Quick on the draw
Today’s local government lesson: You have to be fast if you want to claim credit for something good.
That comes courtesy of Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, who was one of a half-dozen county officials who were present to announce that crime in Baltimore County decreased during the first six months of 2009. The decrease is a continuation of a trend that stretches back more than a decade and has resulted in crime rates per 100,000 people that are as low as the rates in 1976, when the county had fewer people within its borders, according to Police Chief Jim Johnson.
After the news conference, a reporter asked the assembled county leaders to pinpoint when the decline began.
While officials looked to their charts and stats for an answer, Councilman Kevin Kamentez, who might have been channeling Alexander Haig (the former secretary of state who once famously proclaimed, “I’m in charge” after an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan) stepped forward to offer an answer.
“Since I was elected,” a grinning Kamenetz said in jest.
Kamenetz, a Democrat who is thought to be gearing up for a run for county executive, was elected to the council in 1994. He represents the 2nd District, which includes Owings Mills, Pikesville and Ruxton.
Several people who attended the news conference and some county officials chuckled.
“You can quote him on that,” County Executive Jim Smith said.
Later, police said the trend actually began back in 1996 and credit the decline to increased federal funds to hire police officers and a return to community policing initiatives such as the business district patrol and Community Action Teams.
Still, you can’t blame a guy for trying.