[Scan-DC] Ike Leggett - Security Detail Frequency?

[ltbrown122 at aol.com]

Hello All,

See below 2 articles talking about Ike Leggett, County Executive for Montgomery County, Md. He reports that he has 4 body guards in his security detail (information coming out due to budget crunch) however I have never seen anything posted on here or radio reference about any comms for that detail. 

Anyone have any additional info on what they might use for communications?




Leggett's Bodyguard Budget Is Source of Controversy
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/718243.html

ROCKVILLE, Md. - While counties everywhere are slashing budgets, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett is keeping four bodyguards on staff, and that's stirring up controversy over county cuts and officials' safety.
County Executive Ike Leggett's budget is $4.3 billion. He is proposed the biggest spending reduction in 40 years, including eliminating pay increases, and 10-day furloughs for all non-essential county workers. But his proposal to keep a staff of bodyguards within that budget has some questioning whether it's a luxury or necessity.

"It's spending taxpayer money at a time we don't have money for a $360,000 perk for the county executive," said Walter Bader, chief negotiator for the Fraternal Order of Police.

County Executive Ike Leggett told ABC 7 News a small number of county employees upset over not getting a pay raise are trying to make this an issue. 

At a town hall meeting, one member of the security detail watched over Leggett, who actually drove himself. He says this is the norm. 

"They don't guard me 24-7 it is only on occasion and just for special events...I think what you have is a few people upset because we are not providing pay raises," stated Leggett. 

Leggett's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 includes money, once again, for his four bodyguards, at $90,000 a piece.

"I am a little bit surprised that a county executive requires four bodyguards," said Yohanca Delgado, who works in Montgomery County.

Bruce Deppa, a Montgomery County resident, said, "I don't think there's any justification for Ike to have four bodyguards..."

The FOP leader says it's overkill, and irresponsible at a time when county police officers are taking paycuts to help with a massive budget shortfall.

People who live and work in the county are divided.

"If he's been receiving threats, I can understand him wanting to have body guards so I feel that's probably justified," said Frank Alfonso, who works in the county

"If he doesn't say exactly what he's being threatened for and who's threatening him, I think he's hiding something," said Arlette Ngimbi, a Gaithersburg resident.

The county council president is sympathetic to Leggett's concerns.  "We all receive threats," says Nancy Floreen. She adds council members don't have bodyguards, but additional cameras have been added around their offices.

Ike Leggett says threats have been leveled against him but would not elaborate for safety reasons. He adds that he and his security detail will be furloughed along with other county employees.

Floreen says the council will review all of Leggett's budget proposals, including his security team, before the final budget is due in May.
 
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett Defends His Security Detail

http://www.wusa9.com/rss/local_article.aspx?storyid=98862
ROCKVILLE, Md. (WUSA) -- Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett says his office has "probably mitigated costs more so than the rest of county government."
Leggett was responding to stepped up criticism of spending on his four-member security team.  The bodyguards are former police officers who earn as much as $90,000 each in salary and benefits.
"The security detail he has is simply a chauffeur service," complains Walt Bader, the negotiator for Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, the labor organization representing police officers in the county.
The criticism comes as the county prepares for 10-day furloughs and as many as 230 job cuts.
Leggett says he would rather not have security, but it has been recommended by his police department.
As examples of budget cutting in his office, Leggett says he has trimmed spending by 20-percent, he will not take a pay raise,  and he will take 10 furlough days along with his security team.
Sources close to the county executive say there have been threats in the past, and ironically, the need for security increases as officials make difficult and emotional decisions about job cuts.
Written by Scott Broom
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com


Joe Bradley
(240) 793-2431