Prompted by information first made public on The Dagger, Fox 45 News (Channel 15) will air a story on tonight’s 10 p.m. broadcast about the plight of Lynne Parry, widow of Baltimore Police Detective Sergeant Mark F. Parry. Lynne’s son was denied college tuition assistance intended for police survivors when the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Fund ran out of money, leaving a total of 40 deserving families out in the cold.
Delegate J.B. Jennings has written a letter to Governor Martin O’Malley, asking for funds to rectify what he calls an “alarming concern.” Senator Andy Harris has also written to the Governor, asking for all eligible Conroy Scholarship applicants to receive full funding. And The Dagger has begun an e-mail campaign urging the Governor to find the $227,040 needed to provide an award to every one of the 40 deserving families who made the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of Maryland.
What’s next? Governor O’Malley, it’s your move.
To see the video from the Fox45 report, follow this link: Conroy Scholarship Funds Story on Fox 45
Well, Fox 45 made Lynne’s story the lead item on its 10 p.m. news broadcast and I think they did an admirable job with it.
In a two-minute snapshot like that it’s easy to see why this is such an important and tragic issue.
Bonus points go to the Fox 45 reporter for cornering Gov. O’Malley who was quoted on camera saying something like, “We’ll do what we have to do to replenish those funds.”
As the wife of a police officer I am stunned and very shocked by this situation. We the dependants of people who lay their lives on the line everyday, have always believed that if the worst were to happen to our spouses, the state would step in and provide at least an education for our children. Immediate action and attention needs to be given to this situation. With our states budget, it is criminal that the Conroy fund is out of funds.
Update: We have linked to the video segment that Fox45 featured as it’s lead story last night.
Lynne,
Well this is a great start and Delegate Jennings should be commended for taking the lead to correct Maryland’s blunder. Both you and the other families have already paid enough. Our state and its politicians need to make sure this never happens again.
My nephew, Clinton Rumpf benefited from the entitlement and now serves in the US Air Force.
I wish you and your family all the best and I wanted you to know that I served with your husband in Baltimore County. God bless and protect you & yours.
Sincerely,
Cpl. O. W. Jansen III
“Butch”
Lynne, Thanks goes to you for bringing forth the problem that affects so many families and their college students. I hope it is comforting to you that by speaking out, you may be able to help so many. Take care and a great school year to you and your children.
Thanks for your comment SZQ-
I am motivated to correct this if not for my family, then for the surviving children of other widows/widowers I know in MD. Your kind comment helps comfort me also.
I heard from a correctional officer (via mutual friend), who was flabbergasted to hear this…they too fall under Public Safety. He also was always under the impression that this was a guaranteed survivor’s benefit for his family.
I also wanted to let Dagger readers know that Fox45 called me tonight and is following this story closely..they want to know IF O’Malley is going to do anything. I told them no news yet. This is a credit to this news agency, that not only did they feel this was an important story to get out to the public, BUT they also care enough to see this through. With their support this issue reaches a larger audience.
Thanks Dagger and Fox45!
Lynn Parry has taken up a battle that law enforcement surviving families should not have to wage. As a former resident of Maryland and Executive Director of Concerns of Police Survivors, it is truly a shame that Maryland doesn’t fund this death benefit as it needs to be funded.
I think it would be an interesting story to compare how much the State spends on educational benefits for the surviving families of fallen public safety officers versus the amount the State spends for educational costs for convicts!
Suzie Sawyer, Executive Director, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.
BREAKING NEWS:
Susan McComas’ office says that the Conroy scholarships will be fully funded. On Monday, August 25 letters were mailed to all 40 applicants for the scholarship, which was established to benefit the children of law enforcement officers, firemen, and 9/11 victims.
Lynne Parry, who broke the story of the underfunding of the scholarship on the Dagger earlier this month, received her letter today, Tuesday, August 26. After being told that there weren’t enough funds and that her son, the child of the late Baltimore Police Detective Sergeant Mark F. Parry, she was overjoyed to learn that the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) was fully funding the scholarship for her son.
In fact, all 40 applicants will be reimbursed for tuition and fees for the fall 2008 semester. Based on the assumption that some applicants will cancel their applications by going out of state schools or not going to school at all, and the transfer of $130,000 from other non-need-based state scholarship funds, the money is now available to fully fund the state-mandated scholarship.
More on this story later, as it unveils today and as technical difficulties are overcome.
This is a good thing. Horray.
this breaking new’s indicate’s.the dagger is gaining some clout !
Yes vet…Im very proud of the progress the dagger has made. Proud of the staff and crew ( im not one…i’m just a neurotic, insomniac reader and quasi writer ).
POP A CHAMPAIN !
The fourth branch of government lives !
VIVA LA DAGGER !
Go Dagger ! Go Dagger ! Go Dagger !
Brian: BREAKING NEWS: Susan McComas’ office says that the Conroy…
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