Governor Reopens State Police Barrack In Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Maryland State Police are back in Annapolis. The state police barrack closed in 2008 is open again but not without controversy.

Political reporter Pat Warren has more on the hurdle that had to be cleared.

Like so many other things in Annapolis, the hold up was money.

One of Governor Larry Hogan's first promises to state police was to re-open Barrack J in Annapolis, which was close during the O'Malley administration.

"And quite frankly, I have never heard an explanation why the previous governor closed it. I don't know why. It was a mistake and we're happy to have it back open again," Hogan said.

The barrack, first opened in 1972, closed in 2008---presumably as a budget-cutting measure to offset the state budget deficit and troopers were transferred to Glen Burnie, leaving the capital without a state police headquarters. Sixteen troopers are now reassigned here.

"And I'm hoping by summer we'll be fully operational. At that point, there'll be 33 troopers working here," said Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. William Pallozzi.

It wasn't as simple as turning a key. Governor Hogan says there were politics involved. This is one of his few decisions to spend state money rather than cut it---money some members of the General Assembly wanted to go to school funding.

"So there's some people that didn't want this to happen but we got it done anyway," Hogan said.

It cost $350,000 to get the facility up and running; it will operate around the clock.

The governor has also budgeted for state police to hire 100 additional troopers. Fifty of those troopers are now in training.