Leadership vacuum in Maryland
Challenged by an out-of-control crime wave in several D.C. neighborhoods, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, with the full support of Mayor Adrian Fenty, implements an "all hands" police mobilization strategy combined with a controversial but effective roadblock program to inhibit criminals. Decisive action by D.C.'s leaders to protect their citizens.
A string of increasingly violent murders of citizens by illegal aliens in Maryland has elicited a very different reaction from our elected officials and senior law enforcement officers.
County Police Chief Tom Manger, with the support of County Executive Isiah Leggett, implements high-level press conferences after the carnage to highlight their decisive inaction.
When Longyuan "Mooney" Wang of Gaithersburg was murdered last summer by a known illegal alien and with ties to the MS-13 gang, the county police department held a press conference.
Stung by a string of robberies and the murder of Frances Havenstein of Bethesda, the police department held a higher level press conference. The suspect is an illegal alien day laborer with a Maryland drivers' license.
When Tai Lam, 14, of Silver Spring was gunned down on a bus, the police department invited Leggett to the press conference. The suspect is a known illegal alien and MS-13 gang member.
With the latest murder of Lila Meizell of Wheaton, I can only assume that the police and our elected officials will hold yet another press conference.
Despite the flurry of murders, Leggett and Manger refuse to work with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and block ICE 287g training, which allows local police to detain and arrest illegal aliens and MS-13 gang members.
At 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Rockville Library, Help Save Maryland, which is opposed to illegal immigration, will hold a community forum on "Protecting Our Citizens from Illegal Alien Criminals and MS-13 Gang Members." All are welcome to attend and discuss ways citizens can take decisive action to end growing illegal alien crime and gang violence.
Brad Botwin, Rockville
The writer is director of Help Save Maryland.
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