An Indecent Proposal for Maryland Delegate?

Cardin uses police boat, helicopter to propose

By JIM IOVINO

Updated 4:26 PM EST, Tue, Aug 18, 2009

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How did a "five-minute safety check" involving a police boat and helicopter turn into a marriage proposal for a state delegate? That's what Maryland officials want to know.

A Baltimore police spokesman said the department had launched an internal affairs probe into the potentially improper use of a police boat and helicopter in an incident that happened Aug. 7 in the Inner Harbor. The Baltimore Sun said police were "pretending to raid a boat the couple were aboard."

Officers boarded the boat, owned by a friend of Del. Jon S. Cardin, on Aug. 7 in the Inner Harbor. As the helicopter Foxtrot hovered overhead, adding to the sense of tension, one report says officers pretended to search the vessel and even had the woman thinking she was about to be handcuffed before the delegate got on one knee and proposed.

Maryland Del. Jon Cardin's happy she said yes. Let's hope it was worth it.

In a statement, Cardin described the actions by police as a "five-minute safety check."

He did not mention the helicopter, which police confirmed was used. Cardin's statement to The Baltimore Sun said that during the "fuss" of the police involvement, he proposed to his girlfriend, Megan Homer. She said yes.

Cardin said he asked his best friend to help him plan the proposal.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the department is investigating whether there was any misuse of resources.

"The Police Department is not in the business of renting out the helicopter and the boats for bachelor parties and birthdays," Guglielmi told the Sun. "We're in the business of upholding public safety in Baltimore."

Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld said Tuesday that Cardin apologized and offered to pay expenses from the incident.

Cardin said in his statement he should have considered that Baltimore resources would be involved. He is the nephew of U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin.