Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (Photo: WBOC)ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - 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 the 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. Shipley says the executive protection has been in place since the early 1970s.
