Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label People MD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People MD. Show all posts

Saturday, April 25, 2009

JoeTrippi.com: “Playing for Change” video


JoeTrippi.com: “Playing for Change” video

Playing for Change video

Saturday, April 25, 2009

http://joetrippi.com/blog/?p=2687

20090425 JoeTrippi com Playing for Change video

Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/)

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff Art: www.kevindayhoff.com
Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: www.westgov.net

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

“Target practice for Prince George's police” By Rob Tornoe for PolitickerMD



August 11, 2008

You've probably already heard about the incident involving the Prince George's county police department raiding the home of Berwyn Heights mayor Cheye Calvo, shooting and killing his two dogs after he brought in a 32-pound package of marijuana that had been delivered to his doorstep…

[…]


20080811 “Target practice for Prince George's police” By Rob Tornoe for PolitickerMD

Sunday, August 10, 2008

20080810 I just noticed P. Kenneth Burns coverage of the home invasion of Mayor Calvo in Berwyn Heights

I just noticed P. Kenneth Burns coverage of the home invasion of Mayor Calvo in Berwyn Heights over at “Maryland Politics Today.”

August 10, 2008

Be sure to check it out:

The E List: Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson
August 9th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
Now to the latest addition to our honor roll of people who disrespects the intelligence of the constituency….Prince George’s County Sheriff Michael Jackson.Jackson is being added for a number of reason, including not apologizing for the flawed drug bust on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo.In his first interview with The Washington Post [...]

Calvo Exonerated
August 9th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his family was cleared of any wrong doing in regards to the package containing 32 pounds of weed inside. That package was set to go to a different destination and not to Calvo’s wife, Trinity Tomsic, as addressed on the package.The Washington Post reporting today that Prince George’s [...]

Prince George’s County: Calvo Deserves Respect
August 8th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
As promised, the on going knowledge campaign to bring light to the arrogance and mismanagement of the Prince George’s County Police Department under chief Melvin High.On July 31, Prince George’s County Police Officers and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s raided the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo after he signed for a package addressed [...]

The E-List : Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin High
August 7th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
And now for the continuing saga of people who give public service a bad name, the latest addition to MarylandPT’s E-List.Tonight it’s Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin High who seems not to be leaving quietly, nevermind the fact that this guy was able to hold on to his job for five years despite the [...]


Berwyn Heights: Dogged
August 6th, 2008 by P. Kenneth Burns
Prince George’s County SWAT team and county narcotics officers burst into the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo last week after officers saw the mayor accept a package that was delivered by officers posing as delivery men. That package which was traced from Arizona contained just above 30 pounds in marijuana.Calvo in a [...]


20080810 I just noticed P. Kenneth Burns coverage of the home invasion of Mayor Calvo in Berwyn Heights

20080808 Baltimore Sun: Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in email to friends

20080808 Baltimore Sun: Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in email to friends

Baltimore Sun: Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in e-mail to friends

Retrieved Saturday, August 8, 2008

Related:
20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080731 Washington Post: Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayors Home Kill His 2 Dogs

20080807 ABC 7 News: “Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo”

20080806 Calvo’s Counsel’s statement

20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot, Law and Order Lunacy, MD municipality Berwyn Heights, People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

More:
Here, here, and here.

Web editor’s background note: The mayor of Berwyn Heights, Cheye Calvo, had his home invaded Wednesday evening, July 30, 2008.

I have briefly worked with Mayor Calvo in the past, but I do not know him well. What I do know is that he is a very soft-spoken, kind, conscientious and an extraordinarily capable and competent person, who loves his community and is extremely well-liked by everyone.

For this to happen to him is simply an outrage…

His front door was broken-through and heavily armed folks invaded his home. In the melee that ensued, his two black Labrador dogs were shot and killed and he and his mother-in-law were tied-up, while his home was ransacked.

The police did not have far to look for the folks who did this. It was the Prince Georges County Sheriff’s Department – who, oops, made a mistake. Oh, nevermind…

I retrieved the following from the Baltimore Sun on August 8th, 2008. It can be found here: “
Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in e-mail to friends

If you think that citizens are outraged, well, you are right.
Go here and read the comments… If you have a comment – go here and leave your comments.

For a timeline, this e-mail must have been distributed July 31, 2008?

Baltimore Sun: Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in e-mail to friends

Dear Friends and Neighbors-

Yesterday evening, as my mother-in-law prepared dinner and I changed clothes hurrying to head to a community meeting, a heavily-armed county SWAT team burst through our living room door and shot and killed both of our dogs. There were loud voices. In the sights of two high-caliber weapons, I was ushered downstairs in only my boxer shorts before I was bound and forced to kneel on the floor. My mother-in-law was bound face down in the kitchen. The dead body of my bigger and older dog, Payton, laid in a pool of blood on the other side of the living room.

It was some time before someone spoke to me other than to yell orders. I was told there was a warrant but was never shown one. After many questions and much anger, I was told that they had intercepted a package addressed to our house that contained 32 pounds of marijuana. The large, white box, which I just had retrieved from the front porch, sat unopened on a living room table.

The county police then proceeded to turn our house upside-down. I was moved to the kitchen, where I could see my little dog, Chase, lying in his own pool of blood. My mother-in-law watched them shoot him while he was running away. After about 90 minutes, they finally removed my restraints, which tied my hands behind my back. About the same time, Animal Control came to remove our dogs. Emotions overtook me; I broke down and sobbed.

They asked questions. Through my anger, hurt, and confusion, I answered them. Trinity came home from work a little after 8:00 pm, and they questioned her outside. We both were and remain in shock. It does not make sense, but shared what we could. About three-and-a-half hours passed before they acknowledged that they had found nothing to connect us to the box, but could not be 100 certain whether or not we were involved. The package alone was enough to arrest us all, they said, but they would not so long as we continued to cooperate.

Then they left. The broken front door remained open and unsecured. Blood from my dogs was pooled and tracked throughout the house. Our belongings were pulled from drawers, closets, and trunks and tossed about, piled in the middle of rooms and on tables and beds.

A Berwyn Heights officer on the scene helped me get the door shut. Just after midnight, I began to clean up the blood. We put a few things back. Trinity and I tried to sleep. Instead, we both laid there through the night as disbelief, fear, and anger played off one another. We try to make sense of it. They invaded our home and killed our dogs! That, above all else, can't be undone.

A friend came this morning to secure the door. People have begun to call, and the outpouring of friendship and support brings tears to my eyes. The media calls have begun, as well.

I wanted to get this out so that you at least hear the story from me. This promises to be a lengthy process, which will involve telling and re-living this story time and again. Hopefully, the healing will begin soon.

Warm regards,

Cheye


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-mayoremail0808,0,4607054.story

Labels:
20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot. MD municipality Berwyn Heights, Law and Order Lunacy, People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

For coverage of this outrage in the Baltimore Sun:

 1.
Police chief expresses regret over drug raid By Gus G. Sentementes ,Sun Reporter
August 9, 2008
news
...yesterday that a suburban Washington mayor and his wife were "innocent victims...into the house of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and shot the dogs. Calvo and his...package of marijuana addressed to the mayor's wife, Trinity Tomsic. This...
 2.
FBI opens probe into raid at home of Prince George's mayor By Gus G. Sentementes ,Sun reporter
August 8, 2008
news
...Friday that a suburban Washington mayor and his wife were "innocent victims...into the house of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and shot the dogs. Calvo and...relationship between Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and a woman handcuffed during...
 3.
Police clear names of Maryland mayor and his wife in drug raid that left their 2 dogs dead By BRETT ZONGKER ,Associated Press Writer
August 8, 2008
news
...HEIGHTS, Md. (AP) _ A small-town mayor whose dogs were killed in a drug...Friday he called Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his wife, Trinity Tomsic...scheme. A SWAT team raided the mayor's home July 29 after intercepting...
 4.
Mayor Cheye Calvo describes raid in e-mail to friends
August 8, 2008
news
...wanted to get this out so that you at least hear the story from me. This promises to be a lengthy process, which will involve telling and re-living this story time and again. Hopefully, the healing will begin soon. Warm regards, Cheye
 5.
Prince George's raid prompts call for probe By Doug Donovan ,Sun reporter
August 8, 2008
news
...stopped, two dogs lay dead. A mayor sat in his boxers, hands bound...into the home of Berwyn Heights' mayor last week seized the same unopened...found, and no one was arrested at Mayor Cheye Calvo's home in this small bedroom community...
 6.
Prince George's raid prompts call for probe By Doug Donovan ,Sun reporter
August 7, 2008
news
...stopped, two dogs lay dead. A mayor sat in his boxers, hands bound...into the home of Berwyn Heights' mayor last week seized the same unopened...found, and no one was arrested at Mayor Cheye Calvo's home in this small bedroom community...
 7.
Police: 2 arrested in marijuana-smuggling scheme that prompted raid on DC-area mayor's home By Associated Press
August 6, 2008
news
...marijuana to a Washington, D.C.-area mayor's wife. The home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his wife, Trinity Tomsic, was raided...Capital Beltway," gets a small stipend as mayor and works at the SEED Foundation, a nonprofit...
 8.
D.C.-area mayor's house is raided
August 1, 2008
news
...the home of a Washington-area mayor, killing his two black Labrador...County police said Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo brought a 32-pound packa

20080806 Calvo’s Counsel’s statement

20080806 Calvo’s Counsel’s statement

Joseph
Greenwald
& Laake


Attorneys at Law Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane · Suite 400 Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
(301) 220-2200 · Fax (301) 220-1214
www.jgllaw.com

Timothy F. Maloney
Direct Dial: (240) 553-1206
Direct Fax: (240) 553-1748
Email:
TMaloney@jgllaw.com

August 6, 2008


This statement was released today by Timothy F. Maloney, counsel for Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his wife, Trinity Tomsic:

These arrests confirm that Trinity Tomsic was a random victim of identity theft at the hands of major drug traffickers. This crime was compounded by law enforcement when it illegally invaded the Calvo home, tied up the mayor and his mother-in-law, and killed the family dogs. The suggestion that Mayor Calvo’s mother-in-law’s reaction to seeing a SWAT team in her front yard justified an illegal no-knock entry is outrageous.

The statement that the Calvo family dogs were threatening law enforcement is demonstrably false. The killing of the family dogs was premeditated. The deputies were aware of the presence of the dogs and began firing immediately upon entering the house. One dog, Chase, was shot in the back while running away in the rear of the house. The second dog, Payton, was shot where he was found, some distance from the front door.

Mayor Calvo and his wife are outraged that law enforcement appears to be blaming the victims for this outrageous invasion into their home. Innocent citizens have a right to be safe and secure in their homes, especially from the very officers who are sworn to protect them. Two beloved and innocent dogs are dead. Two innocent people were tied up. Three innocent people had their reputations unfairly impugned by law enforcement incompetence.

Since this incident occurred, the Calvos have received reports of similar misconduct involving entry into the homes of other innocent County citizens. The defensive statements today by the leadership of both agencies demonstrates that the Sheriff’s Department and the County Police Department have already reached their own conclusions in this case without ever speaking with members of the Calvo family about what happened to them. It is clear that neither agency can conduct an independent review into the law enforcement misconduct that occurred here, nor are they willing to review their policies involving no-knock entry and the killing of innocent family pets.

The Calvos will be holding a press conference tomorrow, August 7, 2008 at 2 p.m. at their residence at 8522 Edmonston Road, Berwyn Heights, Md.


####

Attorneys at Law Joseph, Greenwald & Laake, P.A.
6404 Ivy Lane · Suite 400 Greenbelt, Maryland 20770
(301) 220-2200 · Fax (301) 220-1214
www.jgllaw.com

FRED R. JOSEPH (1943-1997) ANDREW E. GREENWALD WALTER E. LAAKE, JR. STEPHEN A. FRIEDMAN BURT M. KAHN MICHAEL D. JACKLEY STEVEN M. PAVSNER BARBARA A. JORGENSON TIMOTHY F. MALONEY DAVID BULITT DOV APFEL JAY P. HOLLAND TIMOTHY P. O'BRIEN JERRY D. MILLER STEVEN B. VINICK PAUL F. RIEKHOF CARY J. HANSEL LAWRENCE R. HOLZMAN BRIAN J. MARKOVITZ VERONICA BYAM NANNIS DAVID S. COAXUM AMY L. PELLICIOTTA JASON L. LEVINE ROBB A. LONGMAN SHANNON L. HAMMOND REGINA L. SCHOWALTER DARA B. GRUNDFAST JOSEPH M. CREED KOUSHIK BHATTACHARYA NAKIA V. GRAY Of Counsel: BARBARA E. PALMER

_____

Related:
20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080731 Washington Post: Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayors Home Kill His 2 Dogs

20080807 ABC 7 News: “Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo”

20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot, Law and Order Lunacy, MD municipality Berwyn Heights, People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

More:
Here, here, and here.

20080807 ABC 7 News: “Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo”



20080807 ABC 7 News: “Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo”

ABC 7 News - Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo

http://cfc.wjla.com/external.cfm?p=calvo080708

WJLA News Search Results for 'Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo'

Friday 08/08/08 8:22pm
Mayor and Wife Exonerated in Drug Smuggling Scheme

Thursday 08/07/08 7:07pm
FBI Opens Civil Rights Case in Mayor's Home Raid

Wednesday 08/06/08 8:27pm
Police: Two Arrested in Marijuana Shipping Plot; Raid on Mayor's Home Defended

Wednesday 07/30/08 6:33pm
Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

Related:
20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot, Law and Order Lunacy, MD municipality Berwyn Heights, People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

More:
Here, here, and here.

ABC 7 News - Statement of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo

http://cfc.wjla.com/external.cfm?p=calvo080708

August 7, 2008

Thank you for coming today to our home. Trinity, her mom, Georgia, and I are very pleased that two arrests have been made and that a large quantity of drugs have been seized.

It is a great relief to us to be removed from the glare of suspicion. We knew we were not involved. Our friends, neighbors, and community knew we were not involved.

But people who didn't know us did not really know what to think. Apparently, based on yesterday's statement, the Prince George's County Police Chief still doesn't know what to think. But I think the rest of the world now knows what happened, and we are relieved that the truth has finally come out.

Trinity was an innocent and random victim of identity theft. Apparently, so were four or five other County residents whose names and addresses were stolen, and used as addressees on drug packages. However, Trinity and our family have not been treated as victims of a crime.

Instead, our home was invaded. Our two beloved Labrador retrievers are dead. My mother-in-law and I were tied up for nearly two hours. A shadow was cast over our good names. We were harmed by the very people who took an oath to protect us.

But now that truth has come out, the leadership of our two county law enforcement agencies have made things worse. They have falsely blamed the dogs' death on the dogs. They have blamed their illegal no-knock entry on my mother-in-law for shouting when she saw a SWAT team in the yard. And, although the rest of the world now knows it, the Chief of Police can't quite bring himself to say the word "innocent" –

Although he certainly isn't casting suspicion on the other five County homeowners whose identities were stolen by the deliveryman.

Sheriff Jackson said yesterday that his deputies were "engaged" by our dogs. This is simply false. The deputies opened fire and executed our dogs the very second they broke down our front door. The thoughtless execution of Payton and Chase was premeditated, without provocation, and appears to have been done for sport.

The officers were aware of the presence of our dogs before they broke down our front door. They had seen Payton earlier when the undercover officer delivered the package to our house. They had seen me walk both dogs through the neighborhood moments before the invaded our home. In fact, I waved to them.

Payton was shot some distance from the front door. He was shot where his body was found, near the entrance to the kitchen. After Payton was shot, Chase reacted to the gunfire and ran away from the deputies. He was hunted down and shot in the back while he fled. His body was found in the rear of the house.

We loved our dogs. Our community loved our dogs. They were a part of our family. They didn't deserve to die.

They don't deserve to be blamed for their deaths.

I call upon Sheriff Jackson to retract his false statement that our dogs "engaged" his deputies, as well as any suggestion that his deputies were justified in shooting our dogs. I also call upon law enforcement to release the photographs they took of our dogs after they were shot.

These images are shocking. They will show you what they did to them, and where they were located when they were killed. These photographs will tell the truth, if law enforcement refuses to do so.

I also call upon Sheriff Jackson to retract his statement that the "no-knock" invasion of our home was justified because my mother-in-law screamed when she saw the SWAT team in our yard. Last week, the spokesperson for the County police said the officers were justified in breaking down our door because a no-knock warrant had been issued.

This, too, turned out to be false. No such warrant was ever sought or obtained. In fact, when law enforcement invaded our house, they knew nothing about us except that someone had addressed a package containing marijuana to Trinity.

Although more than a dozen officers were at our house all day, they did not spend five minutes investigating who we are and what our lives are about. If they had, they would have found that we are regular, law-abiding, community-minded people. We have spent our lives in community service and certainly are not a threat to the public safety.

What is now most disturbing is that the Police Chief and Sheriff have reached public conclusions about the propriety of what happened without conducting any investigation whatsoever, and without ever talking to us at all. They are defending the indefensible.

They are unable to apologize for themselves. They are unable to investigate themselves. And they are clearly unable to reform themselves to make sure that this does not happen to any other innocent family in this County.
In this regard, we are already receiving reports of similar misconduct, including service of warrants at the wrong address, excessive use of no-knock entries, and other unjustified killings of family pets.

This has happened before, and without oversight, it will happen again. Our community is losing confidence in law enforcement based on what they did, and how our leadership has responded to what they did.

For this reason, we have asked the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice to investigate not only what happened to us, but also the larger question of policies and practices of County law enforcement agencies in executing warrants.

We have witnessed a frightening law enforcement culture in which the law is disregarded, the rights of innocent occupants are ignored, and the rights of innocent animals mean nothing. We would never have believed it if we hadn't seen it for ourselves.

Major Magaw, who heads the County's Narcotics Enforcement Division, has denied the existence of no-knock search warrants. This is despite the passage of House Bill 577, which was a 2005 amendment to Maryland's search warrant statute, which specifically provides for such warrants upon a proper application to a judicial officer.

What other statutory protections and civil rights are believed not to exist in Prince George's County? Why are senior law enforcement officials unaware of basic principles of Maryland law.

We need the Federal government to intervene and educate County officials about the rights and protections to which all American citizens, including those in Prince George's County, are entitled.

My family has come to deeply understand the pain and personal sorrow that results from injustice at the hands of our government, particularly the injustices that occur all too frequently here in Prince George's County.

We know that we are blessed in so many ways with the love and comfort of our community, our friends, and our families - -not to mention too many complete strangers. What saddens us most is that all too often, these injustices go unnoticed by law enforcement officials and those who are victimized are forced to suffer in silence.

When these actions first occurred, and I was on the floor, bound in my boxer shorts, looking over at the dead bodies of our wonderful, loyal family members, my initial reaction was that there had been a terrible, terrible mistake.

Now that the County has arrested the people responsible for this, and I have been forced to listen to them defend their actions without even reaching out to hear our story, it has become clear tome that the problems we face in the police and sheriff's departments are systemic, and today my family and I with our many friends begin to speak out to ensure that, though we are certainly not the first victims of brutal injustice in Prince George's County, we bring about far reaching changes that will make us among the last.

Trinity, Georgia, and I cannot turn the back the clock. Bullets cannot be put back in the guns. We may have our good names back, but we will never get our dogs back.

And we may never recover a sense of security and confidence in our law enforcement leadership.

We want to make clear that we support law enforcement and know that they have a difficult and important job to do. In my five years as Mayor, I have had the privilege to work with many outstanding law enforcement professionals, particularly Berwyn Heights Police Chief Patrick Murphy.

I want to thank Chief Murphy for his support through this tough time and for setting a fine example in our community of what policing should be.

Berwyn Heights is living proof that citizens can live safely inside the Beltway and our low crime rate speaks volumes about Chief Murphy's leadership.

Chief Murphy and his officers are largely responsible for the success of our Town because of their style of policing, their understanding of the importance of training and accountability, and their close partnership with the community.

This is the type of leadership that we must demand from our County law enforcement officials.


Sunday, August 03, 2008

20080731 Washington Post: Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayors Home Kill His 2 Dogs

20080731 Washington Post: Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayors Home Kill His 2 Dogs

Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayor's Home, Kill His 2 Dogs

By Aaron C. Davis
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 31, 2008; B01

A police SWAT team raided the home of the mayor in the Prince George's County town of Berwyn Heights on Tuesday, shooting and killing his two dogs, after he brought in a 32-pound package of marijuana that had been delivered to his doorstep, police said.

Mayor Cheye Calvo was not arrested in the raid, which was carried out about 7 p.m. by the Sheriff's Office SWAT team and county police narcotics officers. Prince George's police spokesman
Henry Tippett said yesterday that all the residents of the house -- Calvo, his wife and his mother-in-law -- are "persons of interest" in the case.

[…]

Read the rest here:
Police Raid Berwyn Heights Mayor's Home, Kill His 2 Dogs

Wednesday 07/30/08 6:33pm
Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

Related:
20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot
20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080730 Berwyn Heights Mayor suffers home invasion dogs shot, MD municipality Berwyn Heights, Law and Order Lunacy,
People MD Calvo – Cheye Calvo

More:
Here, here, and here.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003299.html

Saturday, August 02, 2008

20080730 WJLA: Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

More: Here, here, and here.

posted by WJLA 6:33 pm Wed July 30, 2008 - BERWYN HEIGHTS, Md.

The Mayor of Berwyn Heights, Md. was the target of a drug raid Wednesday after a package containing several pounds of marijuana was shipped to his home, according to police.

Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo is still reeling after a team of heavily armed sheriff deputies burst into his home Wednesday.

"It was an explosion followed immediately by gunfire," said Calvo.

The deputies bound the mayor and fired shots, killing the Calvo's two black Labradors. Calvo tearfully expressed his love for his "good dogs" while showing ABC 7 reporter Brad Bell, exactly where they were shot by a Prince George's county sheriff.

[…]


Read the rest here:
Berwyn Heights Mayor Targeted in Drug Raid

20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot




20080801 Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

Berwyn Heights mayor’s home invaded dog shot

August 1, 2008

The mayor of Berwyn Heights, Cheye Calvo, had his home invaded Wednesday evening, July 30, 2008.

More: Here, here, and here.

I have briefly worked with Mayor Calvo in the past, but I do not know him well. What I do know is that he is a very soft-spoken, kind, conscientious and an extraordinarily capable and competent person, who loves his community and is extremely well-liked by everyone.

For this to happen to him is simply an outrage…

His front door was broken-through and heavily armed folks invaded his home. In the melee that ensued, his two black Labrador dogs were shot and killed and he and his mother-in-law were tied-up, while his home was ransacked.

The police did not have far to look for the folks who did this. It was the Prince Georges County Sheriff’s Department – who, oops, made a mistake. Oh, nevermind...



Labels: , , , ,

Monday, June 23, 2008

20080622 Maryland Municipal League President 2006-2007 David E. Carey of Bel Air

Maryland Municipal League President 2006-2007 David E. Carey of Bel Air

David E. Carey, Immediate Past President, Commissioner, Bel Air


Serves on MML's Legislative Committee.

Elected to a four-year term on the Bel Air Board of Commissioners and the Harford County Democratic Central Committee.

Past chair of the Town of Bel Air's Economic and Community Development Commission.

Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, the National Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, and the American, Maryland and Harford County Bar Association.



Information retrieved June 22, 2008

20080622 Maryland Municipal League President 2006-2007 David E. Carey of Bel Air

Maryland Municipal League presidents and board of directors, Maryland Municipal League, People Maryland Carey - David E. Cary

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

20080225 Delegate Weldon announces he will not seek re election in 2010


The Tentacle: Delegate Richard Weldon (R) Frederick County announces he will not seek re election in 2010

Pondering a Political Future

February 25, 2008

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

At a Farm Bureau/Pomona Grange legislative luncheon a few weeks ago, audience members were treated to a little surprise along with their roast beef and ham.

After several months of quiet contemplation, I had decided that I would use that venue to announce that I would not seek re-election to the Maryland House of Delegates in 2010.

Several questions arise. Why give up the chance for a third term? Why make the decision now? Why choose that venue to make the announcement?

Analyzing the answers to those questions fully explains the reasons for the decision. I’ll try to list the reasons, although the order might be subject to question.

Read the rest of Delegate Weldon’s Tentacle column here: Pondering a Political Future

Thursday, December 27, 2007

20071226 A Tribute to former Carroll County Delegate Richard C. Matthews

A Tribute to former Carroll County Delegate Richard C. Matthews

December 26th, 2007 by Kevin Dayhoff

Recently, the death of former Carroll County Delegate Richard C. Matthews caused me to pause in thought about the many county leaders that have gone before us - and how they dealt with challenges. Delegate Matthews passed away on Dec. 13, 2007, at the age of 81.

Carroll County has been fortunate to have many native sons and daughters who made a great difference and contribution to our community, Maryland and our great nation.

As 2007 draws to a close and we all look forward (or not) to the opportunities and challenges of 2008, the lull between Christmas and New Years Day is often the time of some retrospection and assessment.

Anecdotally, this theme of reflection on the past year and thoughts of the future year has been shared with me by several community leaders in a number of conversations.

Of course, for an historian, there are always examples of past periods of time when the community had overwhelming problems in which the current challenges pale in comparison. Nevertheless that information provides us with little solace today.

In November, over the Veterans Day weekend, I attended a conference on “The Presidency and the Supreme Court.” Conversations with other historians about past eras in American history certainly put today’s challenges in a certain perspective. Be relieved as I will spare you a column on constitutional and economic challenges “The Revenue Act of 1862.”

Off the top of my head, in Carroll County issues like the adequate and safe supply of water, attracting local employment, police protection, and solid waste management come quickly to mind. Let’s also not overlook that because rural local government had its revenue cut as a result of the Special Session of the Maryland General Assembly in November – the question remains as to how we are going to pay for these services and infrastructure.

In 2008 we can all look forward to some solutions to the many pressing challenges in our community. Perhaps you have a list of your own that you may want to share. If so, drop me an e-mail.

On July 30, when the acclaimed enigmatic Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, 89, passed away, I wrote that he drew much of his inspiration by attempting to figure out the various, often-conflicting dynamics of a small college town. His movies often made me think of Westminster.

Mr. Bergman, like so many community leaders – present or long-since passed away- spent a lifetime engaged in mortal combat with the big questions of mortality, morality, faith, community, existence, family, despair, and betrayal.

The Carroll County of my childhood was a complex interesting paradox of rugged individualists who moved the ball forward and made our community successful by way of their social and business relationships.

Like making sausage, our quality of life was furthered by the relationships of folks combining their efforts so that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts, but it was often foreboding, disenchanting, and bewildering to watch it happen.

Delegate Matthews represented Carroll County in Annapolis from 1967 to 1994 and for many of those years was the chairman of the Carroll County legislative delegation. It was during the period of his service to our community that history is sure to reflect there were enormous changes in Carroll County.

His sure and steady, unassuming yet confident leadership served Carroll County well. Yet, in a series of anecdotal conversations with younger readers and new folks to Carroll County, it appears that many are not aware of Delegate Matthews.

He graduated from Hampstead High School in 1943. In Annapolis he was champion of small business and in that role, he was a charter member of the Maryland Legislative Small Business Forum.

He knew the challenges of running a small business in Maryland - most certainly as a result of the fact that from 1946 until he passed away, he owned and operated Matthews Service Station and Matthews Tire Co. Many folks recall that he was also the owner and operator of Hampstead Auto Parts from 1957 until 1985.

Many years ago, I did some business with him and in later years, at social occasions and community events, we would laugh about the fact that he defeated my cousin, Wilbur Magin, in the 1967 election. Delegate Magin served Carroll County from 1959 until 1967.

I will always remember him as thoughtful and friendly; qualities that former Delegate Joe Getty echoed in a recent conversation. Former Delegate Getty said that Delegate Matthews was a family friend. He noted that Delegate Matthews was a “very modest, yet a strong advocate for small businesses and Carroll County But he was a humble person and did not become self-important.”

Delegate Getty continued:

“Dick maintained a self-defined role in the Maryland House of Delegates in his representation of a rural agricultural community and representing the small mom and pop businesses.

Of course, he ran a small business himself. He kept rooted in his advocacy of small business and in that role, he found the right committee – the House Judiciary Committee.

He had no aspirations of higher office. He was confident and self-assured in the role that he played. In 1989, when Carroll County Senator Ray Beck was appointed to be a Circuit Court judge by Governor Wm. Donald Schaeffer.

In those days, I was on the Republican Central Committee. If you will recall, when there is a vacancy, it is the local county Central Committee that recommends to the governor who should fill the seat.

Don Taylor and I were asked to interview Delegate Matthews. We called him up and he told us to meet with him over at his Mom and Dad’s house.

There, in his Mom and Dad’s living room, the subject was broached that Dick was the logical person to move up to the Senate seat. He had no interest. He responded that he was very happy where he was.”

As to why Delegate Matthews was so influential and helped shape the Carroll County we know today, Mr. Getty reminded me that during Delegate Matthews’ “long tenure as an elected official, he served with – or worked with folks, whose span of leadership goes from the 1950s to the present.”

Including folks like Maryland State Senator Charles H. Smelser and former 6th District Congressman Goodloe E. Byron when he was a Maryland State Senator. He also served with Maryland State Delegate – and later a Senator, Raymond E. Beck and Senator Larry Haines; Delegates Richard N. Dixon, Lanny Harchenhorn and Jake Yingling.

Former Governor Robert L. Ehrlich thought highly of Delegate Matthews and considered him a good friend. They served 8 years together served on the house judiciary committee. Every time Governor Ehrlich visited anywhere near Hampstead, he would make sure to stop by (Delegate Matthews) tire store.

Delegate Matthews’ sure and steady, unassuming yet confident leadership served Carroll County well and he will be missed.

####

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com, Winchester Report and The Sunday Carroll Eagle – in the Sunday Carroll County section of the Baltimore Sun. Get Westminster Eagle RSS Feed

Thursday, October 11, 2007

20071007 Annapolis Alderman Joe Sacks has passed away

20071007 Annapolis Alderman Joe Sacks has passed away

Annapolis Alderman Joe Sacks has passed away

October 10th, 2007

Hat Tip: Capital Punishment from Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Many thanks go out to Capital Punishment for calling to our attention the sad news that Annapolis Alderman Joe Sacks passed away – and thank you for your kind words about Joe:

“As an Alderman, he knew the issues and tried to be fair and reasonable. He was funny and smart; some might say a bit "curmudgeonly" but in a nice way.

“He served his city, his constituents and his community. He made a difference.”

I could not agree more.

When I was first elected to the Westminster Common Council in 1999 and became involved in the Maryland Municipal League, Alderman Sachs was one of the first elected officials I met. He was very kind, knowledgeable – and had a great sense of humor. He always went out of his way to answer my questions.

He was an elected official who got involved in government for all the correct reasons. That sort of elected official is unfortunately an anomaly these days. He will be greatly missed.

The capital Gazette carried the sad news on October 9th, 2007: “Former Alderman Sachs dies,” by E. B. Furgurson III and Nicole Young.

Former Alderman Sachs dies

October 9th, 2007

Remembered as champion of the arts who helped found Maryland Hall

Joseph Sachs, a former Annapolis alderman, protector of the city's heritage, champion of the arts and a founder of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, died Sunday of lung disease. He was 73.

He was remembered as a vigorous supporter of the city's cultural life and a taskmaster as chairman of the Finance Committee on the City Council, where he served twice, once as a short-term fill-in and one full term representing Ward 4 from 1997 to 2001.

[…]

Early in his career he moved from Baltimore to work for Gov. Spiro T. Agnew as an assistant appointments officer. Before that he was general manager of the old Baltimore Bullets, precursor to today's Washington Wizards.

Later he sold cars at Mercedes Benz of Annapolis in Eastport.

Mr. Sachs was born Feb. 26, 1934 in Baltimore, and received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Maryland College Park in 1955.

He was on the board of Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold.

Surviving are his wife, Jacqueline Rubin Sachs, whom he married in 1979; one son, Rich Glabman of Dallas; two daughters, Deborah Love of Annapolis and Sheri Stracener of Austin, Texas; and seven grandchildren. He was the son of the late Bernard and Rose Lapides Sachs.

A celebration of his life will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Maryland Hall, 801 Chase St., Annapolis, MD 21401.

Read the entire article here: Former Alderman Sachs dies

And thanks again to the Capital Punishment. Paul Foer’s work with this blog ought to be on everyone’s must read list for all things about the Annapolis opera…

####

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

20071009 Thomas W Rimrodt dead at 41

Thomas W Rimrodt dead at 41

October 10, 2007

I was sad to read that Tom Rimrodt has passed away at age 41 years young.

I thought I had a few good pictures of Tom and for the life of me, I can’t put my hands on them right now…

I first met Mr. Rimrodt at the GOPAC training on December 9, 2000 in Easton, MD, where I learned the concept of "Flying Upside Down" by Joseph Gaylord and of GOPAC's "Flying Upside Down, How to run a successful low-cost, high-impact campaign.”

This was shortly after Tom had arrived in Maryland and the first of a number of great experiences with him.

And I would run across him at the oddest places – such as on March 16, 2002 when my wife and I attended the Carroll County Democratic Party’s Carroll County Jefferson Jackson dinner.

In spite of the number of great folks in Carroll County – who happen to be Democrats; I think that was the last time I attended the dinner. We’ve had friends invite us back, but I always managed to politely plead busy that evening…

Years ago in Carroll County the different parties would attend each others’ functions – and say, for another example, we would have election night vigils together.

We just did not care about party affiliation.

If it were not for the Baltimore Sun these days, I still would not be aware of the political affiliation of many folks in community leadership.

That august paper will frequently analyze Carroll County public policy and community dynamics in the context of what party whomever belongs. Democrats – good. Republicans – bad.

One great friend, with whom I disagree about everything in national politics – and I always agree upon the level of silliness this dynamic has been carried in recent years.

It was at the March 16, 2002 dinner that my wife and I left at the end of the evening quite impressed as to how we felt quite unwelcome and it made us sad.

Tom remarked about the same thing.

Tom worked for many campaigns - including Congressman Bartlett, and he was always good for a meaningful conversation about political theory and keeping things in a broad context.

If I am not mistaken, it was Tom who reinforced that there are two things you do with power: give it away to a responsible leader and name your successors.

In a number of conversations he would emphasize matters of succession and keeping an eye out for the next generation of up and coming leaders and recognizing younger community leaders with extraordinary talent.

Mr. Rimrodt’s passing at such a young age is a loss and he will be greatly missed.

We will keep his family and friends in our prayers.

Thomas W. Rimrodt

[ Age 41 ] Republican campaign manager

Thomas Wayne Rimrodt, a Republican campaign manager who had been an assistant secretary in the Maryland Department of Planning until early this year, died of brain cancer Sunday at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. The Parkville resident was 41.

After serving as the city manager of Atherton, Calif., he moved to Maryland in 2000 and managed Republican Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett's re-election campaign. He then began grass-roots organizing work for Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s successful campaign for governor in 2002.

"He lived life to the fullest," said his friend Casi Tomarchio of Forest Hill. "He loved being around people.

"He was very interested in what grass-roots Republicans had to say and made sure the upper levels of the party heard that," said his wife of 17 years, the former Sheryl Hurston.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church, 6950 Dogwood Road, Windsor Mill, where he was a member.

I am scheduled to be out of town this Saturday. Would someone please convey our condolences to the family?

####

Monday, September 17, 2007

20070916 Don’t Start Caring Now by P. Kenneth Burns

Don’t Start Caring Now by P. Kenneth Burns, the Editor and Writer of Maryland Politics Today

September 16th, 2007

Since I am no longer an elected official and no longer on the Maryland Municipal League Board of Directors, I have lost track of many of the issues in Prince George’s County. I certainly enjoyed working with many of the elected officials… I have always appreciated Wayne Curry and have followed his career for many years – he is a 1971 graduate of Western Maryland College, now McDaniel College. So my ears perked-up when Mr. Burns mentioned him in a post…

As you all know, Maryland Politics Today is based in South Laurel, Prince George’s County. I grew up in the county and I was a big fan of the Wayne Curry years. Wayne Curry was County Executive from 1994-2002, a man with more integrity than our current County Executive Jack Johnson…

Curry did his best in attracting business to the county, in addition, he also boosted county pride in us, the residents. He was first to tell the media to don’t dare call it P.G. County. He took to little steps to show that the county can handle upscale retail.

Read the rest here: Don’t Start Caring Now

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

20070912 This week in The Tentacle

This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Jack Molesworth touched many lives

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Ever since John E. "Jack" Molesworth, 80, a Western Maryland College graduate, accomplished Frederick and Carroll County area football coach and educator, died August 31 at Frederick Memorial Hospital from injuries from a fall, accolades and tributes have poured in from community leaders about the life accomplishments of this great man.


Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Media Guru

Roy Meachum

Whatever just charges can be made of ineptness in the current White House, nobody doubts the president has displayed genius in selecting his media gurus. Whoever currently holds the job is performing in the bedazzling tradition of his predecessors.


Monday, September 10, 2007

A Political Manifesto - Part One

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Who am I? This is a rhetorical question, but also an important exploration of philosophy, a political self-assessment in the face of aging, maturing, and awareness.


Friday, September 7, 2007

"Remember Me"

Roy Meachum

The realization first popped up in Rome, in 1968. An Italian-American Marine lance corporal hijacked a TWA flight in California. In what turned out to be the longest hijacking in history, Raffaele Minichiello diverted the jet to the land where he was born 20 years before. He broke the law. No question.

Halloween 2008 Nightmares

Edward Lulie III

This is over a year early but here are two separate nightmarish dreams for Halloween 2008, one for the political left and one for the political right.sweet dreams all.


Thursday, September 6, 2007

R.I.P. Jack Molesworth

John W. Ashbury

William Shakespeare once wrote "The evil that men do lives after them, / The good is oft interred with their bones." That won't be the case with Jack Molesworth.

Michael Vick - A Perspective

Patricia A. Kelly

Make no mistake. Michael Vick was wrong. Raising dogs under cruel conditions, torturing them as they are trained to fight, killing them painfully when they fail to live up to expectations.It's wrong.


Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Mount Airy: The Little Town That Could

Kevin E. Dayhoff

In the early morning hours of last Sunday, the town of Mount Airy was rudely awakened just past 4 A.M. to a three-alarm fire. Hardly anything strikes fear in the heart of a community as does a major fire.

The Great Barrier Reef

Tom McLaughlin

Cairns, Australia (pronounced cans), is located at the very top of the eastern coast also known as the Gold Coast. A resort town, it is the jumping off point for explorations on the Great Barrier Reef or "the reef" as known there.


Tuesday, September 4, 2007

And Still They Go

Roy Meachum

Writing two weeks ago I listed the more prominent departures from the White House, but I strongly pointed out the men and women should not be compared to "rats deserting a sinking ship." I may have been wrong.

The Path to Change

Farrell Keough

The paradox of white blindness and an inability to acknowledge minorities as people is one of the real life problems set forth in the book White Guilt - How Blacks & Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era by Shelby Steele.


Monday, September 3, 2007

Breaking Ground

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Last week's mail included an invitation to a ground-breaking ceremony. This isn't a small event. This ceremony, designating the beginning of a major construction project, signals the most significant change in the history of my hometown.

The Barber of Seville

Tom McLaughlin

It's like the Grand Canyon, the Sistine Chapel, or the Madonna. You just have to see it. You can't describe it, put it on postcards or watch it on television.