From Harford County Sheriff Gahler:
During last year’s election, Aaron Penman was elected as the new Councilman for Harford County District “B.” In light of his successful election and the language in the Harford County Charter excluding Council members from holding employment in the “Government of the State, Harford County or any municipality within Harford County,” Penman separated from the Sheriff’s Office. This separation was only after being informed that he could not stay a member of the Sheriff’s Office and serve as an elected councilman.
Also newly elected last year, Councilman Jacob Bennett, a teacher, challenged this wording in the Charter. In their decision on April 5, 2023, the Maryland Supreme Court made it very clear that Bennett’s employment as a member of Harford County Public Schools is not prohibited as the Public Schools are not a County or State agency.
Sheriff Gahler has awaited the Court’s full written opinion on this case as it relates to Penman’s separation. The written opinion by the Maryland Supreme Court was released on August 30. A thorough review of the opinion by Sheriff Gahler and the Sheriff’s Office’s Legal Affairs Section, makes it clear that Penman received guidance not consistent with the Court’s decision and his premature separation from the Agency was not required as the Sheriff’s Office is also neither a State or County agency.
Sheriff Gahler has also consulted with the Assistant Attorney General assigned to represent Maryland Sheriffs who has also thoroughly reviewed the Court’s Opinion and has advised he sees no legal impediment to the rehiring. Mr. Penman has also had the Court’s decision reviewed by legal counsel and has received the same opinion that considering the Court’s findings, Mr. Penman is not prohibited from returning to the Sheriff’s Office in a sworn position.
“Acting in accordance with the Maryland Supreme Court’s decision, I am pleased to announce the rehiring of Penman rehired effective the beginning of the next pay period at his previous rank of Sergeant. As his separation has only been for 11 months, Penman is eligible for reinstatement as a certified police officer by the Maryland Police Training Commission and remains certified as a polygraph examiner.
The taxpayers of Harford County have invested greatly in Sgt. Penman over the course of his career and returning his experience and skills to the Sheriff’s Office’s ranks is a benefit to public safety in our County.”
Sheriff Gahler
Can’t help but wonder if Gahler would have wanted Penman back to work if he was a member of any other party than Republican.
My guess is NO.
Well, Bennett was allowed to be employed by two governmental entities because he is a Democrat…
You’re not looking hard enough. The letter next to their name says nothing about the tribe they’re in. This Council has shown their tribal party isn’t the same as their political party. And do you think Council members in a historically deep red area would run as anything other than R? Nay. There are plenty of D’s who ran as R’s (and vice versa in deep blue areas), especially when you’re only concerned about being electability and ambition and not actually making change for the people.
Thanks to Councilman Bennett for getting the record correct.
Good to hear Councilman Penman can work the job he has been trained in law in forcement.
I think the Bennet case would be overturned in a Federal Court due to the decision being unconstitutional. The Maryland Supreme Court seems to do that on a routine basis.
There is no federal issue so the federal courts have no role. Md Supreme Court is the final decision.
I’m not sure you’re right on that one, but we can agree to disagree on that.
Actually, after reviewing Article 3, Sections 10 and 11 of the Maryland Constitution, it seems that Penman will be allowed to be employed by HSCO because he isn’t a Senator or a Delegate.
Totally agree. Maryland is out of control. That’s why I moved to Florida.
I don’t know…the persistent use of unconstitutional investigative methods in order to execute bills of pains and penalties on the general public is probably enough to validate that Penman has no place in public office, regardless of party affiliation. He probably shouldn’t be a cop as well. When you war against the Constitution and commit unconstitutional acts over and over, you are no longer a government employee and can never be a government employee again.
This will be VERRRRY interesting to see it played out in the Court cases to come…
I would hope that Sgt. Penman would consider excusing himself from any legislative process that would benefit him directly or personally particularly in a financial way. I think we should give the man the benefit of doubt regarding his ethical performance and not cast preliminary aspersions. I think it is highly inappropriate that some are drawing comparisons between a man who has not committed any known questionable activities regarding his own personal benefit and that self serving “plastic surgery gone bad” bimbo representing San Francisco in Congress. Let’s give him a chance.
He already benefits financially on the Fallston Apt issue and doesn’t seem to care. I smell a recall in his future.
I noticed that several apartments have popped up in the Bel Air area and more are being constructed as we speak. I am curious why the Council member for that district is not being openly criticized for allowing this to happen. Maybe I missed it but have there been any allegations or innuendo against the Council member representing the Bel Air district regarding misconduct or “kick back”? You indicated that Mr. Penman has received “financial benefits” from the Fallston issue. If this occurred, in what way? If something sleazy has gone down it is not clear to me why the MD Attorney Generals Office is not getting involved. Respectfully, please clarify and explain what you meant by your post. If there is something to it then it should be investigated. I hope these allegations are not based solely on a passionate NIMBY ideology.
Clear to me you have no idea what NIMBY even means. To school you let’s clarify – if I wanted apartments in Hickory – a 4 story offense to the eyes but objected next to where I live that would be NIMBY. If you object to the inappropriate construction of megastructures in any area where it is not suited then it is not NIMBY. The ignorant context you use would assume nobody has a right to object to any sort of development anywhere proximate to where they live is NIMBY, as if people wouldn’t naturally be more concerned about their own neighborhoods is just dumb. There’s a reason people in Fallston are more concerned than people in Havre de Grace. Duh.
The Money Tree
You made a statement that Mr. Penman benefited financially. Please explain. You could be correct but if you can not justify your allegation it stinks of NIMBY philosophy. Again if something sketchy is going on why is the Attorney General’s Office not involved or at least have been provided a referral? For the record unlike you I don’t have a dog in the fight.
I see a recall in Penman’s future. It’s not only the likely payoff – it’s coming right out of the gate aligning himself with the developer’s team. To huddle w Euler right after a public meeting in clear view of his constituents is about as dumb a thing imaginable. He may as well have held a microphone when asking Euler how he thought they did.
I am a bit confused. On September 12th at 2246 hours you post “he (Penman) already benefits from the Fallston Apt. issue….”. Now today, September 17th at 1118 hours you post “It’s not only the ‘likely payoff’ “. Initially one would have perceived that you had hard evidence but apparently this could be your personal assessment possibly being influenced by NIMBY ideology. I could be wrong. Again, if you think you have something besides an unpleasant view refer the matter to the Attorney General’s Office. As I said before, I don’t have a dog in the fight and I have no allegiance to Penman or Cassilly.
Again w the NIMBY?? I explained that to you and you still spew that nonsense. Somebody needs to tell Glassman, Penman and Gahler if they use the same talking points and align themselves w Euler and Snee it becomes pretty obvious to us what the game has been and now Cassilly is in the way and they conspire to undermine him. What form of idiot plots to undermine the county executive using a phone that the county executive basically owns and has legal access to collect data from? These guys are the keystone cops of small town wannabe crime bosses.
I will have to conclude that you are unable to answer my question. You made a statement that Penman benefited financially from the Fallston apartment project. I have asked you repeatedly to explain in what way. Then you water it down by referring to it as a “likely payoff”. Do you have any strong evidence to support your initial allegations? Either you do or you don’t. I am not clear why you avoid answering. I have provided you avenues for relief but apparently from your inaction you have no case. What other conclusion is there other than the NIMBY theory. Sorry, but absent of proof of wrongdoing that is the way it appears . Sorry if I ruffled your feathers but I have no time for groundless defamation. Long and short “put up or shut up. Respectfully of course.
I’m generally not in the business of providing proof of criminality on social media…nobody would because you can’t. There is direct and there is circumstantial evidence and while tv lawyers pretend direct evidence is the only real evidence we know that circumstantial evidence can be and often is just as compelling. Tell me why Penman would risk his professional career and his reputation on something that will only benefit one developer? Is it because developers are just such great people? Is it because developers make super cool friends? Is it that this one developer is everybody’s bestie and darn it we just really need a 4 story apartment building in Fallston because it just makes so much sense? I’m sure personal gain has nothing to do with it; right? As they say…something about swamp property in Florida. What I’d like to know is how Gahler got drug into all this…Glassman I get, but Gahler? Why in the world would Gahler be all gung-ho about a development project, curious nes paux? He’s risking his reputation too. Advice to these clowns – if you’re going to collude to undermine the county executive don’t use county phones for communicating your strategy.
Well that was five minutes of my life I can never get back. Synopsis: basically you have no proof at this time to substantiate your initial allegations. I am quite sure if you or any of the constituents of District “B” had evidence of a case of solid legal wrongdoing you would have pursued it. Just some friendly advice and again I have no dog in the fight. Right now you may not have a pleasant view looking out the window of your house because of recent housing projects being built. However, groundless slanderous unsubstantiated accusations by angry folks acting impulsively could possibly end up in them having no house to look out the window of. This county does not need anymore homeless people. If you think you have something shut your yap, hire an attorney and see how it plays out. I would encourage you think long and hard about the advice I have proffered. There is a right and wrong way to address all issues. This will be my last post regarding this issue. Stay well.
So your going with the reason Penman, Gahler and Glassman support the project is that it’s clearly a fantastic idea to put a 4 story apartment building at that corner. Duly noted and we’ll mark you down as naive.
More problems for Cassilly! “Nixonian” behavior as quoted in the article should be met with steep consequences for spying on legislators! https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/09/14/as-grand-jury-investigates-harford-county-denies-public-records-request-for-emails/?fbclid=IwAR2—TOR0tmrnZvAwtxO3zE1GHAhQy93RldGKhqBA3bpMy0qNUZMx4Iw1o
He’s a really nice guy – interesting the local apparatchik are in Cassilly smear mode. Could it be he’s not on the team? Could it be he’s not the rubber stamp they need?
Hope you’re not Bob’s defense attorney if he is charged. Hey judge, wiretap Bob is a good guy. Just like saying other than the murder, he is very likable.
If your employer pays for your phone or your laptop you have no right to privacy w that device – a first year paralegal student knows that. Swing and a miss.
And if someone is not your employee, like Penman, who does not work for King Bob, then it is a felony in Maryland. Bob’s in trouble and any first year paralegal knows that!
Any county issue phone can’t assume privacy. If it doesn’t belong to you then we, the citizens have a right to pull data from the phone and who represents us…that would be Bob Cassilly. Everybody with a job knows if your company gives you a phone or a laptop, or a desktop for use at work you might be monitored. It’s not even vague…