New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced on Tuesday via Twitter that he would be sending 150 state troopers to assist Maryland in its response to the violence unfurling in Baltimore.
The violence that began on Monday was tied to protests, which sought answers about the death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a severed spinal cord while in police custody and died. Maryland’s governor also announced some 2,000 national guardsmen would be dispatched to help stop the violence.
Below are Christie’s tweets:
I spoke directly with Maryland Governor @LarryHogan last night and let him know that New Jersey is offering our full support & solidarity…
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
…in their efforts to protect the lives and well-being of the people in the city of Baltimore while calm and order are being restored.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
Following my conversation with Gov @LarryHogan, the @NJSP placed an assessment team on the ground in Maryland.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
And our full deployment of @NJSP will unfold later today to help ensure a peaceful resolution for the city and people of Baltimore.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
There will be a deployment of 150 @NJSP and personnel and 100 of those troopers will provide operational support.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
Approximately 50 enlisted and civilian personnel will provide investigative and logistical support.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
.@NJSP will be on the ground for the initial term of 72 hours, as per the request from Maryland.
— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) April 28, 2015
What a blatantly political move from a desperate politician.
Good grief. Does the governor of Maryland really need the help of NJ state troopers? I mean NJ state troopers? Really?? This is what happens when you have a republican governor trying to be political for another republican governor. Maryland voters you can do better than this.
Do NJ state troopers have any legal authority to engage in law enforcement activities outside of NJ?
What… 5000 National Guardsmen isn’t enough? Tough guy Christie is just throwing his weight around for brownie points.
You don’t send state troopers to other states. You send the National Guard.