STORY:
Maryland Getting Ready for Y2K

Police, prison officials will be fully staffed, on full alert

Police and prison officials in the state of Maryland reportedly say they are still working on their fixes for the computer Y2K bug, but are ready anything that might happen. They told state lawmakers to expect almost all-public safety officials in uniform watching over Maryland's New Year's Eve activities.

The superintendent of the state police, Col. David Mitchell has cancelled leave for all of the state's 2,500 officers, ordered gas reserves filled and a two-months supply of vehicle parts. All 12 state police helicopters will be ready and all officers will be on alert. In case the power goes out, hand-operated gas pumps will even be available in every state police barrack.

Mitchell is also reportedly cracking down on some unidentified local law enforcement agencies, which he believes have been lax on the potential Y2K threat.

A spokesperson for the state's Department of Public Safety says hundreds of tactical officers backed by 30 canines will be on alert New Year's Eve. The department oversees the state's prisons that are designed to work without power. In preparation, correctional officers have been conducting drills involving disasters, riots and power outages. Just in case, the officers will be ready to hop on a bus and quash a disturbance from any of the state's 27,000 inmates.

Units used to monitor the 400 people on home detention are being replaced after a test revealed that the devices did not work when their clocks were rolled forward to Jan. 1.

Source: Associated Press

DATE: 8/13/99

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