Annapolis approves 11.1% pay raise for city police officers
Annapolis Mayor Ellen O. Moyer has approved an across-the-board 11.1 percent pay raise for city police officers, which will go into effect Dec. 27, said Police Chief Joseph S. Johnson.
The raise brings the city's minimum police salary to $35,000, and Johnson said he thinks it will help fill 18 vacancies and dissuade the department's 108 officers from leaving. "I'm very pleased," Johnson said. "It was one of the mayor's campaign promises, and she kept that promise."
Moyer said the raise was budgeted after reaching a collective bargaining agreement with the police union. The raise was approved by the city council, she said.
"It's all part of what's necessary to recruit and retain the best of the best," Moyer said.
2 charged with possession of drugs in Millersville
After receiving a tip, Anne Arundel County police stopped a 1993 Pontiac Grand Prix at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and seized almost $3,000 worth of suspected drugs from it and its occupants, police said.
Police arrested John Christopher Cifolilli, 22, of the 100 block of McKinsey Road in Severna Park and Raheem Oladele Ajaji, 21, of the 2100 block of Mulberry Hill Road in Annapolis. Both were charged with possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
After the car was pulled over on Interstate 97 at Route 32 in Millersville, police reported finding a plastic bag with 13 individually packaged pieces of suspected crack cocaine and 2.5 grams of marijuana. Officers also said they found about $1,800 in suspected crack cocaine in the pants of one of the men. The Grand Prix and $641 also were seized, police said.
Open house celebrates law library's 175 years
The 175th anniversary of the Maryland State Law Library will be celebrated today with an open house that will include cake, exhibits, tours and a string quartet.
The law library, on the first floor of the Courts of Appeal Building in Annapolis, began as a 500-volume public library to serve state officials. It grew into one specializing in law, genealogy, Maryland history and government, holding more than 400,000 volumes.
The open house will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The library will also mark its anniversary with a lecture series next year.