Maryland state Senator Paul Corderman has continued his onslaught against City of Hagerstown officials, posting a barrage of Facebook comments criticizing the handling of public safety and law enforcement.
It started with Paul Corderman’s July 2024 letter to Hagerstown officials about his perception of Hagerstown’s crime problem.
While Sen. Corderman’s concerns about the City’s crime issues are valid, his approach – the finger-pointing, shirking of responsibilities, online mudslinging, and political rhetoric – fails to contribute constructively to solving his community’s problems.
Here’s the main problem: Senator Paul Corderman spends far too much time on Facebook complaining about problems he could contribute to solving.
Incidentally, Mr. Corderman spends a significant portion of his time in downtown Hagerstown; he and his spouse’s notable business, Gordon’s Grocery, a longtime Hagerstown staple, is doing quite well as one of only a few approved food vendors at Meritus Park.
(We’re looking into that, too.)
Between selling overpriced albeit delicious crab cakes at Hagerstown’s new multi-use stadium, Mr. Corderman would undoubtedly have time to connect with the mayor, City Council, county commissioners, and even local law enforcement, who routinely attend Flying Boxcar games.
(There are plenty of Facebook pictures.)
It’s time to lead, Senator Corderman.
Please stay off Facebook, Senator, and do your job.
You have an obligation to your constituents to offer serious, actionable solutions.
State Senator Paul Corderman Mischaracterizerizes the City’s Stance on Crime
Please direct your attention to Mr. Corderman’s recent Facebook comment: “3 shootings within the last 15 hours! Yet the City’s position remains that we don’t have an issue…”
Paul Corderman is not telling the truth.
Hagerstown’s mayor and City Council consistently acknowledge the City’s challenges and have called for collaborative efforts to address them.
The City’s leadership has engaged with residents, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to devise and implement strategies to reduce crime.
Rather than merely pointing out problems, Paul Corderman should join his municipal partners and work together to find solutions.
Again, we urge Mr. Corderman to take some time away from Facebook and make some calls.
Corderman’s Inaccurate Portrayal of Police Department Reductions
Mr. Corderman wrote in a recent Facebook post, “In 2021, under the direction and leadership of the [Hagerstown] Mayor & Council, the City reduced HPD’s authorized force from 112 to 104. Then in 2022, it was again reduced from 104 to 91,” suggesting these reductions have crippled the department.
The Hagerstown City Council reduced the authorized force from 112 to 104 in 2021 and 91 in 2022.
However, it’s essential to consider the broader context behind these reductions.
It’s important to note that Sen. Corderman’s recent public statements fail to provide any concrete evidence to support the claim that the reductions have “crippled” the department.
To fully assess the impact of the department’s reductions, one would need to consider other factors, such as:
- Crime rates: Have crime rates increased in Hagerstown since the force reductions? What does the data show?
- Clearance rates: Has the HPD’s ability to solve crimes been impacted and affected?
- Community Relations: Has the department’s relationship with the community changed? If so, how?
- Budgetary Constraints: Did budgetary concerns drive the force reductions, and have other resources been allocated to mitigate the impact?
By examining these additional factors, we could gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of force reductions on the Hagerstown Police Department.
The City of Hagerstown’s Police Recruitment Efforts
The Hagerstown Police Department is focused on recruitment and retention efforts, including salary increases for officers, to mitigate the impact of these reductions.
These efforts demonstrate a commitment to maintaining public safety despite budgetary challenges.
While Senator Corderman’s numerical value reductions are correct, his portrayal of the situation lacks the context of the City’s strategic planning and efforts to support the police department through other means.
This nuanced view is crucial for a complete understanding of the city’s actions and their impact on public safety. Constructive solutions should focus on innovative ways to attract and retain officers rather than blaming Hagerstown officials.
In a July 2024 phone interview with Herald-Mail Media, Hagerstown Councilman Kristin Aleshire said, “The city has funds available to hire more officers, but it takes time to get candidates through appropriate vetting and training to the point they can go on patrol.
Over to you, Senator Corderman:
If you’re unwilling to lead, sir, at least support the City Council and follow their lead.
Paul Corderman’s Misleading Statements on Community Policing and Enforcement
Busy once again on Facebook, Mr. Corderman asserts, “Community policing and targeted enforcement do work,” suggesting the current City administration has stripped the police department of its ability to engage in these strategies.
Again, Mr. Corderman isn’t telling the whole truth.
Community policing remains a top priority for the Hagerstown Police Department.
City leadership has implemented strategies to foster positive police-community relations and continues enhancing these initiatives.
Is Senator Corderman aware of the City of Hagerstown’s effective drone program to fight crime?
He should be.
City Leaders Call For Community Conversation
According to a July 26, 2024, Herald-Mail Media report, “Councilwoman Tiara Burnett said Thursday that she emailed City Administrator Scott Nicewarner after the July 18 shooting to suggest a meeting regarding what can be done about gun violence and overall crime.
“She echoed that at the council meeting, asking for a meeting with Hagerstown Police, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and Maryland State Police.”
Moreover, Burnett told Herald-Mail Media that “there needs to be a long public meeting, separate from a regular work session and bringing in partners to discuss issues related to crime as a whole.
Herald-Mail Media further reported that “Councilman Matthew Schindler also emailed Nicewarner and his colleagues, suggesting a violent crimes task force. Schindler, like Burnett, also sought ideas from the public through his Facebook page.”
Hagerstown City Councilman Peter Perini told Herald-Mail Media that he “would encourage Burnett’s call for a summit with law enforcement.
‘A lot of times … investigative work is not done in the public eye for obvious reasons and cannot be discussed,’ Perini said.
Councilman Kristin Aleshire, quoted in the same article, said, “There needs to be a series of meetings to address various issues, including substance abuse and mental health, contributing to crime, and reports of residents finding discarded needles and watching people injecting themselves with drugs near the residents’ homes.
‘I want multiple meetings,’ Alshire said.
‘Take each issue one at a time with the appropriate parties’ and vet that issue in public so residents have clarity on what it is the city can and cannot do and who is or isn’t responsible to take action on each specific item, he said.’
Authentic leadership involves listening, understanding different perspectives, and working together to find solutions.
The senator’s approach of public shaming his community partners on social media does little to foster the cooperative spirit needed to tackle Hagerstown’s challenges.
It’s commendable that Mr. Corderman presents himself as a friend and champion of law enforcement.
But instead of hanging out on Facebook as much as he does, Mr. Corderman should pick up the phone and call his community partners rather than blasting them on social media and then playing nice in person when he sees them at Meritus Park.
Where Paul Corderman Demonstrates Leadership
In an August 2024 Facebook thread on his public Facebook page, Mr. Corderman mentions, “We have introduced legislation multiple years that would require DPSCS [the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services] to release individuals back in the county they resided in when the crime was committed.”
To his credit, Sen. Corderman has led the push to return individuals to their home communities after their release from Maryland state prisons.
According to an April 2020 Herald-Mail Media article, during the 2020 Annapolis legislative session, Corderman, who at the time was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, “presented a bill to the House Judiciary Committee” requiring the Division of Correction “to return inmates to the communities where they lived before they were incarcerated.”
“Corderman and other House Republicans sent a letter to Gov. Larry Hogan’s office late last week questioning the state’s early release of inmates from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services’ custody over the past two months, along with plans to let out hundreds more,” Herald-Mail Media reported at the time.
Unfortunately, Sen. Corderman’s bill did not pass the 2020 Annapolis legislative session hearing stage.
That was a mistake; Mr. Corderman’s bill deserved a hearing, and we urge him to continue to press this matter before his fellow Annapolis lawmakers.
Stay Off Facebook, Mr. Corderman; Take Action Now
Sen. Corderman should roll up his sleeves and actively engage his community partners and fellow elected officials.
Here are some actionable steps he should take:
Engage in Direct Dialogue
Instead of airing grievances on social media, the senator should initiate offline conversations with Hagerstown’s mayor, City Council, the Hagerstown Police Department, and other regional law enforcement agencies to understand their efforts and offer the full support of his Senate office.
He could start by attending City Council meetings and participating in community forums to listen to City residents and officials firsthand.
The five City Council members are ready to have that conversation with their regional partners, and Mr. Corderman should follow their example.
Support Funding and Resources
Mr. Corderman could continue to advocate for increased state funding and resources to support local law enforcement and community programs, including securing grants for police staffing, training, and community outreach initiatives.
However, disparaging the city’s nonprofit organizations by blaming them for the problems they’re desperately trying to solve does not foster goodwill among community partners.
By leveraging his position, Sen. Corderman can help secure additional financial support to strengthen the Hagerstown Police Department and enhance public safety measures.
Has Mr. Corderman invited Governor Moore and his administration officials to Hagerstown for this conversation? I’m quite certain they would happily accept his invitation.
I commend Mr. Corderman for his positive working relationship with former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), a consummate advocate for Western Maryland and an uncompromising champion for law enforcement officers.
We also commend Mr. Hogan, now the Republican nominee for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat, for prioritizing Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties during his eight years as Maryland governor.
Promote Collaborative Initiatives
Mr. Corderman should work with City officials to develop and implement comprehensive crime reduction strategies, including prevention, intervention, and enforcement components.
Once again, Mr. Corderman should spend less time on Facebook and more time making phone calls and holding meetings with City officials.
This approach means discussing collaboration and actively participating in task forces and working groups that aim to tackle crime from multiple perspectives.
Champion Community Programs
We encourage Sen. Corderman to promote programs that address the root causes of crime, such as poverty, lack of education, and inadequate mental health services.
He could use the prestige of his office to encourage investment in social services that can complement policing efforts.
For instance, advocating for state funding for addiction treatment programs and affordable housing initiatives can help reduce the factors that contribute to criminal behavior.
Facilitate Community Engagement
If Mr. Corderman is unwilling to take the lead, he should follow the lead of the Hagerstown City Council members by agreeing to participate in public town hall meetings, community forums, workshops, and regional summits, bringing together City residents, law enforcement, and City officials to discuss public safety concerns and collaboratively develop crime-reduction solutions.
These actions include hosting a regional crime summit in Washington County and inviting all state, county, and municipal partners to discuss addressing Hagerstown’s apparent crime problems.
Such a summit would foster a collaborative atmosphere and allow for developing a unified strategy to combat crime.
No More Talk, Senator Corderman: Take Action Now
Paul Corderman’s continued public criticism of City leadership and its police department is counterproductive.
It is time for him to shift from a stance of blame to one of active participation and solution-oriented collaboration.
Residents of the City of Hagerstown deserve leaders willing to work together, listen to diverse perspectives, and take concrete action to improve public safety and quality of life.
By hosting a regional summit and bringing all stakeholders together, Senator Corderman can demonstrate authentic leadership and contribute to meaningful progress for the City.
