Annapolis and College Park would lose their Maryland State Police barracks if the General Assembly agrees with a recommendation from legislative analysts to close the two for a savings of $5.2 million as part of a state police cost-cutting plan.

The Department of Legislative Services plan would preserve the 70 trooper and supervisory positions at the barracks, likely redistributing them to some of the 21 other state police locations throughout Maryland.

But Lt. Bud Frank, a state police spokesman, said the department vehemently opposes closing Annapolis and College Park, calling them "major hubs for dealing with homeland security."

"Annapolis is a vital staging point for issues related to the [state] capital," Frank said yesterday, adding that, because of its proximity to Washington, the College Park barracks plays a similar role at a national level.

State police also argue that closing the two barracks would place an excessive burden on other installations, particularly a second Anne Arundel County barracks in Glen Burnie and a second Prince George's County barracks in Forestville.