Buried in the convoluted discussion that characterizes the Tuesday night College Park City Council meeting was an innovative idea: Use $20,000 from an unexpected county grant to study the feasibility of a city police force. It was a thought that should have had significant discussion devoted to it. Instead, the idea was quickly dismissed by Mayor Stephen Brayman and some other members of the council who seemed intent on making sure the extra green would be used to dot the city with orange traffic cones. The city is now apparently considering giving the idea the attention it deserves, so the mayor and council members should hear this: At least part of the money should be used for a police force study.
The $20,000 came from Prince George’s County, which handed out money to several municipalities to fund homeland security initiatives. The weather radios and generators Brayman and others want to buy with the money are beneficial to getting the city back on its feet as quickly as possible in the event of a terrorist attack. It is difficult to imagine, however, that the traffic cones they are also proposing to fund will keep students and city residents safe. That money would be much better spent on studying a possible city police force. Such a police force would recognize suspicious activity faster and respond to it more quickly than any hodgepodge of police protection the city can drum up to avoid paying for its own department.
The most disturbing thing that came out of Tuesday’s worksession was not the mayor’s and council’s affinity for traffic cones. Instead, it is frightening that the idea, offered by District 3 Councilman Eric Olson, was originally dismissed so quickly. District 2 Councilman Jack Perry even said Olson was “on another planet” and that when Olson starts talking, he stops listening. Mature words indeed. This money (and any money, for that matter) will never be spent responsibly if council members don’t start acting like adults.
When innovative ideas are offered, they deserve to be reviewed, discussed and given attention to determine if they are viable and valuable. Fortunately, city staff members are apparently now reviewing whether a police force study would be an appropriate recipient of the county funds. It seems they are, and therefore, the city needs to dedicate those funds to a police force study. That goal is too worthy and the money too valuable to be squandered by arrogant city leaders.
