – and in this age of misreading every little thing out there, he probably should have done it over candlelight, just the two of them.
This is not a lapse in judgment. This is theft of Maryland’s resources at a time Maryland is bankrupt, taxing and spending like crazy. If you’re a Maryland politician, it’s just one of the perks.