Trips Out of State Cost $98K for Gov. O'Malley Security

For 26 out-of-state trips, the state of Maryland spent $98,460 on Gov. Martin O'Malley's security detail from January until Sept. 18.

Maryland State Police released the figure at the request of a Public Information Act request by The Baltimore Sun from Sept. 18.

A review by state police says the total cost includes overtime, hotel bills, meals, rental cars, gas, airline and train tickets, and other related expenses.

Greg Shipley, a police spokesman, said Monday that the trips involved overnight out-of-state travel and do not include trips that were out of state but nearby, such as to the District of Columbia.

State police provide around-the-clock protection for the governor as a matter of policy. The executive protection has been in place since the early 1970s, Shipley said.