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Thursday, January 07, 2010

Governor O'Malley Pledges To Sarah Foxwell, "There Is Still Work To Be Done"

GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO OFFER ‘STATE OF PUBLIC SAFETY’ ADDRESS AT ANNUAL MEETING OF COUNTY LEADERS

CAMBRIDGE, MD (January 7, 2010)
Governor Martin O’Malley will offer remarks at the Maryland Association of Counties Annual Winter Conference in Cambridge tonight where he will outline the “State of Public Safety,” citing 25-year-lows in the state’s homicide rates but acknowledging that the tragedy of Sarah Foxwell reminds us all there is still work to be done.

“Tonight, our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Sarah Foxwell, for her family, and for her fellow citizens in Wicomico County and in every part of our State who are stricken by the grief of her loss,” Governor O’Malley will say this evening. “Maryland is undeniably a safer place than it was just three years ago, but we are reminded everyday of the work still ahead. Even in a year when together we’ve achieved historic reductions in homicides and juvenile homicides, Sarah Foxwell reminds us that there is more work that must be done. I am committed to working with members of both parties to build on and strengthen laws -- like Jessica’s Law that I signed in 2007 -- to make sure that our most dangerous predators never have the opportunity to harm a child.”

In 2007, Governor O’Malley signed Jessica’s Law, taking away the possibility of parole for certain sex offenses.


Governor O’Malley will outline a number of positive crime trends, including a 2009 murder rate 26 percent lower than 2006, and 11 percent lower than 2008. Prince George’s County alone recorded 24 percent fewer homicides in 2009 and the year prior. The Governor touted a number of innovative partnerships and initiatives to protect Maryland families and neighborhoods, including:

Eliminating an inherited backlog of 24,000 unanalyzed and 15,000 uncollected DNA samples, making 192 arrests as a result;
Developing an interoperable radio network to connect all law enforcement, first responders, and public safety agencies statewide;
Creating the public safety dashboard which is now connecting 15,600 law enforcement officers and government servants in more than 100 agencies, receiving some 25,000 to 40,000 hits per day;
Connecting all 46 Maryland acute care hospitals to protect citizens from the spread of pandemics;
Creating the Violence Prevention Initiative, collecting 3,000 warrants for Maryland’s most violent offenders;
Developing an information-sharing network on gangs between the Department of Corrections and over 100 partner agencies throughout Maryland.

Yesterday, Governor O’Malley announced Salisbury as the second Maryland Safe Streets Program site, providing more than $156,000 in grant funds to address high incidences of crime in the city and surrounding areas.

Governor O’Malley will also briefly address plans for the upcoming legislative session, including efforts to close a $2 billion deficit in the FY2011 budget.

“We’ve worked to reduce $4.6 billion in state spending and to strategically reduce the size of our state government these past three years,” said Governor O’Malley. “We’ve done so mindful of the challenges you face at the local level, and of the urgency for protecting the very investments our families will need to come out of this recession stronger. Priorities like public education, public safety, and jobs.”

17 comments:

  1. Well Mr. Governor, let's see if you let this case be prosecuted with the death penalty. The people of Wicomico County demand justice for this innocent child. If you want to do something, change some laws that keeps these freaks off our streets and away from our children. We want a law that says "If you molest a child, then you will spend the rest of your life in prison. If you kill a child, you will get the death penalty". It's plain and simple. We will be watching what you do in the months ahead. Then we will vote on whether or not you have done your job. We may not be able to vote you out of office, but at least you know when the results from Wicomico County we graded you on what you did for Sarah and the children of our county.

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  2. Say what you want about O'malley, but the crime numbers are better everywhere in maryland except here thanks to Chiefy.

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  3. Oh really 7:56? Is that why he's imposing more gun laws in Maryland? Because of Salisbury??

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  4. You guys are going to LOVE this Saturday's "Joe Albero Show"! I stomp all over these issues.

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  5. Hey GOV. "IF" this was your child..think death penalty!!!!..No difference...Dont let this Horrible creature breath another breath

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  6. let me first say that I agree with everyone that Thomas Leggs should be punished for whatever he has done to this little girl. But please lets not judge everyone that has been charged with a sex offense to be the same as him. I know right now people are having a hard time processing there feelings on this issue. But there are some young sex offenders out there that have been lured in by young girls. Those sex offenders should be looked at case by case. Not as one big headed monster that should die or be castrated. and before anyone gets on here wanting my head! trust me I know of one case my self and this young boy dosen't desire to die or be castrated the young girl should be punished for lieing. It all starts at home with the parents. Thanks for listening....

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  7. I agree w/Sheriff Mike Lewis who says, "This case screams the death penalty!" He vowed if we don't get the death penalty in MD he will take it to a federal level! Hear us loud and clear Gov. O'Malley, Thomas Leggs, Jr. deserves no less than the death penalty. Our community not only wants justice for Sarah Foxwell and her family, we don't want him to set foot again anywhere on Earth to harm another child or anyone for that matter. This could have been one of your daughters and if so, I'm sure you would feel differently. Leggs does not deserve another breath. Read the Bible and Jesus said those who molest children should have a millstone tied to their necks and be tossed into the ocean. Also, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. How can you dispute that? I will support Norm Conway and our community on the shore will back up his arguement for the death penalty! You will be voted out by democrats even on this issue I'm sure come next election! Bring back Gov. Erlich! He will get the job done for us to get tough on crime!

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  8. Each and every one of us need to write the governor and demand that the death penalty be exercised in this case as well as similar cases. Maybe we should each send a picture of Sarah along with that letter. If the governor receives thousands of pictures, maybe he will listen- for a change.

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  9. Anonymous 10:18, NORM CONWAY!!!!!

    Norm is the guy who supported the current legislation and was a parft of drafting it! Norm also supports repealing the death penalty!

    Norm Conway needs to go and he needs to go in the next election.

    Now, all of a suddent the Press is making these people accountable and Norm, all of a sudden, is changing his mind????????

    The pressure WE put on him as well as O'Malley is what forced the DEMOCRATS to finally step up and go public that they MUST change their minds or they will absolutely lose the next election.

    However, we know where their hearts are and it will destroy them inside to be forced to make legislative changes.

    Look at the Republican point of view. Ask candidates what they stand for on Sex Offenders as well as the Death Penalty. I asked Kratovil yesterday face to face and he absolutely supports the Death Penalty. The problem is, he has NO track record. Harris does as well as other Candidates.

    Norm has made a carreer out of being Delegate and it's time for change. Nice guy, but it's time for Norm to step down and retire.

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  10. 10:02 If you want to see just how well our justice system works, go down and sit in the court room sometime. You will be amazed at what you hear. It's a bunch of lawyers basically bargaining for their clients. It's not about what is right or wrong. Bottom line is, if you are a sex offender you should go away forever. Thomas Leggs is a prime example. He is a in the sex offender registry and it doesn't work. How many other people have to die or be molested before you wake up and smell the coffee?

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  11. EXECUTE the bastards who kill...at the very least.

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  12. You ask me, I think the death penalty would be letting the guy off easy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when you get on death row, you usually have your own cell, get a little special treatment, etc. Put him in gen pop.--the people there don't take lightly to child molesters and child killers. Even the most hardened criminals seem to have a sense of "code" when it comes to crimes against children. He won't make it a month in gen pop. because of what he's done!

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  13. 10:02 - No one is suggesting we castrate or put to death a 25 year old that has consentual sex with a 16 or 17 year old. But if you are talking about a girl of 12 or 13 "luring" ANYONE in, then you are a part of the problem.

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  14. Leggs has been in Gen Pop TWICE. He was in Gen Pop up in Jessup, he was in gen pop down at ECT and he still lives to talk about it. Kill that no good rotten POS and be done with him. Death Row is not a cushy place. He'll be locked down 23 hours a day with 1 hour exercise time. That is more than he deserves.

    I agree with Mike Lewis, if the state bleeding hearts don't have the backbone to kill him, turn it over to the feds, let them do it.

    Another thing, Norm Conway never said he supported the death penalty, he said was laws need to be modified. Well look at the modifications they have already made. Certainly not in favor of victims. He wouldn't even go along with chemical or surgical castration. VOTE HIM OUT, he's been there to long and send Rudy Cane packing with him.

    O'Malley NEVER said he would support the death penalty. When asked about this instance he still stands firmly against the death penalty. VOTE HIM OUT.

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  15. 4:38-here is the real deal. Anything we could possibly imagine of doing to TJ Leggs on this earth would never be enough punishment for what Sarah endured. His time here is done. Let him meet his maker and explain himself. There could be no punishment more just or swift. Give him the death penalty and let him stop sucking air...Sarah surely doesn't have that luxury.

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  16. Did anyone watch the special program last night? Davis Ruark and Sheriff Lewis were right on. Norm Conway floundered around the death penalty and castration of sex predators of kids under 14 years of age. I have known Norm Conway for many years when he was my vice-principle of Pinehurst School and when he was Chief of the Fire Department. He is a good guy but maybe it is time for a tougher delegate at this time. I would support him as fire chief again.

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  17. Thank you 10:18. You are right on, everyone should review Mark 9:38-50, and refer their State representatives to this passage, it is very clear.

    I've added a URL that's very instructive, but do not know how to make it a link. If someone can make this a link, please do.

    http://www.westminsterauburn.org/Portals/1587/We%20Are%20a%20Sign%20Post.pdf

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