wjz-13 1057-the-fan 1300logo2_67x35
Wonderful Wedding Bells Are Ringing: Upload & View Photos Of Wonderful Weddings!

Local

Leopold Denies Reports Of Leadership Crisis In Anne Arundel Co.; Praises Police & Fire Chiefs

View Comments
john leopold
Mike Hellgren 370x278

Reporting Mike Hellgren

Popular Entertainment Photo Galleries

Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records

Best Celebrity Baby BumpsBest Celebrity Baby Bumps

The Biggest Nerds In Pop CultureThe Biggest Nerds In Pop Culture

Celeb Hotties With Great LipsCeleb Hotties With Great Lips

Stars With Tax ProblemsStars With Tax Problems

» More Photo Galleries

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)– Is there a leadership crisis in Anne Arundel County? One week after County Executive John Leopold’s indictment on misconduct in office, union leaders want him out. Now, he’s responding.

Mike Hellgren has the new reaction.

Leopold says there is no crisis. Far from it, he praised his police and fire chiefs but union leaders say they are at their breaking points.

Firefighter and police unions in Anne Arundel County overwhelmingly voted they have no confidence in their leadership days after the scathing misconduct indictment against County Executive John Leopold.

And some citizens are fed up too after the state prosecutor’s lurid allegations that Leopold’s private security detail was driving him to sexual encounters, and keeping tabs on his lovers and political opponents.

“We have police officers driving this grown man around. What a waste of limited resources! It’s an embarrassment, I think, to me as a county resident,” an Anne Arundel County resident said.

But Leopold appears unfazed. His office sent WJZ a picture of him on the job–business as usual after the police and fire chief no-confidence votes. Leopold said: “Chief Ray and Chief Teare have done an excellent job of maintaining public safety despite fiscal challenges, and they will continue to do so with the understanding that the County must live within its means.”

And the county executive does have his supporters.

“I think he should be given his day in court,” another Anne Arundel County resident said. “They want him to resign. It’s a lot of petty stuff that’s going on because they didn’t get their increases.”

The rhetoric from union heads is harsh.

“He is a failed leader of Anne Arundel County,” said Craig Oldershaw, president of Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters. “It is time for him to step aside.”

But Leopold says he has no intention of stepping down.

“I’m very confident when all the relevant facts are known, that we will prevail,” he said.

Legal experts tell WJZ that fighting an indictment like this can be emotionally-draining, distracting and time-consuming. But there is precedence for staying in office which is exactly what former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon did.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has told WJZ it is investigating whether Leopold broke Maryland laws against spying by allegedly asking police to keep files on opponents.

View Comments
  • true

    He needs to step down. But before he does needs to name the other corrupt officals who allow these actions to occure for so long

  • Curt

    Ok all the years in office he has done a great job the blame should be on anne Arundel county. There is a lot of waste watch how many workers it’s takes to. A one persons job shame on you AA county do away with the. Police detail. Dont blame the message taker

  • oscar

    This clown looks like a walking hard on with ears.

blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

Follow CBS Baltimore

TV Schedule

Full Program Grid
7:00 PM CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
7:30 PM Entertainment Tonight
8:00 PM The American Baking Competition
9:00 PM Criminal Minds
10:00 PM CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
11:00 PM Eyewitness News at 11
11:35 PM Late Show with David Letterman

Poll Of The Day

Select a Live Stream