HFStival Migrates To Merriweather - Security

Although I won't be attending, I have attended previous HFStival's. This is a boon for Merriweather. It is also a boon for the County in terms of sales tax and amusement tax revenues.

I can't remember where I heard it, but I heard Merriweather had a lock on the event because their was little competition for the event. Their loss our gain.

However, this strikes me as odd, because I received additional information about how security is going to be provided for the event.

"It will probably be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, event of the summer," said Capt. Merritt Bender, commander of the special operations bureau for the Howard County Police Department. The bureau, working with Merriweather officials and county fire and rescue services, already is deep into the details of staffing, security and traffic management.

It is my understanding that since the Howard County Police Department is not staffed to handle an event like this (nothing wrong with that) they are going to hire Baltimore County Police Officers for the additional resources they need.

SO WHAT? You may ask. This may seem like a non-issue to you, but let me ask this question anyway.

Why doesn't the Howard County Police Department utlize the resources of the Howard County Sheriff's Department? Why outsource security to Baltimore County? Doesn't our own Sheriff's Deputies have the necessary experience and training to provide this extra level of security? We trust them with security at the Courthouse, transporting prisoners, handling domestic violence, issuing warrants, backing up the Police Department Officers in the line of duty, etc.

Aside from that, if our Law Enforcement Officers need assistance with affordable housing couldn't they use the overtime pay too? Why would the HCPD spend our money on extra security on an outside party instead of caring for our own?