From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:
[July 7, 2015, Bel Air, MD] At a meeting on July 7, 2015, Sheriff Gahler announced to members of his Command Staff and County Officials that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office aviation program was being discontinued. Safety, cost, focus, and usage were cited by Sheriff Gahler as the reasons for the decision.
Upon taking office in December 2014, Sheriff Gahler pledged to give a thorough review of each unit within the Office of the Sheriff, to include the newly formed Aviation Unit and use of SABLE 1. Sheriff Gahler remarked, “When assessing any program, I use two questions to guide my decision making process. Does this program have a direct impact on public safety and should the taxpayers of Harford County have to pay for this service? After a complete assessment and review of the information presented to me in the assessment, the answer to both questions is ‘no’.”
Safety was a key concern brought to Sheriff Gahler’s attention early in the assessment. Deputies assigned to the program, supported by the assessment, cited the lack of direct supervision and oversight with aviation specific skills as a serious safety concern. Mr. Robert McGainey, a recognized expert in airborne law enforcement operations and administration, was critical of the supervisory structure overseeing the unit from its inception and the concept of personnel being assigned to the program on a part time basis. Following this revelation in March, SABLE 1 was placed in a temporary non-flight status to allow for a review of safety practices.
Acting on the concerns related to the safe operation of the helicopter, Sheriff Gahler explained, “issues related to safety were something I simply could not ignore.” Gahler continued, “Issues related to safety were but one area, of many, that caused me to question the aviation program. The absence of a written needs assessment and strategic plan, improper staffing, and a gross underestimation of cost are other areas identified as being deficient. Fixing the issues would prove to be an expensive option, one that would further extend the already strained budget supporting the program.” In fact, addressing the safety and supervisory issues plaguing the unit would drive the budget to more than $776,000. In order to correct the noted deficiencies, the Office of the Sheriff would need the aviation team to be full time, in accordance with the preferred unit model provided by the assessor and the addition of a full time aviation supervisor. Creating a full time unit is in direct conflict with Sheriff Gahler’s desire to return more deputies to the street.
The assessment reviewed Aviation Unit logs detailing specific information on each mission for SABLE 1 and crew. In a 12 month period, 118 law enforcement related missions were flown, with the original data indicating 26 missions being tied to the apprehension of a suspect and/or location of a subject. The assessment also notes without appropriate supervision, there was no standard screening tool or written instructions for launching or recording missions. After a review of the original data, it was determined the use of SABLE 1 only directly assisted in 13 of those mission outcomes. In comparison, the HCSO responds to nearly 161,000 calls for service a year; this amounts to SABLE 1 being used in .07% of all calls. A further review during the assessment, indicated allied agency aviation resources were available for use in all but one of those missions, creating a duplication of services in the aviation arena.
Operating as is, the annual costs associated with the aviation program are currently projected to be $698,879. These dollars should be reinvested and refocused to support law enforcement efforts in the county. Sheriff Gahler commented, “The need for the aviation program would fall behind the issues we are currently facing, including; overdue pay increases for deputies, the need to hire 36 correctional deputies to staff the vacant $31 million Detention Center expansion, a street level drug unit, and the possible $1 million operating expense of outfitting all deputies with body cameras. Additionally, the use of drug forfeiture money should not be used for a recurring operational expense, but instead it should be reinvested to end the heroin epidemic that is plaguing the communities of Harford County”.
SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HELICOPTER? WILL IT BE SOLD?
I’ll start the bidding at $20.
Why are you willing to pay $20. According to Bane they obtained the helicopter for free. They should just give it to you!
Maybe this was Marston’s plan all along. He may want the HCSO to just give him the helicopter so he can fly around in his off time.
That chopper is sitting out in front of Banes office at Bel Air town hall. It was given to him as a retirement present.
An antique for the antique……
I heard on the Radio that it would have to be returned to the Federal Government since it was provided by them.
HA! He just gave Bane a massive kick in the b@11s!
Funded by drug seizures my foot…
The only people that got kicked in the balls are the Citizens and Deputies of Harford County. They lost a great tool that they will probably never have again. Where does a budget of $776,000.00 come from? That is not a realistic number. I would love to see how they came up with a figure that is that high. Politics in action folks. Now, stop paying the “Aviation Expert” and save some money.
Heck, I bet its $50,000/year for fuel.
What kind of dope are you smoking? +700,000 dollars doesn’t sound unreasonable to keep that type of aircraft in the air staffed.
$50k a year for fuel? Try $500+ per hour, and that’s any time the engine is turning like ground runs for maintenance, not just flight hours.
Then how about this:
“In a 12 month period, 118 law enforcement related missions were flown, with the original data indicating 26 missions being tied to the apprehension of a suspect and/or location of a subject. The assessment also notes without appropriate supervision, there was no standard screening tool or written instructions for launching or recording missions. After a review of the original data, it was determined the use of SABLE 1 only directly assisted in 13 of those mission outcomes. In comparison, the HCSO responds to nearly 161,000 calls for service a year; this amounts to SABLE 1 being used in .07% of all calls.”
That is an atrocious number and waste of resources when allied agencies provide the same service at NO COST to the citizens of Harford County.
Direct and indirect operating costs average $176,000 per year and personnel costs, a minimum of 477,000 personnel salaries and benefits. = 653,000 per year Add a supervisor for 122,000 and you have 775,000 !
Yesssss, put that in your pipe and smoke it Mr Verzi. Great job sticking to your word Sheriff !!!,
keeping his word? I remember him clearly saying he would give it a full year!
Salary for the pilots.
Salary for the new Supervisory Deputy.
Fees to FAA.
Storage fees.
Recurring maintenence costs (parts and labor).
Fees for pilot certifications and licensing.
Unscheduled maintenance and repairs (parts and labor).
Fuel costs.
I am sure there are more costs to get to the $776K figure, but you get the jist.
Also, you are not losing a tool – surrounding counties and State still support.
During his campaign, Mr Gahler, now Sheriff Gahler stated repeatedly that he would evaluate and study the the program up to a year if needed to determine whether he would sustain the program. Obviously this was such a blunder by the former Sheriff, Sheriff Gahler did not need a year to realize that. Good swift solid judgement on his part. Keep it going Sheriff.
Told Ya So says
July 8, 2015 at 12:05 am
During his campaign, Mr Gahler, now Sheriff Gahler stated repeatedly that he would evaluate and study the the program up to a year if needed to determine whether he would sustain the program. Obviously this was such a blunder by the former Sheriff, Sheriff Gahler did not need a year to realize that. Good swift solid judgement on his part. Keep it going Sheriff.
So that’s why Sean Marston has been making B&E arrests. He lost his wings. The BEST thing that could possibly happen to Harford County is ditching that chopper! Great job Gahler! Now, go arrest Sean Marston for perjury…….
What that other poster wrote…OBSESSION…..You’re my OBSESSION…Marston…Love, The Soulmister
Its the Crusher of Heads, Holes and Souls. Get it right. Despite what you think, I will never become Souled Out. Ain’t nothing better than grounding a flying halfling who was probably hovering over Bel Air, FLIRing every house he could, without a warrant. So, YES, there I go again…….
Not a day goes by that you do not have your incessant rants about your constitutional rights being violated. Can you please clear up some questions I and I’m sure other readers have regarding the psyche of the SoulCrusher? Are you a true sociopath or are were you a spoiled child accustomed of always getting your way. I can’t figure you out. We both know that weed growing is against the laws of the State of Maryland. You still made a decision to do so. Why? Throw out the crime of passion thing. You took the time, acquired the materrials, and did your thing. Do you feel that a man’s home is his castle and the constitution should protect you under all circumstances no matter what you do within? Do you feel that your crime was victimless? You know the police don’t drive down the street and arbitrarily pick a house, apartment, or condo and say let us conduct a search for drugs. It doesn’t work that way. Some one alerted the police to your activities. There could be a myriad of reasons. Did you rip some one off? Piss off an ex-friend or girlfriend? Did people get tired of your omnicient arrogance? Who knows? The bottom line is you weree breaking the law and the police foundout about it. We all know what happened to lead up to the arrest but what is unclear is what your perception of the situation was. Before you start talking constitutional issues can you give me and other readers your personal entitlement philosophy? Help us understand why you thought you were entitled to break the law. Once we get an understanding of that maybe we can be more empathetic to your other issues. Right now you come off as an arrogant sociopath.
The circumstances don’t matter. The search was illegal because of a trespass into a locked and secured building. The trespass was also conducted in a fourth amendment protected area even back in 2009. That’s why I always say it was illegal and unconstitutional. Everything else doesn’t really matter after that, does it?
Now, I have a question for you. What gives Law Enforcement the right to break the law and the constitution to gain an arrest? They took the oath, I did not. If I am a “sociopath” as you claim then I was made this way by your illegal Courts and Prosecutors. I have another question for you. What gives the Harford County State’s Attorney Office the right to NOT release the esculpatory evidence as required by law? If they had, I would be able to give you more of the answers you want. Hell, I might not even be on the Dagger laying the smack down! But they didn’t so I am to wonder the rest of my life exactly what happened. Finally, what gives the Harford County Circuit Court the right to force an ALFORD PLEA on someone who they knew was being wronged from the get go? If you can give a legitimate answer other than “you were breaking the law” or any of your entitlement rubbish, then I may consider dropping the Coram Nobis and requesting a Reconsideration Hearing. Until I get those answers, that I require, that I am constitutionally guaranteed, you have to live with me trying to prevent others from suffering my fate by putting it all out there. Go arrest Sean Marston for perjury. Go arrest Christopher Tabone for evidence tampering. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander and this goose is ready to defecate on the head of your Courts, Law Enforcement and Prosecutors until they follow the law. That’s the bottom line because the SoulCrusher says so………
Based on your continued avoidance to answer my questions I fear that you might possess harmful sociopathic traits. I would be happy to provide you referrals to qualified mental health providers. Let me know. Good luck. Have a great day.
Mental Health shrinks are the biggest gimmicks there are.
A LOT of people just “fake” stuff to get whatever it is they are doing. Trolling the doctor for fun all the way to getting pills.
@Open Your Eyes – The same can be said for yourself. I have absolutely no confidence in anything you say because you keep giving reasons why I should let things go, yet you seem to think the Police, Courts and Prosecutors should not be held accountable for their crimes. Please remember, I’ve already pad the price and have been disposed of. They have not. Your continued insistence that the Police, Courts and Prosecutors not be responsible for their actions should show everyone who the real nut is. Its you Open Your Eyes. Its you. We have more to fear from people like you than any foreign terrorist in this world. This is because you are an advocate of police brutality and abuses of their authority. This is because you feel that Prosecutors and Courts should be allowed to break the law right in the courtrooms. You are what’s wrong. Not I……..
I already “paid” the price
seems to me that Open Your Eyes brought it up in this article. hippocrits are ridiculous and this sight is full of em.
Soul Crusher,
Did someone that lived in the building allow the officer access to the building?
What specific protected area of the building do you claim was illegally searched?
How can one be forced into accepting an Alford Plea when the Defendant has to actually agree to accept it?
Not you again. Your always asking questions. Go get the file. – 1. According to Sean Marston’s Testimony, NO ONE LET HIM IN. He claims to have pressed buttons randomly until someone mistakenly let him. I believe otherwise. 2. The Constitutionally Protected Area of a locked and secured common area which is the curtilage of my domain. 3. Threats delivered to me by my former Attorney Edward Thomas Maxwell Jr that he alleged came from the prosecution and the Sheriff’s Department. He also claimed that the Court would not give me a suppression hearing and that he, Tabone and Judge William Carr had already discussed my case in his chambers and I would go to trial without the suppression hearing. I was forced to take the Alford Plea due to those reasons. Go get the Coram Nobis petition and all the rest will become clear to you……
Soul Crusher,
Yes, me again.
1) Your answer contradicts itself. Either no one let him in, or someone let him in. Which is it? Didn’t you previously state some sort of CI let him in?
2) Was it a common area or was it the curtilage? Did this take place in a condo in which multiple people had access to, and therefore the authority to allow others to enter?
3) So, you are saying you were coerced or duped into taking an Alford Plea?
@ Paul Mc
Don’t beat your head against the wall attempting to get rational answers from the Soulman. Won’t happen in his world. If he didn’t like he representation he received from his attorney he could have fired them and obtained a new one. If he thought there was misconduct on the Circuit Court Judicial level there are higher judicial review processes. Being “forced” to take the Alford Plea is ludicrous. The poor guy is getting HBO and Cinemax and isn’t even hooked up to cable if you get my drift.
My answer does not contradict itself. 1.The Police are not allowed to trick someone into entry. They need a legitimate grant of entry. I believe a CI allowed entry and that CI wasn’t a legitimate resident of the building. However, at the Coram Nobis hearing Marston claimed otherwise. 2.Behind a locked entry door that is secured by a buzzer system anywhere in my area of the building is considered my “curtilage”. Period. 3.Yes, I was coerced, duped or as I say “forced”.
Open Your Eyes you are complete useless tool. That’s why your wife has to walk around with Ben-Wa Balls all the time. You don’t, no, you can’t do nothing for her…..
Oh, by the way. William Carr and Edward Thomas Maxwell Jr were old buddies from law school. Go check for yourself in the University of Maryland database. I did.
You had other options on higher levels and failed to utilize them. No one compelled you to take any pleas. You didn’t proceed in the proper fashion so live with it and stop whining.
Had no other options, the fix was in…. No matter what you say, I am the truth and you are a lie…….
No Sir you are sad. Sometimes delusional disorders can be treated and you can resume a normal life and place in society. Seek help. Good luck.
Funny, if you go get that Coram Nobis transcript you will plainly read sworn witness testimony that agrees with me…….
@Open Your Eyes – First, Don’t call me sir, call me the Crusher of Souls. Second, Maxwell was plainly threatening me with criminal charges and a law suit if I proceeded in Post Conviction remedies. I believe the lawless hand of the Harford County Circuit Court and State’s Attorney Office was behind him on this. Finally, you guys can lie all you want. I don’t lie. Just don’t act like I had options. You ALL broke the law and covered it up. Its just that simple, Pimple.
@Paul Mc – Go and read United States vs. Carriger 541 F.2d 545 (6th Cir. 1976) if you think the entry was just in 2009…… Plus, it doesn’t matter Jardines v. Florida made any dog sniff on a residence taboo. Maryland doesn’t have any prior constitution law stating otherwise.
Soul Crusher,
1) Your answer does contradict itself. First you say no one let the officer in then you say the officer tricked someone into letting him in. If the CI was not a legitimate resident of the building, then I would agree with you, unless, however, the officer reasonably believed they person allowing entry was a legitimate resident. The SC has ruled that officers are permitted a certain leniency if they reasonably believe that are acting within the law.
2) Since when are police not permitted to trick people?
3) Anywhere in a hall or common area in which others have the right to be, if the officer was allowed in, would not be considered as such.
4) Ok, so you were coerced by your lawyer. Have you filed a grievance against him?
5) United States vs. Carriger 541 F.2d 545 is controlling law for the 6th Circuit. Maryland is not part of the 6th Circuit.
6) The Jardines case stated a dog sniff at the front door of a private residence is a search. The private residence is much different than a multi unit dwelling.
The law is not so black and white as you seem to believe it to be.
I am right and you are wrong. Its just that simple. The Supreme Court said,” a warrantless dog sniff of the home”. Get it right. United States vs. Carriger has been used in other defenses in Maryland and around the US. Quite successfully I might add. So successfully that its part of the DOJ guidelines in their search and seizure manual. Last, this officer, knew what he was doing and had done it before. The Harford County Circuit Court and State’s Attorney Office pulled the same BS on that girl as they did me. Forced Alford Plea. Don’t believe me, check 12K05000196- Tiffany A. Baldwin. Please, everyone involved, GFY…… I’m done here, you got schooled………
The common area of a condo/apartment is NOT your home.
The DOJ guidelines are not law.
The 4th Circuit has not ruled on the common area inside an apartment, though it has ruled that garages and trash containers outside of an apartment are not curtilage.
Maryland law has a case on point regarding this. Fitzgerald v. State, 384 MD 484 is Maryland’s controlling authority on this. This case basically states, “The court of appeals held, first, that it was clear that a dog sniff, from a public place, including the common area of an apartment house, designed to detect the presence of drugs and nothing else, was not a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Thus, it was not an illegal search either. The scope of any intrusion was simply too slight, and there was no privacy right in the possession of illegal drugs. “
Once again, wrong. If you check the SDAT assessments, you will see that there is no other owners listed than the owners of the individual units. That’s because the individual owners are ALL owners of the Common Area. That’s the fact, Jack!
It is sad that you are either too stupid to comprehend the law or too stubborn to accept it. Not much can be done about either.
And ALL that the Fitzgerald vs. State ruling said was in an apartment building. You know where no one owns the building. When you buy a Condo, you are in fact buying a part of the building, a piece of the proverbial pie. You can twist your words and try to apply “creative” interpretation of law all you want. The bottom line is you got schooled, son.
Paul Mc, please identify yourself so the people of Harford County know who not to call when they have legal trouble. You already identified yourself as a lawyer in a previous article. Either identify yourself or crawl back into the hole where you surfaced from.
Soul,
There is no ruling in Maryland, nor the 4th Circuit, specifically for a Condo. However, an apartment is very similar to a condo. Also, like a condo, an apartment is privately owned. As such, the Fitzgerald would apply.
You are the one that is attempting the ‘creative’ interpretations of the law.
Anyways, have a nice day,
And Paul Mc, you are aware that the Fitzgerald vs. State ruling is now null and void. That’s the current law. Jardines v. Florida is the law. I don’t care if its an apartment, a condo, a single family house or a duplex. You may not utilize a warrantless dog sniff on any “HOME”, period. It has to be that way for consistency and continuity among Law Enforcement every where in the US. You can like it or you don’t have to like it, but you better learn to love it because if you pull any warrantless dog sniff on any “home” and you have no case. That’s the bottom line because the Supreme Court says so!
Unlike an apartment, the Condo is owned by individual owners who have a legitimate interest in the property as owners. When you have ownership, you own the common area. If it were otherwise then there would be an assessment for the common area included on each individual building in Woodbridge Condominiums. It just that simple, you are completely and utterly WRONG. Identify yourself or forever STFU……
You do realize that a common area is not a home, right? And you do realize that the SC has differentiated between searches in common areas of apartments and individual homes in the past, right?
Identify yourself or STFU. C’mon Mr. Lawyer, tell the Dagger who you are so the public knows you got schooled by the Crusher of Souls…..
Got schooled? You have continually and routinely been proven wrong. Lol, got schooled.
SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!
Please go take your pissing contest somewhere else. I am quite sure that I am not alone in being tired of you using this website as your personal blog to continuously, every freaking day, rant on and on about the injustices you have suffered. I. Don’t. Care.
Concerned Teacher GFY. Hey, Paul Mc, identify yourself. And TEACHER we all know that you ‘re a hoe. Please, Concerned Teacher my butt. I don’t care if you don’t want to hear it. You’re gonna hear everyday for the rest of your pathetic life. Get it, Got it, Good.
Hey Concerned Teacher, I’ve got an interesting fact for you to teach your students next semester. The Queen Honey Bee has sex with up to 40 males a day……just like your Mom.
Psst…. hey… Souljaboy… unless the spelling in the stall in incorrect, the accepted term is ‘ho’… Please show some respect. Thank you in advance.
I’ll concede that. You are correct….
“The court of appeals held, first, that it was clear that a dog sniff, from a public place, including the common area of an apartment house, designed to detect the presence of drugs and nothing else, was not a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Thus, it was not an illegal search either. The scope of any intrusion was simply too slight, and there was no privacy right in the possession of illegal drugs. “ – How can you call a locked building with a buzzer system a PUBLIC PLACE? I’ve been over to a friends at the Woodbridge Condos and there is no trespassing signs everywhere that say private property. That clearly makes it a private place. Not private. I think this was an illegal search and that any argument made that its not is outrageous.
Oh yes……this politician kept his promise for sure. Just like putting Scott Walter in traffic when there are plenty more qualified people in that agency. Yes promise kept, all these damn politicians are crooked.
If that’s the only Howard Walter payback for his and her campaign work, we got off easy. Thanks Uncle Howie and Auntie Theresa for getting me placed in traffic. Going to protect his useless daughter out there at the jail as well? All in all, we got off easy I hope. No more payback Sheriff, you’ve been doing great until that move. (useless Scott Walter to traffic that is)
Everyone is so quick to judge and believe whatever the Sheriff is putting out there as “real” facts. He is a politician first and will say whatever he needs to say to look good to the people of the county while fucking over the people that work for him. Bottom line, it wasn’t his original idea so therefore it had to be gotten rid of. The next 3.5 years can not go quick enough for those of us on the inside, but I am glad the citizens are singing his praises. In this day and age it is hard enough defending the law and being on the side we are, we don’t need crooked leadership too!
If you have any grasp of public opinion you would see that this helicopter has no support. You might want to find new employment because Gahler just jumped his public support a ton by looking out for the taxpayers and not catering to a few spoiled employees. Go Gahler Go!
Defend this:
“In a 12 month period, 118 law enforcement related missions were flown, with the original data indicating 26 missions being tied to the apprehension of a suspect and/or location of a subject. The assessment also notes without appropriate supervision, there was no standard screening tool or written instructions for launching or recording missions. After a review of the original data, it was determined the use of SABLE 1 only directly assisted in 13 of those mission outcomes. In comparison, the HCSO responds to nearly 161,000 calls for service a year; this amounts to SABLE 1 being used in .07% of all calls.”
It is about time, biggest waste of the tax payers money. I have grown so tired of just listening to this thing flying in circles at night around Bel Air. especially when the windows are open. It ruined the Bel Air Christmas parade hovering overhead for two hours. What a waste of fuel and money.
What are you talking about? Hasn’t flown since march. Do you keep your windows open in winter?
Last fall fool.
13 mission outcomes. Wow, that’s one a month. hmmmmmm, 3/4 of a million dollars would buy quite a few deputies who I am sure could make at least 1 apprehension a month. It’s about time. Just glad they did this before they purchased a submarine. I figured that was next.
Well there goes my retirement job. Here I thought sean and I could fly around the county looking for the best hamburgers and Ladies Melons if ya know what I mean. Sexual harassment got me a few times and now they take my favorite chopper away. I think im gonna cry
Now there would be two welcomed vacancies…..
Good riddance to the Baby Waker.
Not that I really care one way or the other, but during the Perryman robbery the other night something interesting was heard upon the old scanner. Deputies requested aviation support from Baltimore County. Baltimore County Air came on channel and inquired as to the nature of the request. When told it was for a robbery they advised “Per current MOU, your Sheriff must contact our Chief with this request”.
Apparently Balt Co Air will only assist if an officer is hurt or something of that nature, all other requests are being denied due to Harford assuming they can just use their toys whenever they want and not pay for their own. Guess MSP is the only option left as long as they aren’t on a medical mission which take priority.
I heard it! Do you blame Baltimore county though?? Why should they pay for us to use their equipment. Bad move by getting rid of the whirly bird…..
They should not have to pay when providing an aviation service to us. We should reimburse them for their assistance. Since the use of an aviation asset is rarely necessary, as documented in the statistical data gathered by Sheriff Gahler, annual costs of reimbursing other agencies will be significantly less than maintaining year round aviation in the HCSO.
Now, CRUSHSOULER, pay homage to Mike Welsh for setting you straight……Very reasonable response Mr. Welsh. You might be a good politician someday…….
Jeff Gahler is so full of himself. He is getting his name added to the side of all marked cars. That cost money to have put on and then taken off if/when he loses the election. If we are looking for ways to reduce spending why are we creating things to spend money on????
A reasonable question. Since you mention cost, what does it cost to place/remove the decal of Sheriff Gahler’s name? Do the monies that pay for this decal come from appropriated funds, or another resource?
Bratwurst.