Md. Police Commander Is Indicted, Sources Say (republican corruption)

[diamond14]

Md. Police Commander Is Indicted, Sources Say

By Susan Levine and Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 10, 2003; Page B01


U.S. Attorney Thomas M. DiBiagio plans to announce this morning that a federal grand jury has indicted Maryland State Police Superintendent Edward T. Norris for the alleged misuse of funds while he was Baltimore police chief, sources familiar with the investigation said yesterday.

Norris attracted attention, however, by drawing $159,190 from the account after he became commissioner in 2000, paying tens of thousands of dollars for trips, meals and such gifts as flowers, dress shoes and Baltimore Orioles game tickets. The off-the-books spending was called into question late last year, and Baltimore officials commissioned audits. Ultimately, city officials reduced Norris's severance package by more than $7,600 to cover questionable items.

Dan Poist, spokesman for the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance, which has been at odds with Norris since he took office, said his continued service would be "a distraction to the state police and embarrassment to the governor."

Matthew Crenson, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University, agreed. "Ehrlich (R) came to office promising to change the 'culture of corruption' in Annapolis. This doesn't look like a very promising start," he said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50930-2003Dec9.html

[qanda]

1. This is a BIG story in the Baltimore area.

eom

[goforit]

2. It's the Republican way.....................$tealing is their Motto!!!

When will the Buck stop folks?

[tom_paine]

3. When there is nothing left to steal in the Empire, I'm afraid

and when the Serfs are taught who is Master.

:-(

[Field Of Dreams]

4. Appointing Norris certainly backfired on Ehrlich

Ehrlich, our current Repub Governor, courted Norris away from the Baltimore City Police Dept. The Mayor of Baltimore is Martin O'Malley a young and up-and-coming Dem.

I'm sure O'Malley is enjoying the controversy.

Ehrlich is also trying to ram through appointing a new head for the Baltimore City Dept. of Social Services -- a young guy who has no administrative experience in large agencies.

State law requires that the City mayor approve of the appointee -- O'Malley does not and is now filing a lawsuit.

To make things more fun -- O'Malley will most likely run against Ehrlich for Governor next time around.

[tom7297]

5. Wait a minute

Norris allegedly committed these crimes while Chief of the Baltimore City Police Department after being appointed by Democratic Mayor Martin O'Malley.

I don't think this one can be pinned on Ehrlich or the Repugs

[newyawker99]

6. Hi tom7297!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Field Of Dreams]

8. I'm not pinning it on Ehrlich...

it is unfortunate for Ehrlich that this blew up after he appointed Norris. But that's politics. He couldn't wait to snap Norris away from the city police department, that's for sure. The city is still paying Norris because of his lucrative pension(?) arrangement. I think O'Malley learned a lesson on that one hopefully.

(edit ... oh yeah ... welcome!)

[Frances]

10. If you read the article, you can blame Erhlich

<<Norris's use of the fund already had come under fire when Ehrlich tapped him nearly a year ago to lead the 2,500-member state force. As late as last week, the governor continued to offer his full support.>>

[Frances]

9. I hope that O'Malley wins

he has charisma and is a good guy.

In the last election Ehrlich got the young white guy vote. I hope O'Malley gets it this time.

[diamond14]

7. update from WP - hot hot ....republican sex scandal too !!!!

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) chose a real reTHUGlican thief and sex fanatic to serve the citizens of Maryland, with full knowledge of the crimes...IMO, if Kennedy had been elected, the people would have been better served...let's start a citizens referendum to remove Ehrlich from office...throw this scum out....

----------------------------------------------------------


Md. State Police Superintendent to Step Down
Norris Charged With Spending City Money on Personal Use

By Susan Levine and Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 10, 2003; 2:53 PM


Maryland State Police Superintendent Edward T. Norris resigned today, a day after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of diverting more than $20,000 from a Baltimore police account during his years leading the city force, money he allegedly spent as his own private slush fund for liquor, lingerie and liaisons.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) accepted Norris's resignation today...

The indictment details the use of $20,000 from the fund and asserts much of the money was spent on romantic liaisons with six female companions at private residences and other locations in the Baltimore area, New York and elsewhere. DiBiagio said that Norris used the money to paid for travel and meals for these women and to stock his house with alcohol.

Norris's use of the fund already had come under fire when Ehrlich tapped him nearly a year ago to lead the 2,500-member state force. As late as last week, the governor continued to offer his full support. But Ehrlich also had said he would consider asking Norris to leave his post if he were indicted.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52688-2003Dec10.html

[Insider]

11. he resigned

Norris resigns after federal indictment
Ex-state police superintendent accused of using off-the-books account to finance affairs, buy personal items while head of city department; Former chief of staff also named in case

more:
http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/crime/bal-norris1210,0,7818365.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

evening news lead-in

[Insider]

12. further research

PAY BACK TIME: Former NYPD Commander EDWARD NORRIS, now PC of Baltimore, has agreed to repay the city of Baltimore PD $6,000.00 for "questionable expenses" and "regrets the embarrassment."

more...
http://www.nypdnews.com/rambling1202.html

edit to add:
CP: What I've heard about you -- from other cops -- is that you are a real cop, that you're not the administrative type. And I've also heard from people here that they're very comfortable talking to you about things going on in the department, that you seem to be very open. What is your management style?

EN: I truly, and people say it all the time, I really do try to lead by example. I did not come up through the ranks by working police headquarters or police academy or safe assignments. Unfortunately, a lot of police leaders in the NYPD and around the country get to the top and they have not quite enough field experience that they might need to speak to the field people, the people who actually do this job, the cops, one-on-one look them in the eye and talk about police work and have them know that you know exactly what they do -- all the good stuff they do and all the bad stuff they do.
--snip--
...If people sit down, read the plan -- which is basically just a sound plan for re-organizing the department and holding the police accountable on every level -- crime-fighting, integrity, discipline, training. . . . I don't know how anybody can argue with this.
--snip--
CP: One of the things I noticed in this report was something about "corrupt behavior exists unknown to police management and supervisors." There are certain districts here where you can go into the district parking lots and see 24-, 25-year-old officers driving Mercedes and Lexuses. How is it possible that there isn't some more awareness of that?

EN: One of the questions I asked when I was interviewed for this job, I wanted to know what the integrity situation was here. What were internal-affairs capabilities? How were they doing in the past rooting it out? It seemed like it was not a real proactive, strong internal-affairs unit. I think that's the problem: If you don't look for it, you don't find it.

more...
http://www.citypaper.com/2000-04-19/feature2.html

[diamond14]

13. ehrlich (R) recognized 'family values" right away...stood up for

this criminal...who stole from a CHARITY fund....

and ehrlich knew full well at the time of his appointment...thought he could brush it all under the rug, like other reTHUGlican family-value guys...wonder what was in this for ehrlich...the 'family values' ehrlich who ran a real dirty-tricks campaign against Kennedy...

ehrlich stood up for this crook Norris, all through and up to the indictment...just regular reTHUGlican 'family values', like those of neil bush (resident bush* brother, a married man who openly admitted in a Texas court that he had multiple sex partners in Asia and didn't even know their names)....with more indictments to follow, could it be that ehrlich himself???? !!!

-snip-

Norris, 43, is charged with using the account, which evolved from a Depression-era charity fund, to finance his affairs with several women, pay for stays at luxury out-of-town hotels, and even gifts from Victoria's Secret, Coach and other stores.

Norris and Stendrini caused the city to incur excessive overtime expenses by using police officers to "transport female companions in connection with romantic encounters" with Norris, DiBiagio said. Norris allegedly carried on the encounters in Baltimore and New York with at least six women. Norris also used money from the fund to "stock his house with alcohol," DiBiagio said.

DiBiagio said he was guided by what he called a "simple proposition" in pursuing the case: What message is sent to police officers and the public "if a police commissioner lies, cheats and steals and we look the other way?" More indictments could follow, DiBiagio said.

http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/crime/bal-norris1210,0,7818365.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

[diamond14]

14. LOL....'internal-affairs capabilities"? does that include using

police to deliver loose women to his office, and use of police charity funds to pay the multiple sex partners, buy booze, lingerie, hotels, and gifts.....???

What kind of government operation is that slime ehrlich running for the citizens of Maryland????