These neighborhoods need the police far more than others. They need to quit interfering with them when they try and do their jobs. If you see something bad , by all means, but lately they just see a cop and start chanting.
5
Here's an idea. Require police officers to live in the city, a requirement that exists for city workers in many other cities. Most officers don't live in the city, many do not even live in Maryland! Perhaps if they lived in Baltimore, they'd care about goes on here.
2
It seems that many of the commenters cannot understand that we need police for a safe and peaceful community, but we also do not want them to commit crimes or disrespect residents.
3
The comments here blame the police for the disconnect between them and the citizen population. I notice none of them put the blame on the shoulders of citizens, why is that? Would it not help if parents actually assumed some responsibility and taught their children some respect? I guess the liberal thought pattern of having someone else provide food, shelter, clothing, education includes having someone else responsible for the lack of respect for authority that is at the root cause of the so called disconnect. I don't condone police violence, and I would like to believe that the police do not condone it either, but what I really can't accept is this one way street that the citizens want. They want police protection, they just don't feel it needed to support the police in achieving that protection.
17
ever wonder where all the 'cameras' that are used to capture law enforcement
alleged committing actions against black folks, are, when all of these murders are occurring, or where are all those 'concerned, outraged' protesters, that were filling the streets, during the looting, and rioting, are hiding when all of these events are happening... just wondering...
alleged committing actions against black folks, are, when all of these murders are occurring, or where are all those 'concerned, outraged' protesters, that were filling the streets, during the looting, and rioting, are hiding when all of these events are happening... just wondering...
15
Baltimore forgot to make friends with their criminals before making enemies of their police........
10
So the only thing keeping blacks from killing other blacks is the police? I hate to be racially insensitive but it is a factor if a white kills a black isn't it. The problem is the solution may be worse that what was in place before the riots.
3
One of the main problems is the Experts. Most Experts from academia are about as qualified to address these situations as they are at flying the Space Suttle. The breakdown of the traditional family whether black, white or Hispanic is one of the major causes of crime. From my experience, if you do exactly what a police officer tells you to do, there is about a 99.9% chance that you won't be hurt. You may be arrested for a crime you have comitted or an outstanding warrant but you won't get yourself injured if you obey. It really is that simple. The police are being held to a standard that very few people are held to. That standard is perfection
16
The Key to the City has been handed over to the Black Community and with that comes "Social Responsibility" henceforth leaving them to police themselves because they do not want the Police to do their job and allow their criminal element run the city.
10
If we can't kill you with impunity, we won't protect you either.
2
I understand how complex the situation is in this part of Baltamore, Police leaders need to meet with community leaders to find ways for police to meet with members of the community and begin community policing. If individual policeman do not want to work with true community policing they should be moved or dismissed. Both the community and the police must change.
Time to take your neighborhood back. I am sure there are a lot of wonderful law abiding citizens in Baltimore. Call out the ones that are bringing Baltimore down. It's not the cops, the good cops the bad cops, bringing the city down, they are not shooting 30 people a month, it's the citizens. Time to riot against the criminal activity.
13
so... if they're not allowed to run riot and do whatever they want, they'll just withhold services... sounds mature... they're punching in, and not doing anything on the clock... cut them. if you're not going to work... you shouldn't get paid...
1
This is just another form of police abuse of power and aggression, albeit passive aggression. It just confirms our worst perceptions about them. If you don't let them get away with murder, literally, they will make you sorry. This message from a 66 year old white grandmother of 4 white children.
1
Arm the citizens. Crime will stop.
2
It is going exactly as I would expect. Police are not going out and facing hard core violent criminals and they know it. The murder rate is going to skyrocket. Rioters didn't understand that policing the element in Baltimore is a serious job. At least there are many black fathers here in Baltimore to help raise good keeds.
1
Trusting your neighbors not working. It's obvious the real problem isn't the police. The police are not going to help as long as it means prosecution for doing their job.
9
As usual, accountability is expected from everybody involved.
Except the thugs of course
You know them.
The root cause of the problem.
Except the thugs of course
You know them.
The root cause of the problem.
11
There are two types of policing, pro-active and re-active. Pro-active is aggressive and looks to stop crimes before they begin. Sometimes it steps on toes and opens up lanes for dishonest activist types to scream brutality and other standard things these people love to go on about. This leads to cops stepping back and becoming re-active police. This is where you respond to crimes being committed or already committed. This type of policing limits the types of aggressive behavior the media and activists love to feed off, but it also increases crime because the police do not hustle to prevent. Cannot have it both ways, and until Black communities start to become honest about their role in all of this, it will get worse.
11
The left keeps screaming for less police presence as the solution and then getting mad when the police presence goes down and violent crime goes up. The police were asked to target that area for aggressive enforcement and then hung out to dry by the political leadership that made them do it when things got messy. That city needs a change in political leadership next year and people with the ability to find a better balance between having guts to defend and take responsibility for proactive police tactics while weeding out bad officers. Turning with on law enforcement with the rest of the city, as we now see, has disastrous results for public safety.
6
Why are there 30 people taking video of cops making arrests, but not ONE video of a crime being committed??
12
So wonderful to see a community get what it wants, reduced policeabuse. Now the murder rate has gone up, which may be a matter of causation but not necessarily so. A chance for community policing to demonstrate that the community can handle its own problems without exogenous intervention. Get those angry residents out on the streets to challenge the drug dealers and buyers. Set an example. Rip those pills from their hands! No drugs, no police, no problem. Go Baltimore.
3
Simple question: Why would a police officer risk his life to protect a commuity who wants it both ways? In Baltimore, the black community elected a mostly black liberal governement who obviously prefer to support a "black agenda" as opposed to supporting law enfocement. Rahter then wait for ALL the details to surface, they charged ahead with their agenda and we are now seeing how that's working out.
3
With the perceived lack of support from Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake and City Attorney Mosby, the police are afraid to do their job. Especially in high crime areas where there is the increased risk of having to go hands on with a criminal(s). Most of the citizens in these areas will hate the police for doing their job and then cry out when the police are not there to protect them. I would really hate to be a cop in Baltimore now.
24
This is what those rioters wanted. Let them have it. Let them police themselves. They don't want to live in a civil way, let them live like animals.
4
If no longer wanted, even prosecuted, why be available?
I am wondering, if one day the Polica man and/or Police woman position, wil no longer attract people to join the Police Academy. I hope that day will never come.
All the respect and appreciation to all the Police men and women.
I am wondering, if one day the Polica man and/or Police woman position, wil no longer attract people to join the Police Academy. I hope that day will never come.
All the respect and appreciation to all the Police men and women.
5
These people deserve everything they are getting. I feel bad for those living there which are good people, but when your mayor and attorney general sell you out, I know that I wouldn't bother anymore either if I was an officer.
Start having proper families like it used to be prior to Lyndon Johnson and the war on poverty. Many of these issues start from the home life and expound from there. Also Baltimore is completely democratic and has been this way for 40 years so don't even say it's teh republicans fault because this isn't true.
Start having proper families like it used to be prior to Lyndon Johnson and the war on poverty. Many of these issues start from the home life and expound from there. Also Baltimore is completely democratic and has been this way for 40 years so don't even say it's teh republicans fault because this isn't true.
4
I have seen plenty of marches against hordes of armed police, plenty of clergy wailing and hands clasped and voices raised in song. I have seen young women of all colors on student campuses screaming their loyalty to #BlackLivesMatter, denouncing anyone who would do physical harm to African Americans and I even got to be stuck on Interstate 93 bringing my father-in-law to his cancer treatment in Boston because of these noble people blocking an Interstate during rush hour because #BlackLivesMatter.
With all of this support want to know where I don't see these brave Social Justice Warriors? These brave members of the community with their clergy? I don't see them marching on the open-air drug bodegas, I don't see them reporting crimes and being witnesses FOR the police to try to combat the crime.
"When do I have time to do that!?!?" they will shriek, "That's the job of the police, not me! I work 3 jobs and commute to support my kids!" true enough, life is hard and those who try to do the right thing bear the burden. But I just want to ask, in the end, how will this be resolved? I will be the first to tell you Institutionalized Racism exists and in the same breath tell you the black community is it's own worst enemy.
With all of this support want to know where I don't see these brave Social Justice Warriors? These brave members of the community with their clergy? I don't see them marching on the open-air drug bodegas, I don't see them reporting crimes and being witnesses FOR the police to try to combat the crime.
"When do I have time to do that!?!?" they will shriek, "That's the job of the police, not me! I work 3 jobs and commute to support my kids!" true enough, life is hard and those who try to do the right thing bear the burden. But I just want to ask, in the end, how will this be resolved? I will be the first to tell you Institutionalized Racism exists and in the same breath tell you the black community is it's own worst enemy.
9
You cannot falsely accuse cops and then expect them to help you. The bad cops should be outed but the good cops should be backed by civilians and the media.
3
Keep voting democrat! Both the Black and Hispanic communities have been getting used by them for decades.
And guess what, the situation has not improved. Maybe one day, they'll figure it out.
And guess what, the situation has not improved. Maybe one day, they'll figure it out.
3
” Mr. Mosby said. While many people in his district want a larger police presence, he added, “you talk to others and they don’t even want to see a police officer.” Well, before Freddie Gray, there was a larger police presence. It was obvious to all of us watching the Baltimore rioting that the denizens of the neighborhood wanted LESS police presence. Now they have less police involvement and they're still whining. There is no pleasing some groups. Let Liberal big cities have what they want, less policing, more "freedom" for the citizens. If this results in more of the citizens murdering each other, so be it. I don't want the police killed, injured, harassed. Let the citizens of Baltimore police themselves. We see how well this technique is going in New York City under comrade De Blasio.
4
You cannot riot over a heroine dealer being treated rough while resisting arrest and then demand a "strong" police dept.
If you stick up for the bad guys, then the police should let you keep the bad guys on your streets !
If you stick up for the bad guys, then the police should let you keep the bad guys on your streets !
5
Baltimore is getting what it deserves.
Community leaders all the way up to Obama and the DOJ encouraged the violence and the smearing of the entire police force, in Baltimore and in the country, and egged the protestors into the violence and looting which occurred. Maybe this will be a lesson as to what that kind of stupidity will result in for those communities.
Community leaders all the way up to Obama and the DOJ encouraged the violence and the smearing of the entire police force, in Baltimore and in the country, and egged the protestors into the violence and looting which occurred. Maybe this will be a lesson as to what that kind of stupidity will result in for those communities.
5
Can't have it both ways. Either you respect law enforcement and obey the law--which of course, will dramatically reduce encounters with police--or you continue your criminally dysfunctional culture with diminished police presence, and live with the consequences.
It's called "accountability." But accountability is a totally foreign concept--both to underclass black culture, and the guilt-ridden liberal whites who support them unconditionally.
Baltimore is yet another disgraceful example of lack of honor and accountability. They're finally realizing that cops actually SAVE far, far more black lives than they take.
It's called "accountability." But accountability is a totally foreign concept--both to underclass black culture, and the guilt-ridden liberal whites who support them unconditionally.
Baltimore is yet another disgraceful example of lack of honor and accountability. They're finally realizing that cops actually SAVE far, far more black lives than they take.
5
How unfair, kill one person and you are called a murderer for the rest of your life.
Let's be real, the police are not kids who can take their marbles and go home, they have a duty and a job along with responsibilities.
Let's be real, the police are not kids who can take their marbles and go home, they have a duty and a job along with responsibilities.
1
These "residents" are more dangerous than the deadly animals at the zoo.
2
De-facto black mob entitlement junkie public policy thanks to Obama, DOJ, and Sharpton. Not just in Baltimore, but every community where police are villainized. Decreased policing=increase in violent crime.
3
So because the local prosecutor indicted some murderous thugs hiding behind their badges, the police are refusing to do their jobs. What a load of malarkey. They don't HAVE to brutalize the people to do their jobs. They LIKE to brutalize the people and get away with it without fear of punishment. Makes them feel powerful. I hope Baltimore's mayor and the local prosecutor stand their ground and refuse to accept the false choice with which the police are presenting to them. And the truly good police officers need to step up and not go along with this it's us against them mentality being put forward by their union. As for the leader of the local police union, I'm reminded of what someone once asked Sen. Joseph McCarthy: "Sir, have you no shame?" Apparently not.
6
The problem is not the murder or misconduct charges against the cops. They'll stand or fall on their own merit. The problem is the false arrest charges. You don't charge cops with false arrest because you disagree with their reasoning in thinking an arrest is due, any more than you indict a D/A if a case is later overturned by an appeals court. People disagree on whether or not an arrest is valid. Sometimes that disagreement goes all the way to the Supreme Court and ends up in a split decision. You don't see prosecutors, cops, or defense attorneys being indicted because the Supreme Court came down on one side of a decision or another. All probable cause arrests fundamentally come down to the cop's judgment of the situation. If you indict them because you disagree with that judgment, you deliver a clear message to the other cops that using their judgment can mean imprisonment if you disagree with it, and THAT is fundamentally why the Baltimore cops are refusing to make probable cause arrests, or put themselves in situations where they may have to. Mosby made an incredibly incompetent decision in indicting the cops for false arrest. The false arrest charges won't last five minutes once they are in front of a judge. They are ludicrous on their face. Their sole result will be to stop cops from making probable cause arrests........ and we know what results that produces.
4
You can Thank Ms. Mosby your City Attorney for getting tough on crime. She made scapegoats of the police to "calm" the Baltimore residents.
Good luck to Baltimore you get what you ask for.
Good luck to Baltimore you get what you ask for.
5
The way I see it is that in almost all of the cases in which the police are being criticized and called racists they were involved in "good policing". The cases we've been seeing are not cases with good, well assimilated, people being brutalized. It's invariably people fighting with, disobeying, and fleeing from the police. In Ferguson you had a cop accused of murder after being attacked by a thug who tried to grab his gun and shattered his eye socket. In the most recent case in McKinney you have a cop being run out after trying to arrest someone in his face while removing trespassers, and then threatening multiple people moving in to interfere with the arrest. Cops want to come home too, and with the current attitudes it's just too dangerous, even when you do everything right you can be made the bad guy, and god forbid you make a mistake by not attaching a restraint properly, or react in "the heat of the moment" when under threat.
The cops are fine as a general rule, and it's not the bad ones who have been under fire. It's been about politicians, the media, and black culture attacking cops for sensationalism and political favor. Besides even if we could hypothetically have perfect cops, we wouldn't want that, the real world equivalent of Judge Dredd (genetically engineered), or Robocop would be a nightmare which is exactly the point of such stories/thought exercises. In the end it's always them humanizing that prevents them from being monsters.
The cops are fine as a general rule, and it's not the bad ones who have been under fire. It's been about politicians, the media, and black culture attacking cops for sensationalism and political favor. Besides even if we could hypothetically have perfect cops, we wouldn't want that, the real world equivalent of Judge Dredd (genetically engineered), or Robocop would be a nightmare which is exactly the point of such stories/thought exercises. In the end it's always them humanizing that prevents them from being monsters.
3
This is exactly what the activists want, less police authority...well you got it now, how do you like your neighborhood now? Be careful what you ask for !
5
Fire every one of these insubordinate officers, fire the precinct leadership as well. Good paying jobs which require minimal training and experience are hard to come by these days and since they're already not doing their jobs it won't matter until the new recruits take to the streets.
1
If they're reducing the police service I hope at least the residents can get a tax break. Not too bad then.
Ms. Mosby and the residents of West Baltimore got what they wanted -- less policing. I don't feel one bit sorry for them.
My sympathies lie with law enforcement. Of course they have pulled back. After seeing situation after situation where police officers are charged, fired, or hounded, they are understandably reluctant to take action except in the most extreme emergency, and I don't blame them.
And I believe anyone who thinks this state of affairs will be limited to Baltimore has been drinking spiked Kool-Aid. Blacks have been given carte blanche to run wild in the streets. The murder rate in Baltimore may be the tip of the iceberg.
My sympathies lie with law enforcement. Of course they have pulled back. After seeing situation after situation where police officers are charged, fired, or hounded, they are understandably reluctant to take action except in the most extreme emergency, and I don't blame them.
And I believe anyone who thinks this state of affairs will be limited to Baltimore has been drinking spiked Kool-Aid. Blacks have been given carte blanche to run wild in the streets. The murder rate in Baltimore may be the tip of the iceberg.
3
I believe the cops aren't there because they believe that they will be punished for doing their job. In a high crime area as police arrest will always looks a whole lot different compared to a low crime area. Why? This is what I think: in
high crime areas criminals are usually more aggressive, when interacting with a cop. Resisting arrest, fighting the cops, firing at the cops, and so on. So that means the cop that is trying to arrest the guy or woman, has to be aggressive back. Basically the cop is trying to show the criminal that he or she is just as aggressive as the criminal. So the cop is trying to show him, that he don't scare easy and he is willing to attack back if needed too. So it's not about race in my opinion, it's about the area, the people and the businesses. People are usually more meaner in high crime areas anyway, and very careless too. I'm not saying all of them are. The people in the video they seem to be nice people. However, people are still ruder and meaner in higher crime areas compared to lower crime areas. Now for low crime areas, it can very. If the criminal came from a high crime area and have A LONG RAP SHEET, of course the cop will be aggressive to him anyway. Mostly because her came from a certain area, or he saw on his criminal record crazy, or sick things. But cops in low crime areas. Tend to be less aggressive, because most of the crimes in a low crime area will be more minor crimes like theft.
high crime areas criminals are usually more aggressive, when interacting with a cop. Resisting arrest, fighting the cops, firing at the cops, and so on. So that means the cop that is trying to arrest the guy or woman, has to be aggressive back. Basically the cop is trying to show the criminal that he or she is just as aggressive as the criminal. So the cop is trying to show him, that he don't scare easy and he is willing to attack back if needed too. So it's not about race in my opinion, it's about the area, the people and the businesses. People are usually more meaner in high crime areas anyway, and very careless too. I'm not saying all of them are. The people in the video they seem to be nice people. However, people are still ruder and meaner in higher crime areas compared to lower crime areas. Now for low crime areas, it can very. If the criminal came from a high crime area and have A LONG RAP SHEET, of course the cop will be aggressive to him anyway. Mostly because her came from a certain area, or he saw on his criminal record crazy, or sick things. But cops in low crime areas. Tend to be less aggressive, because most of the crimes in a low crime area will be more minor crimes like theft.
4
I think many have confused "no work" with "no proactive" work. They're showing up for work, and responding to calls for service. The slowdown comes in the form of reduced proactive work. They're not stopping every Impala on 20's. They're not putting 20 brothers against a wall every day to get dope/weapons/warrants. Proactive policing, even with the best intent, is often a law of averages game. You can't harass or profile the person you never encounter. These guys are trying to not get sued, fired or killed. Doing the bare necessity, right now, is the best way for them to protect themselves and their families.
5
I disagree: solution to reduced killings isn't better policing; the solution is people bettering themselves (better policing is just a band-aid to the real problem). Also lack of police doesn't make a neighborhood more dangerous because the danger is is already there. What I'm getting at is there's no self-accountability; instead, it's handled to the police - that's a shame.
3
If cops are standing down (like many said they wanted), being less proactive, but still reporting for work, and there are 50 deaths, does that not maybe tell us the problem is not with the police but with the community itself?
5
Of course it has to be something the police are doing, too much, now not enough. It can't be that your community is full of murdering thugs, nooo. I blame society.
5
What else do you expect when police are prosecuted and threatened for doing their jobs? Cops not touching black criminals is what the black protesters wanted. Would you be willing to risk death threats and jail for doing your best in an extremely dangerous job while trying to protect the public, follow the law and get home in one piece every night? Willing to put your family through hell for some videos that are carefully edited by lottery lawsuit layers even when you haven't done a thing wrong??? Neither are the cops in west Baltimore.
They can easily get shot in the face for hesitating at a routine traffic stop but the public expects cops to use their xray vision and see into the future to know what suspects will do before it happens.
I always ask what the people who jump to condemn the police think they should do differently when a criminal resists arrest but no one ever has an answer.
They can easily get shot in the face for hesitating at a routine traffic stop but the public expects cops to use their xray vision and see into the future to know what suspects will do before it happens.
I always ask what the people who jump to condemn the police think they should do differently when a criminal resists arrest but no one ever has an answer.
5
"the solution has to be better policing, not a diminished police presence."
Ah yes, that magic "smarter power" solution. Everything will be rainbows and unicorns if we just put the right policies and/or people in place.
Reality check time. No police force is perfect, and there's always room for improvement. Some PD's need a lot of improvement. But there is no simple solution for the complex problems a police officer must deal with on a daily basis. We Americans love simple solutions to complex problems, but they never work out as intended. 3 strikes laws are a fine example of that sort of thinking.
"She said that she sympathized with many officers who did their jobs well but were now just as hated as the abusive officers"
She's probably just about the only one. Does anyone really think the general attitude towards police in Baltimore and other areas where there have been incidents has been "those good police are great, but those bad ones mess it up for everyone else!" A few people, including this pastor, may well think that. For the most part, though, I don't see a lot of differentiation in the media or by anti-LEO protestors. Darren Wilson was a good cop in Ferguson, and he was destroyed and vilified all the same. The Baltimore PD were thrown under the bus by their city's mayor, and now people wonder why cops are reluctant to be more proactive?
Ah yes, that magic "smarter power" solution. Everything will be rainbows and unicorns if we just put the right policies and/or people in place.
Reality check time. No police force is perfect, and there's always room for improvement. Some PD's need a lot of improvement. But there is no simple solution for the complex problems a police officer must deal with on a daily basis. We Americans love simple solutions to complex problems, but they never work out as intended. 3 strikes laws are a fine example of that sort of thinking.
"She said that she sympathized with many officers who did their jobs well but were now just as hated as the abusive officers"
She's probably just about the only one. Does anyone really think the general attitude towards police in Baltimore and other areas where there have been incidents has been "those good police are great, but those bad ones mess it up for everyone else!" A few people, including this pastor, may well think that. For the most part, though, I don't see a lot of differentiation in the media or by anti-LEO protestors. Darren Wilson was a good cop in Ferguson, and he was destroyed and vilified all the same. The Baltimore PD were thrown under the bus by their city's mayor, and now people wonder why cops are reluctant to be more proactive?
17
Ok listen up.....when I was a kid, if I got into trouble by doing wrong at school, when I got home I was in worse trouble for having messed up. My parents let me know I needed to respect the teachers and do the right thing. Black kids today often have trouble sitting still, etc., in school, and do get in trouble. But if they do, when their momma finds out, instead of reinforcing the need for the youngster to honor the teachers etc., she often stomps off to the school and yells and the teacher. The kid learns he can do what he wants and authority means nothing. When he gets arrested later,his momma again goes and screams at the cops, accusing them of wrong rather than "her baaaaby." And ultimately if he is physically harmed or killed, due to his fighting with police or shooting at them, then of course it has to be the cops fault. Not hers, not her childs. Can't black culture see the error in this? Choosing not to be correctable and blaming others for the consequences is not wise, and harms everybody. The media loves to take pictures of so-called black victims.....that multiplies the error. The sadness will continue until black parents step up!
4
Do you want do drug raids and arrest armed drug dealers for like $35,000? These cops have families too. They have to be careful. Being a cop is hard. Many of them really do want to help people victimized, but I totally understand them being reluctant.
3
If a officer is proactive today in preventing crime he's branded a racist by these "leaders" which the politicians side with. Even worse a officer runs the risk of criminal prosecution. If I was a officer I'd keep a low profile and do my time.
3
Ok. So a protest takes place after the burial of Freddy Grey. That so called peacefull protest turns into a riot. A lot of drugs are stolen from a drug store that I believe was burned down durning the rioting. So now the streets are filled with drugs and the thugs are killing the thugs. So now you want the police back to protect your hood. Why. Police are human too. Why should they put their life in danger for a bunch of ungrateful people. It's not going to get better people I have one question. Why do your peaceful marches always turn into riots where businesses get looted and burned down.
4
In truth, residents want a strong police force, but they also want accountability.”
and who defines what is strong? What actions constitute reasonable amounts of force and what is overly excessive in a way that the officers must be disciplined?
Does the populace being policed have any responsibility? Who are they accountable to? Are the village elders going to take "Danny the Doper" "out behind the woodshed" when he robs someone to support his habit, or will they just turn a blind eye and, when asked, say "Danny was a good keed, he didn't deserve no police brutality"
The heads we win tails you lose stuff has gotta stop.
and who defines what is strong? What actions constitute reasonable amounts of force and what is overly excessive in a way that the officers must be disciplined?
Does the populace being policed have any responsibility? Who are they accountable to? Are the village elders going to take "Danny the Doper" "out behind the woodshed" when he robs someone to support his habit, or will they just turn a blind eye and, when asked, say "Danny was a good keed, he didn't deserve no police brutality"
The heads we win tails you lose stuff has gotta stop.
4
Mayor 3 names is doing a terrific job, as is her prosecutor. Maybe they should tell crime victims to shove a cell phone in the perp's face and record the attack as a deterrent.
5
According to this story, the policing in Baltimore ranges from being overly aggressive before Freddie Grey's death to inadequate after it. The only constant is the frighteningly robust crime rate. Perhaps the community should take it upon themselves to solve their problems instead of relying on outside forces like the police department. But then they'd only have themselves to blame.
4
Who's in charge there? Who's supervising these cops who are "stepping back"? Fire them!
The idea that the officers decide when they will work, while continuing to "come to work" and, unsaid, by the union, take a paycheck is outrageous. Black communities aren't saying they don't want police. They're saying they don't want illegal policing that can lead to the murder of their loved ones. Everyone understands that.
They're pretending otherwise to show their contempt for these communities and to show their dissatisfaction with being criticized. They need to grow up and do their job, like the rest of us.
How many readers are "stepping back" at work, refusing to do what they're paid for, and still have jobs?
The idea that the officers decide when they will work, while continuing to "come to work" and, unsaid, by the union, take a paycheck is outrageous. Black communities aren't saying they don't want police. They're saying they don't want illegal policing that can lead to the murder of their loved ones. Everyone understands that.
They're pretending otherwise to show their contempt for these communities and to show their dissatisfaction with being criticized. They need to grow up and do their job, like the rest of us.
How many readers are "stepping back" at work, refusing to do what they're paid for, and still have jobs?
8
So pretty soon we'll be reading about American children being detained in Guatemala claiming to be fleeing gang violence in West Baltimore.
3
What did the black community expect? They stood by and watched the looting. They not only refused to help but repeatedly lied as witnesses.
Recovery in places like Ferguson and Baltimore will never come until the black community steps up and takes responsibility for their own environment. No amount of finger pointing from either side can solve the problem.
Recovery in places like Ferguson and Baltimore will never come until the black community steps up and takes responsibility for their own environment. No amount of finger pointing from either side can solve the problem.
18
Many comments focus exclusively on the case of Freddy Grey and suggest that other officers have nothing to fear because that death was do to blatant misbehavior. I agree that that was true of the Grey case. That said, though, my guess is that the officers are reacting to the spate of cases in recent months. Each case can be analyzed and the officer involved seen as having done something wrong or as being a 'rogue cop.' To the officers, though, it must seem that there is real danger that they may make one false move or get caught up in a violent, chaotic situation where they are struggling and suddenly find themselves behind bars. Since cops on the beat invariably face such situations, it must give them pause. I am not suggesting that any of the recent cop arrests was necessarily wrong, only that to other cops it must look as if there is a new danger in their jobs.
7
Pastor Weah: “Summertime,” he said. “That’s when they do all the killing.”
Summertime starts next week.
Summertime starts next week.
9
Sounds like the adults/parents need to step up and police their community. Since they don't like the police, then do it yourself.
31
The police are doing their jobs - they haven't stopped coming to work, as many commentators are writing. They're simply not running themselves ragged to pursue all types of criminal behavior when they are receiving very mixed messages from leadership about what they are or are not to enforce and how they are to do it. I think we ask too much of law enforcement who work in places that are high crime or high stress - we push and demand and criticize. We immediately convict them in the media and stereotype all officers based on a few.
28
Legalize drugs: put the drug gangs and criminals out of business overnight; end the recruitment of children into the drug gangs; end the criminalization of millions of Americans; significantly increase revenues for government expenditures; provide treatment programs instead of prisons; let the police focus on real crimes like robbery, burglary, rape, assault, etc.
4
Yeah like drug use isn't a factor in robbery, burglary, rape, assault, etc.
2
Lets see the residents march, demonstrate, loot and protest against the black murderers and drug dealers.
When they do that, the police should return.
When they do that, the police should return.
36
Baltimore Cops: If we can't do it anyway we want too, then we won't do it at all.
3
Obama, his minions Holder, Sharpton, De Blasio, and that Mayor and D.A. in Baltimore have slandered the police and incited the mobs and the crazies over issue like Ferguson where the police did NOTHING wrong. The D.A. in Maryland Ms Mosby sent the police to that corner to crack down on the drug trade, and now has charged those officers with crimes for doing what she ordered them to do. So Obama and the Democrats have seen to it that any police officer who engages in proactive policing, confronts an African American for some minor crime like double parking, jay walking, urinating in public, selling Marijuana or crack, simple assault etc, if they survive, is at tremendous risk of being charged with a crime, or fired, or having his/her career ruined, being scapegoated across the nation, or forced to resign. Not surprisingly we see the result. Police officer are doing exactly what Obama, De Blasio and these others wanted. They are backing off. The result was completely predicable. Soaring crime and murder rates. Almost all of the murders are African Americans killing other African American, many innocent children. Obama and the Democrats can be very proud. They intimidated the police across the nation, and thousands more, almost all African American, will die as a result. Unfortunately to Obama and the Democrat Black Lives only matter if they are killed by Police Officer.
25
If police are being criminalized when attempting to arrest those who have been career law breaking citizens, wasn't it obvious when the prosecutor made her announcement that police would become hesitant patrol in high crime areas or areas where they are accused?
15
Right now in upstate NY hundreds of police are searching for two convicted murderers. The community is generally peaceful, quiet and very safe. Imagine if that same show of force was displayed in West Baltimore. There would be a cry of outrage. The citizens of Baltimore want accountability for the action of the police. They also want the killing in their community to stop. But they don't want the police. At least not operating as they did in the past. But, the police too have a legitimate concern. Not just for their safety. Police need to feel secure in the knowledge that the community and the politicians and police administrators support them and understand how much they risk every day. It must be very uncomfortable to know that every police action is recorded and will be held against them. Policemen and women who are good and decent citizens when placed in the crucible of crime ridden streets may find that suddenly the rules simply don't work. Then when feeling at risk and under attack at the same time, they are expected to be diplomats, counselors, psychiatrists, teachers, mentors and first responders to every kind of emergency and every risk and threat imaginable.
The police and the community will never come together until they can both speak to one another with respect and empathy. But, I believe that the greatest burden is on the community. They must want the murder, the crimes, the violence to end. They must want that more than the need for police.
The police and the community will never come together until they can both speak to one another with respect and empathy. But, I believe that the greatest burden is on the community. They must want the murder, the crimes, the violence to end. They must want that more than the need for police.
13
America has the most armed per capita population in the world. Black and white, rich and poor, men and women. As far as gun possession, America is the most democratic country in the world.
On the downside, many poor urban neighborhoods -- left without police presence -- become liberated areas for armed drug gangs and petty criminals. Sort of Mad Max urban environment. As good paid jobs become scarce and social mobility declines, the problem will get worse.
On the downside, many poor urban neighborhoods -- left without police presence -- become liberated areas for armed drug gangs and petty criminals. Sort of Mad Max urban environment. As good paid jobs become scarce and social mobility declines, the problem will get worse.
3
The evidence is clear that the most effective and cost effective to stop violence is prevention and all the rest is picking up the pieces. Smart policing of problems places is expensive to taxpayers and to victims and offenders.
Using proven strategies to tackle the risk factors prevents violence. Let´s stop dreaming that policing or prisons are the only solution to violence - just because Hollywood misleads us. They are not in the USA just as they are not any where else in the affluent democratic world. The Wire showed a real world. Countless scientific studies in the real world shows us what does.
Lets save billions in wasted taxes and more importantly thousands of lives nationally by using science. http://bit.ly/1zt3SMk Nowhere is this more important than in one of the world´s 50 most violent cities in the most affluent and innovative country in the world.
Using proven strategies to tackle the risk factors prevents violence. Let´s stop dreaming that policing or prisons are the only solution to violence - just because Hollywood misleads us. They are not in the USA just as they are not any where else in the affluent democratic world. The Wire showed a real world. Countless scientific studies in the real world shows us what does.
Lets save billions in wasted taxes and more importantly thousands of lives nationally by using science. http://bit.ly/1zt3SMk Nowhere is this more important than in one of the world´s 50 most violent cities in the most affluent and innovative country in the world.
Unfortunately such a realistic assessment of the problems on the actual ground in West Baltimore was not part of the media narrative during the riot and its aftermath. We were shown another example of Bad Cops versus Innocent Civilians. This simplistic version of immense, complicated problems in a major city has shaken up what was already a horrible situation and made it even worse.
I'm from the Baltimore area and went to high school in West Baltimore not far from the epicenter of the riot. What the media failed to tell the world about this area is just how ignorant too many of its residents are. I wish it wasn't the case but it's the truth. If you are white and walk down the street, minding your own business, in Sandtown people actively go out of their way to mess with you (that's the nice way of putting it). Drugs, fighting, killing, and all manner of crime are all completely acceptable within the community. As is a hatred for the police, which is the one thing most residents share. The cops are seen as an occupying force and indeed act that way at times. But how could you not be in such a twisted environment?
The social fabric of this community is broken. The mores of the neighborhood are non-existent in any meaningful way that provides peace and order for children to grow up in. Worst of all, efforts by the outside world to rectify the situation is often met with scorn and outright hostility from the residents. Perhaps the only way to win is not to play.
I'm from the Baltimore area and went to high school in West Baltimore not far from the epicenter of the riot. What the media failed to tell the world about this area is just how ignorant too many of its residents are. I wish it wasn't the case but it's the truth. If you are white and walk down the street, minding your own business, in Sandtown people actively go out of their way to mess with you (that's the nice way of putting it). Drugs, fighting, killing, and all manner of crime are all completely acceptable within the community. As is a hatred for the police, which is the one thing most residents share. The cops are seen as an occupying force and indeed act that way at times. But how could you not be in such a twisted environment?
The social fabric of this community is broken. The mores of the neighborhood are non-existent in any meaningful way that provides peace and order for children to grow up in. Worst of all, efforts by the outside world to rectify the situation is often met with scorn and outright hostility from the residents. Perhaps the only way to win is not to play.
25
How incredibly sad. This is the very same experience I had growing up in Detroit.
1
Until we as a society accept the obvious, there will be no effective policing.
The obvious - the police and the policed are always co-evolving in an arms race. This is an intricate and complex process. Hacking this process with a sledge hammer of mayoral or DA crack down is a lose-lose strategy, as Baltimore and NYC seem to have recently demonstrated.
This also means that policing some neighborhood is a totally different beast than policing others. The police is not a regular job, they put their lives on the line fighting thugs and monsters.
The obvious - the police and the policed are always co-evolving in an arms race. This is an intricate and complex process. Hacking this process with a sledge hammer of mayoral or DA crack down is a lose-lose strategy, as Baltimore and NYC seem to have recently demonstrated.
This also means that policing some neighborhood is a totally different beast than policing others. The police is not a regular job, they put their lives on the line fighting thugs and monsters.
13
My previous post didn't go through - annoying. Let me try again.
People throw around analogies with teachers, doctors, etc. To me that means that a lot of people miss the core issue here.
Analogies with teachers, doctors, or even firefighters don't apply.
The only analogy that does is with combat military units. With our best of the best military personnel we allow for collateral damage. Such allowance has to be made for our police as well. True, we may want to determine the acceptable size of this damage for specific circumstances/neighborhoods the cops find themselves in.
Rioting and throwing tantrums demanding zero collateral damage will only let the criminals win, as they lately are winning in Baltimore and NYC.
People throw around analogies with teachers, doctors, etc. To me that means that a lot of people miss the core issue here.
Analogies with teachers, doctors, or even firefighters don't apply.
The only analogy that does is with combat military units. With our best of the best military personnel we allow for collateral damage. Such allowance has to be made for our police as well. True, we may want to determine the acceptable size of this damage for specific circumstances/neighborhoods the cops find themselves in.
Rioting and throwing tantrums demanding zero collateral damage will only let the criminals win, as they lately are winning in Baltimore and NYC.
18
If we don't institute serous gun control we will kill all of us off. It's that simple. NRA are monsters.
5
But unfortunately they get their guns on the black market or steal them. Gun control would have little effect. Increased gun control might make it harder for decent citizens from getting guns, and may keep the guy with no record but wants to commit a crime of passion from getting one. It is not going to keep gangs, criminals, and thugs from obtaining guns.
So, you are alone on the street and you are attacked.
No cops around, I guess you just have to run and hope you get away, right? But oops! You just got stabbed, now you cant run so fast, still no cops around.... I guess you just die. Welp, at least we got rid of guns! Right?
No cops around, I guess you just have to run and hope you get away, right? But oops! You just got stabbed, now you cant run so fast, still no cops around.... I guess you just die. Welp, at least we got rid of guns! Right?
Festering corruption and racism in the BPD began as the problem. Then Marilyn Mosby became the problem. Her amateurish playing to the thugs, her complete lack of due process for the cops, her rush to judgement against all the accused police, have led to this. She needs to resign immediately, and the Baltimore PD needs to be federalized with a clear mandate: that this community plays no favorites of ANY kind.
7
Federalized? Like the way E Holder came to Ferguson, supported the criminal and never even visited the policeman or his family? And encouraged more rioting with a later report that did not address the basic encounter where the death had occurred, but instead called the police racist?
And please note who Marilyn Mosby has played as favorites.
And please note who Marilyn Mosby has played as favorites.
These neighborhoods obviously need the police more than the police need them. Do you think the police live in these neighborhoods? Obviously not.
15
"Do you think the police live in these neighborhoods? Obviously not." And that is a great part of the problem. In many communities throughout the United States police who live in the communities that they work and patrol, those officers take their cruisers home at night and weekends. It creates a police presence. It assures the residents that one of their own is there and on duty. I know. One of those police lived next door to me and she often parked her cruiser in the driveway. We loved it. Criminals never knew if the officer was there on duty, responding to a call or just about to come out the front door! It worked. By the way it was a community of modest means and mixed races.
Baltimore could do the same. Yes, some housing would have to be seriously upgraded and money would have to be spent. But imagine the possibilities. I don't know how large West Baltimore is but lets say that about 45 homes are upgraded and volunteers are sought to live and work in the community. Its a great opportunity to rebuild trust on both sides and deter crime as well. I hope that Baltimore is willing to give it a try.
Baltimore could do the same. Yes, some housing would have to be seriously upgraded and money would have to be spent. But imagine the possibilities. I don't know how large West Baltimore is but lets say that about 45 homes are upgraded and volunteers are sought to live and work in the community. Its a great opportunity to rebuild trust on both sides and deter crime as well. I hope that Baltimore is willing to give it a try.
6
Jay - "Baltimore could do the same."
No police officer would want to expose his/her wife/husband and children to the mindless attacks that would surely come if he/she arrests the wrong criminal or gang member. Would the officer come home at night to find his/her family dead or dying because they were attacked in retaliation for an arrest or a perceived slight?
Would the officer's family and residence be safe during the next riot? No, that shift in the social fabric will take many years before one side can trust the other.
No police officer would want to expose his/her wife/husband and children to the mindless attacks that would surely come if he/she arrests the wrong criminal or gang member. Would the officer come home at night to find his/her family dead or dying because they were attacked in retaliation for an arrest or a perceived slight?
Would the officer's family and residence be safe during the next riot? No, that shift in the social fabric will take many years before one side can trust the other.
1
Jay, many police do not live in the neighborhoods they police because they are targeted by their criminal neighbors and it is dangerous for themselves and their families. The cop living in the marginal neighborhood gets his or her home broken into because the criminals know there are firearms to steal. The cop living in the marginal neighborhood gets his or her vehicle vandilized. The cop living in the marginal neighborhood gets harassed at the grocery store when he or she is shopping with their families when someone they once arrested recognizes them. The cop living in the marginal neighborhood has to be on guard 24/7 and be armed 24/7. The cop living in the marginal neighborhood gets his food sullied when he goes to a restaurant and the cook recognizes him or her as someone who arrested his cousin. Who would want to live like that?
2
You can't have it both ways. stop and frisk and you get accused of profiling, violating peoples rights, etc. or stand down and you get increase in crime.
16
Come on folks, the cops are not scared that someone is going to film them. They are punishing the neighborhood by refusing to police it. They know that unless they are visible, people will die, and they consider that justified because someone has dared to call them to task. This is basic parenting -- you fight me and kick me? That's fine, I won't be there at all. This is an uncalled strike, not necessarily organized, but a strike nonetheless.
The problem is that the police are not our parents, our elected officials, or our masters. They are public servants. We agree to obey their authority, they agree to use it only in the cause of the greater good. We agree to step aside, even if we're not sure it's justified, to pull over even if we think the cop is just running the red light for fun. They agree not to kill unarmed people for no reason, not to use unnecessary force, and to treat us like citizens and not like an occupying army. It's hard to say who broke the contract first, but it's clearly broken at this point on both sides in this particular neighborhood.
The problem is that the police are not our parents, our elected officials, or our masters. They are public servants. We agree to obey their authority, they agree to use it only in the cause of the greater good. We agree to step aside, even if we're not sure it's justified, to pull over even if we think the cop is just running the red light for fun. They agree not to kill unarmed people for no reason, not to use unnecessary force, and to treat us like citizens and not like an occupying army. It's hard to say who broke the contract first, but it's clearly broken at this point on both sides in this particular neighborhood.
6
Unfortunately, many people in these very high crime inner cities don't agree to obey their authority. There is a very antagonistic relationship between the citizens of these high crime, poverty ridden inner cities and the police that patrol these areas. And, like you stated, it's hard to say who broke the contract first. I think both sides are burnt out: the police are grumpier and less civil due to the revolving door criminals that they encounter day after day and the citizens are very antagonistic because there are so many officers patrolling these areas "harassing" them due to the high crime. I don't know what the answer is. Maybe have these cops do one year rotations in these high crime neighborhoods and after the one year, they can patrol low crime, suburban areas so they don't burn out. It would burn me out after six months; they are human, not machines. The citizens will encounter better, fresher officers too.
2
To an admittedly total outsider this reeks of blackmail by law enforcement who aren't getting their usual way.
3
Obama's War on Police has nothing to do with it
11
There are so few surprises. And so many deaths.
Damned if you do, damned if you do not. Hobson's choice, between a rock and a hard place.
Baltimore's mayor and DA have shown New York's mayor where this stuff can go. Rev. Sharpton and Pres. Obama are in synch. Will it work this way?
Mayor John Lindsay walked the summer streets in shirtsleeves. Mayor Giuliani hammered where Mayor Dinkins waivered.
Chicago, Cleveland, Newark, LA, Milwaukee, Madison, and Baltimore... and grandstanding from Albany in Dannemora with the horse out of the barn.
We have a crisis in leadership yet we have the leaders we deserve, and addiction of every kind.
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Gart Hart(pence), Rev. Jesse Jackson, his son, VP Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, Rep. Wilbur Mills, Rep. Barney Frank, Speaker H. Dennis Hastert, his two predecessors.
It's endless. Cops kill, and are killed.
Dystopia coming?
Damned if you do, damned if you do not. Hobson's choice, between a rock and a hard place.
Baltimore's mayor and DA have shown New York's mayor where this stuff can go. Rev. Sharpton and Pres. Obama are in synch. Will it work this way?
Mayor John Lindsay walked the summer streets in shirtsleeves. Mayor Giuliani hammered where Mayor Dinkins waivered.
Chicago, Cleveland, Newark, LA, Milwaukee, Madison, and Baltimore... and grandstanding from Albany in Dannemora with the horse out of the barn.
We have a crisis in leadership yet we have the leaders we deserve, and addiction of every kind.
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Gart Hart(pence), Rev. Jesse Jackson, his son, VP Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller, Rep. Wilbur Mills, Rep. Barney Frank, Speaker H. Dennis Hastert, his two predecessors.
It's endless. Cops kill, and are killed.
Dystopia coming?
4
Lindsay didn't just walk the streets - he walked the streets on the evening of Dr. King's assassination. And New York didn't burn.
It was a gesture that spoke loudly and clearly to many people, like nothing I've seen or heard anytime recently, from any politician or public servant.
It was a gesture that spoke loudly and clearly to many people, like nothing I've seen or heard anytime recently, from any politician or public servant.
2
“This crisis was bound to happen because of the broken relationship between law enforcement and the people,” Nope. This crisis is a result of low standards for hiring police. If a police applicant scores too high on a cognitive test, he/she is likely to be rejected. As the song goes, "NYC cops, they ain't too smart..." This probably applies in Baltimore and in many cities.
Detroit, for example, had the dumbest cops one can imagine and may still. Years ago, Detroit's Mayor Young said, "Cops don't need to be able to read." I doubt that its city council had many readers on it. Between Baltimore police and the ghetto culture in Baltimore, Detroit will soon have a rival.
Detroit, for example, had the dumbest cops one can imagine and may still. Years ago, Detroit's Mayor Young said, "Cops don't need to be able to read." I doubt that its city council had many readers on it. Between Baltimore police and the ghetto culture in Baltimore, Detroit will soon have a rival.
1
rwruger - "If a police applicant scores too high on a cognitive test, he/she is likely to be rejected."
From where exactly did you get that information, a song? Really?
From where exactly did you get that information, a song? Really?
Are there no good, decent, honorable cops in Baltimore or any other city where the cops are murdering people with impunity to stand up to the thug cops and the people who make excuses for them?
Are there no whistle blower cops?
Is there any other public 'service' union where the union members who are drawing paychecks while not doing their jobs are applauded?
Are there no whistle blower cops?
Is there any other public 'service' union where the union members who are drawing paychecks while not doing their jobs are applauded?
2
I hate to destroy your fantasy with reality, but there is no epidemic of cops killing people for no reason. Since 2009, the number of cops killed on duty has soared
21
You might want to check out Radley Balko's blog The Watch in the Opinion section of the Washington Post for some factual information who who's killing who.
If I was a Baltimore policeman, I would likely be considering getting a job on a suburban force. It appears you would be in a no win situation if you stayed. If you are a good policeman, you still are cursed if you do your job and cursed if you do not. Not a pretty picture.
18
The Baltimore mayor's policy of giving people "room to destroy" is working great, and should continue. Once the liberation from de-policing runs its course, the city might be ready for the return of civilization. "Gentrification" (code for "influx of white people") can begin. They of course will be blamed for displacement, homelessness, etc. (see article about LA today), but the shootings, etc. will abate. A jury of gentrifiers will acquit the Freddy Gray cops. But now it's too soon, because Baltimore is flush with guns, looted pills and plenty of folks with both. To them, black lives matter not one bit.
15
Mosby has shown that she can go after the police force, in a Democratic city, with a large minority community, in the aftermath of Ferguson. Whew- that was easy. Now, let us see whether she can come out swinging against the persons who killed 55 people in Baltimore, since May 1, as the article states, which is much harder because you cannot blame the police, but personal responsibility starts to appear in the discussion.
26
Sounds like a case of Blue Flu with a Fit of Petulance thrown in for good measure.
3
People are dying from lead poisoning and they're not getting it from cops.
1
Sounds like a case of rational people trying to. It be killed. Y a President who wants them dead
Tom, land of free has your side of the border.
But truth be known we both live in prentious houses.
But truth be known we both live in prentious houses.
I'm not sure if the writer of this article didn't do the research or if there are motives behind the article but crime is not soaring according to the statistics that are freely available all over the internet.. Baltimore typically averages around 260 murder a year...currently in June Baltimore has 131 murders (http://chamspage.blogspot.com/2014/12/2015-baltimore-city-homicidesmurde...
4
Yup. Homicide rate is average for Baltimore, not soaring. http://data.baltimoresun.com/bing-maps/homicides/?
As a rate, it is high compared to most other cities in the US and the world. There is nothing new about this rate, except it confirms that fluctuations in policing have little to do with the homicide rate. Ditto for over use of incarceration.
It is time to get smart and invest in proven violence prevention. http://bit.ly/1zt3SMk
As a rate, it is high compared to most other cities in the US and the world. There is nothing new about this rate, except it confirms that fluctuations in policing have little to do with the homicide rate. Ditto for over use of incarceration.
It is time to get smart and invest in proven violence prevention. http://bit.ly/1zt3SMk
Russell Baker, a columnist for the NY Times, back before the nineties, wrote his memiors, and in one of his books he mentioned that he worked as a reporter for one of the Baltimore papers back in the late forties or early fifties. I remember him writing that there were always a lot of murders in Baltimore, so maybe things have not changed.
4
Yes - and poor inner city neighborhoods had murders and gangs back when the inhabitants were mostly white. People seem to forget that. Not to say that excuses what goes on - but people forget that is what often happens in poor inner city communities.
1
So what is happening gos taht police are getting paid for NOT doing their job. Police are doing the same thing in New York to punish the Mayor and the citizens so they will not complain about being killed. Those cities need to clean house and start replacing them one by one. Police are saying they can't do their job if they can't kill African Americans, well fire them and get people who will do their job.
3
When thugs like Michael Brown try to kill cops, what do you expect the police to do?
1
Well West Baltimore, time for a Start Snitching campaign. The police aren't really motivated to try to clean up the crime in your neighborhood right now, it's up to you who live there. You won't be able to film police brutality on your cell phones for a while, as they're not around, so film criminal brutality instead. Start a groundswell of filming violent actions, drug deals, and murders, and anonymously sending those videos to law enforcement and the press. Get enough of these killers in jail, and the killing will slow down.
Or do nothing to save your neighborhood and suffer the consequences. But blaming it all on the police isn't as believable as it was a couple of months ago.
Or do nothing to save your neighborhood and suffer the consequences. But blaming it all on the police isn't as believable as it was a couple of months ago.
19
this is a work action by police, and the article problematically highlights their "reluctance" to be perceived as overstepping their bounds? get real. the police union may describe the force as suddenly shy and dainty, but they are presenting the public with a false choice: let us occupy your neighborhoods as a conquering force, or do without any protection at all. the city needs to quit hiring army veterans who don't know they have come back home, and start training all the policemen to do actual police work --that means, enforcing the peace by methods that the people find acceptable. leaving people with no protection is not acceptable, and neither is severing the spines of unarmed people in custody. that isn't an impossible gap to bridge.
1
Are the police officers who are now reluctant to do their jobs now reluctant to pick up their paychecks?
3
Blackmail of a sort. Let us murder innocent suspects by slamming them around in the back of a van or we won't do our job(s).
The top twenty from the chief on down should be fired at once.
The top twenty from the chief on down should be fired at once.
3
If the Baltimore Police are failing to execute their jobs, then they all should be dismissed, and new officers and ranking officials hired to take their places. It would probably end up with a much more tolerant public service attitude overall, particularly as compared to the past. What is wrong with them? Do your job, quite, if not be FIRED. Thank You.
3
Police work is risky and prone to mistakes. You can sue the hell out of a police office just like you can sue doctors.
What you get is risk adverse professionals or low quality cheaters who couldn't care less. Doctors will prescribe lots of unnecessary test, you pay the bill and get the radiation. Police officers will take a walk in the park and feed the ducks. The drug dealer is your problem now.
One day you wake up and nobody is showing up at work. This is Baltimore.
What you get is risk adverse professionals or low quality cheaters who couldn't care less. Doctors will prescribe lots of unnecessary test, you pay the bill and get the radiation. Police officers will take a walk in the park and feed the ducks. The drug dealer is your problem now.
One day you wake up and nobody is showing up at work. This is Baltimore.
6
The police shouldn't be able to choose when to do their job. Enforce the law, but do it in a way where you aren't throwing people around in a van. How is this not widely accepted? You don't get a free pass because your job is "hard" or people "don't like" you. Plenty of us are recorded on our jobs and we don't have the kind of control over an individual's life that a patrol officer does, so WHY should an honest cop be afraid of being recorded during work?
A patrol officer is the one true dictator in America. Wrongfully arrested? You were still arrested, and that stays on your record. It's a ridiculous amount of power, and there's no way on God's green Earth that you should elicit sympathy for choosing a job that carries enormous responsibility. You don't get an exemption. Get off your high horse and ego and accept that you're a police officer, not the subject of cult worship. If you can't take police work, then find a new occupation. I'm sure there are a plethora of honest cops who agree with accountability and reform. If you can't be held accountable, then why should we respect or obey you?
A patrol officer is the one true dictator in America. Wrongfully arrested? You were still arrested, and that stays on your record. It's a ridiculous amount of power, and there's no way on God's green Earth that you should elicit sympathy for choosing a job that carries enormous responsibility. You don't get an exemption. Get off your high horse and ego and accept that you're a police officer, not the subject of cult worship. If you can't take police work, then find a new occupation. I'm sure there are a plethora of honest cops who agree with accountability and reform. If you can't be held accountable, then why should we respect or obey you?
15
You are making an assumption when you say the police are choosing not to do their job. From the information I have read, the police are not refusing to do their job. They are refusing to aggressively seek out potential criminals, you know, like they were doing in the instance of Freddie Gray. If they do not witness a crime being committed they are not instigating a search or if a person runs, they are not chasing. Sounds just like what the community said they wanted. Don't roust people or hassle them for just being there. Additionally, now that they are required to have 2 officers in a car for protection, (guess from who) the police presence has effectively been reduced by 50%. Thus there is a smaller presence.
3
ALL probable cause arrests are based on judgment. When the D/A indicts cops because she disagrees with their judgment in deciding to arrest, you'd have to be insane to make an arrest based on judgment in that jurisdiction. It's like arresting a doctor for murder if a patient dies. Gray's arrest, by the way, was solid. I've no issue with the misconduct or murder charges. They'll stand or fall on the merits of the case. But the false arrest charges won't last five minutes once they are in front of a judge, and border on prosecutorial misconduct.
Don't blame the police..blame the government of Baltimore..they control the police!
"At the time of her announcement, Ms. Mosby’s charges were seen as calming the city. But they enraged the police rank and file, who pulled back. The number of arrests plunged, and the murder rate doubled in a month. The reduced police presence gave criminals space to operate, according to community leaders and some law enforcement officials."
I'm shocked and angry that the Baltimore police are acting like spoiled children. Ms. Mosby cracked down on negligent police officers when a young man died in their custody and now the police want to pout? Give me a break! This is the same behavior NYC witnessed when police staged a slow down following the demonstrations that resulted when the grand jury failed to indict the police officer in the choke-hold death of Eric Garner and the mayor voiced his concern over the way Eric Garner's arrest was handled. How dare the police feel like they can "go on strike" when something doesn't go their way. Like one commenter said - what happens when the teachers stop teaching or the EMS stop picking up the injured? I agree with the writer who said fire those officers who can be identified as staging this work slow down. There are PLENTY of people who need jobs who will do the job they are paid to do and won't act like spoiled brats when they aren't allowed to flagrantly mistreat suspects. THIS is why the rapport between communities and the police is so damaged.
I'm shocked and angry that the Baltimore police are acting like spoiled children. Ms. Mosby cracked down on negligent police officers when a young man died in their custody and now the police want to pout? Give me a break! This is the same behavior NYC witnessed when police staged a slow down following the demonstrations that resulted when the grand jury failed to indict the police officer in the choke-hold death of Eric Garner and the mayor voiced his concern over the way Eric Garner's arrest was handled. How dare the police feel like they can "go on strike" when something doesn't go their way. Like one commenter said - what happens when the teachers stop teaching or the EMS stop picking up the injured? I agree with the writer who said fire those officers who can be identified as staging this work slow down. There are PLENTY of people who need jobs who will do the job they are paid to do and won't act like spoiled brats when they aren't allowed to flagrantly mistreat suspects. THIS is why the rapport between communities and the police is so damaged.
14
Unions make slow downs and not doing the job a negotiation tactic. And we have seen teachers strike in this decade.
1
They're NOT acting like spoiled children. They're surviving. Mosby charged the cops with false arrest. That's like charging a surgeon with murder because a patient dies on the table. 60% of all arrests are probable cause arrests. In other words, the officer's judgment is key in deciding whether or not to arrest. Defense lawyers challenge that judgement in every trial and exclusionary hearing. By indicting for false arrest, Mosby has told the cops she will ruin their lives, their careers, and sent=d them to prison if she doesn't agree with their reasoning in making arrests. You'd have to be insane to make a probable cause arrest under those circumstances. Just like you'd have to be insane to operate on a patient if his death on the table meant imprisonment for you. Which is why arrests are down 60% in Baltimore.
Fire any police not doing their job, starting with the Commissioner if he is doing nothing about it.
2
Fire the police department and start over.
1
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to fire insubordinate officers and replace them with people interested in helping--not hurting--their community. If you're going to take the money, you have to do the work. Don't want to do the work? Quit. There's 10 people willing to take your place.
3
This is just another way for police to control the masses. The ol' "see, you need us," and it also seems they feel their actions on duty are criminal, therefor, stay away from them cameras.
2
I wonder if anyone is studying gun ownership and this apparently unique situation. Assuming that guns are widely available, it would seem like a good test of whether gun ownership does or does not deter crime. After factoring out law enforcement, it does indeed appear that a Hobbesian nightmare has ensued, pretty much like one would expect. Sad, of course, but an interesting situation. Worthy of study I would think.
As I write this, I don't like what I'm writing, but it is what I believe. Everyone is looking for a utopian world where the police only act tough with the real criminals, always make the correct decisions about motives, and never make mistakes. The obvious abuses of power are easy to spot. But the grey areas, where the real world lives, are much more difficult. If we want effective policing in an imperfect world, we have to live with some collateral damage. Put the police in a position where they are constantly filmed and second guessed, and the situation in Baltimore is the predictable result. Rather than constantly harping on "better training" we have to learn to live in a world where the perfect is the enemy of the good.
47
So...the Baltimore police are unwilling to do their job unless granted carte blanche to kill and brutalize people with impunity and trample on their constitutional rights. Can't anything be done to rid Baltimore of these incompetent goofballs?
2
How many of you social justice warriors are willing to saddle up and take the place of the Bad Guys in Blue in Baltimore?
21
So now residents have to choose between unaccountable murders at the hands of police or random murders by non-police? Aren't there other alternative, Baltimore PD?
2
Seems like your so-called "non-police" are necessary partners in the positive resolution of this crisis.
1
where is the military. cannot the mayor or governor request such assistance? And why do they not?
So you want the military patrolling the streets because you think they'll be gentle?
1
The sensationalistic headline is a disgrace to the Times and an insult to the intelligence of the readers. There is no causal relationship demonstrated, and it badly discredits an otherwise interesting article.
2
The headline does not imply causation but coincidence.
1
You would think from reading this report that most drug dealers and murderers are from one race and one part of Baltimore. Obviously, we know this is false. The Times Editors tell us that people of all ages, both sexes, and all races and mixed races commit crime at the same rate and that if it weren't from "profiling" the statistics would bear this out.
What criteria do the editors of the NY Times use to find a location to raise their families? If they believed in the benefits of racial diversity, and could commute from Maryland, they might chose the Sandtown-Winchester area. Well, I doubt it. They write one thing and practice something else because they don't want to put their kids at a high risk of getting murdered, or am I wrong?
What criteria do the editors of the NY Times use to find a location to raise their families? If they believed in the benefits of racial diversity, and could commute from Maryland, they might chose the Sandtown-Winchester area. Well, I doubt it. They write one thing and practice something else because they don't want to put their kids at a high risk of getting murdered, or am I wrong?
7
The language "stepping back" is very imprecise and unclear. I'm shocked the NY Times is using this language in both headline and the body copy of the article. What does "stepping back" mean?
The language seems to be a sugar-coated way of saying that police are refusing to do their jobs.
If there is a legitimate concern about liability, responsibility and accountability in difficult situations, then the concerns need to be addressed and resolved.
The language seems to be a sugar-coated way of saying that police are refusing to do their jobs.
If there is a legitimate concern about liability, responsibility and accountability in difficult situations, then the concerns need to be addressed and resolved.
2
This is not an unintended consequence. The police pull back in numerous scenarios like this, and you would too. The street knuckleheads and the "activists" know this is a likely police reaction and so they act out to make it happen and then take advantage of the affected neighborhoods.
9
If 100 officers were injured during a riot in April, how many officers are left to do their jobs and why would they want to?
14
I feel bad about the situation in Baltimore.
I pray for all the people, that things will get better soon.
I pray for all the people, that things will get better soon.
3
What would happen if drugs such as oxycontin were regulated and decriminalized. Take the gangs and police out of it. Addicts could go to clinics and get their doses or request a treatment program. Isn't this the civilized way to deal with it....and what is there to lose when the "war on drugs" continues to lead to so many deaths and destructive situations?
2
Ms. Mosby heard the cry of the people for no justice, no peace. I guess the people of Baltimore are just putting pressure on her. Maybe they figure if they murder a few hundred more of their fellow citizens they might get some peace. Nobody seems to care about the lives that have been lost. No Al Sharpton, no rioters, no demonstrators nobody protesting these murders. If a cop is not doing the killing, maybe the people of Baltimore don't care or are willing to accept it. And notice that no African American people have been arrested or sent to jail in West Baltimore in some time. Doesn't that count for something?
15
On May 27th, a black 27-year-old community newspaper journalist named Charnice Milton was shot to death as she waited for a bus in Southeast Washington, DC. Her death was the horrendous act of a coward--the intended target of the shooting grabbed Charnice and used her body as a human shield. Both he and the shooter took off and Charnice Milton lay dying on the street.
I didn't hear a peep about this in the national news even though she was a young woman who'd overcome many adversities in life and the manner of her death demonstrated just how far down human beings can reach. Yet, the unintentional death of Freddie Gray--who was a street-level heroin dealer-- got wall-to-wall national media coverage.
It's no surprise that the worst criminals in Baltimore feel emboldened to do whatever they want. They're rational human beings: All the national media attention is being directed toward anger at the cops. They're filling in the void until the pendulum swings back the other way.
I didn't hear a peep about this in the national news even though she was a young woman who'd overcome many adversities in life and the manner of her death demonstrated just how far down human beings can reach. Yet, the unintentional death of Freddie Gray--who was a street-level heroin dealer-- got wall-to-wall national media coverage.
It's no surprise that the worst criminals in Baltimore feel emboldened to do whatever they want. They're rational human beings: All the national media attention is being directed toward anger at the cops. They're filling in the void until the pendulum swings back the other way.
33
If your boss criticizes your performance, deciding not to show up is not the correct response. It is absolutely legitimate for us to question the tactics of our police force, particularly, when those tactics lead to the endangerment, injury, and death of the citizens they interact with. While individuals often make bad choices, that the police union would condone officers not doing their job is not only unacceptable, but also poorly conceived on their part. There is a national effort to undercut unions in this country, which I strongly believe is to our general detriment, however, when the union sanctions this poor behavior it only lends credibility to the argument against them.
10
That's not what this should be about. I know you are commenting on the article as written and I totally agree with what you said. But as I said in.my earlier comment, this should be about holding the thugs doing the shooting responsible, not the police. People intent on shooting each other will do so even given the best police department.If one thug shoots another one, it is not the responsibility of the police. Not even if the police are backing off. The responsibility falls on the shooter and only the shooter. If we'd get our priorities right, the problem might just improve.
2
The second half of the last sentence of this comment is correct.
If your boss does what the Baltimore prosecutor did, then you might work to the exact specifications of your job. You won't go the extra mile anymore, yet you will scrupulously obey the rules. This is what Baltimore's police are doing, and I don't blame them one single bit.
6
The commissioner, at the behest of the mayor, held his squads back while the looting and burning continued, even when automobiles sped towards the police line and then u-turned away, occupants laughing at the police inaction. Apparently, according to some information, the resulting huge supply of looted narcotic medications has resulted in outright warfare among heavily armed gangs. Are the police expected to step into the crossfire?
I lived in, then around, Baltimore for three decades, left there in the early 1990's. There were parts of West Baltimore where, even in 1975, I'd drive an extra 20 miles to avoid being there after dark. If, by some necessity, I was on driving on Pennsylvania Avenue or any street west of it after dark, I would only slow down at red lights and, if the coast was clear, accelerate outta there.
Yes, the police have grown callous, after a career of trying to bring order to a neighborhood that rejects it, and lash out on occasion. That's not how they came out of the Academy. That's how West Baltimore and its contempt for any attempt to maintain a lawful society conditioned them.
Here's a simplistic thought: If the residents of the area want different policing: Let them join up and be trained as police, with the understanding that the only beat they'll ever be assigned to is -- West Baltimore. Won't happen; they know better.
I lived in, then around, Baltimore for three decades, left there in the early 1990's. There were parts of West Baltimore where, even in 1975, I'd drive an extra 20 miles to avoid being there after dark. If, by some necessity, I was on driving on Pennsylvania Avenue or any street west of it after dark, I would only slow down at red lights and, if the coast was clear, accelerate outta there.
Yes, the police have grown callous, after a career of trying to bring order to a neighborhood that rejects it, and lash out on occasion. That's not how they came out of the Academy. That's how West Baltimore and its contempt for any attempt to maintain a lawful society conditioned them.
Here's a simplistic thought: If the residents of the area want different policing: Let them join up and be trained as police, with the understanding that the only beat they'll ever be assigned to is -- West Baltimore. Won't happen; they know better.
29
"If the residents of the area want different policing: Let them join up and be trained as police"
I would imagine that many , if not most, black Baltimore males have arrest records that would prevent them from becoming police officers.
I would imagine that many , if not most, black Baltimore males have arrest records that would prevent them from becoming police officers.
1
Let the liberal commentators figure this out.
18
Congratulations liberals. You got EXATLY what you wanted. The police are now a reactive fore instead of a pro-active force. They are still responding to calls but they are no longer taking the initiative because you liberals don't want them to and this is what you get. Sorry liberals but this YOUR fault.
24
I couldn't agree more. Liberals, be careful what you wish for.
1
So give them their way or they'll take it out on everybody. Immature bullies.
Motto for a proud police force: "Do the job or do it right"...But certainly not both.
2
This police strike only emphasizes the lack of professionalism among some police departments and the need for more, not less, supervision and accountability.
3
This is clearly a threat from the police union, the same tactic the NYC police union used when Mayor DeBlasio dared to challenge the status quo. They need to start firing people. They have all manor of stats on policing. If the numbers start to fall outside the norm you drag somebody's butt in to explain why and if the answer doesn't hold water you fire them for dereliction of duty.
6
This would require true leadership from the mayor of Baltimore. We haven't seen that yet.
1
The media and "protesters" have promoted the tragically false narrative that the police are the problem in too many high crime communities.
Without the police, the criminals terrorize the innocent.
Without the police, the criminals terrorize the innocent.
33
Police who strike are also the problem - its called discipline and accountability. The charges brought against the Baltimore policemen are outrageous and wont stand up - they are political not legal in nature. Just like everyone else, the cops have to let the system do its job while they continue to serve and protect.
Sad that a peaceful life in any community would be highly dependent on active policing.
8
This will likely change when the Baltimore prosecutor is relieved of her duty. Not because she charged the six cops with the crime but the comments she made while doing it galvanized the police force. Like it or not, you can't try six cops in public like she did without a trial.
22
This is dereliction of duty of the highest order!
Many of you applauding this dereliction of duty, unprofessionalism, and juvenile behavior by the Baltimore Police Department would be outraged if this was happening in your communities.
The policemen who killed Freddie Gray deserved to be charged and I pray that they are convicted.
Cops are not to be treated as peacocks who think that they are above the law.
Many of you applauding this dereliction of duty, unprofessionalism, and juvenile behavior by the Baltimore Police Department would be outraged if this was happening in your communities.
The policemen who killed Freddie Gray deserved to be charged and I pray that they are convicted.
Cops are not to be treated as peacocks who think that they are above the law.
4
There is no "dereliction of duty" involved. The police are working to rule. If anyone expects more than that, the very least they can do is refrain from the political grandstanding that we have seen from Baltimore's prosecutor.
2
This "crime wave" has been taking place in urban America for the better part of a year now. Cold weather put a crimp on it for a little while. The police in this country are between a rock and a hard place now.
1
In our communities, we are law abiding. The police are a non-issue. The Baltimore community needs to step up and be law abiding as well. White Appalachia is even poorer than the black inner cities but its crime rate is 50% lower than the US average. Poverty doesn't cause crime, culture does.
When will the rioting and looting begin to demand that the police do something about all this crime? Where is Al Sharpton, et al and other leaders of the black community organizing a march for justice, demanding accountability to the citizens of West Baltimore for this "in-action" when the citizens of WB murder other citizens of WB. This has got to be investigated.
19
The war on drugs must end. It has destroyed nearly every urban African American community.
If this war were occurring in upper middle class communities, drugs would be legalized tomorrow.
If this war were occurring in upper middle class communities, drugs would be legalized tomorrow.
2
This meant be irrelevant to the article, its truth that Baltimore police are not policing actively or the article's agenda if there is one.
But there is no evidence of a capital crime against a Mr. Freddie Gray, in fact there is no evidence for the existence of a specific Mr. Freddie Gray. Why do I say this, there is no autopsy, and no medical reports or medical information that exists any way, shape or form, nothing exists and nothing can be corroborated or examined. So logically it is just a story.
But there is no evidence of a capital crime against a Mr. Freddie Gray, in fact there is no evidence for the existence of a specific Mr. Freddie Gray. Why do I say this, there is no autopsy, and no medical reports or medical information that exists any way, shape or form, nothing exists and nothing can be corroborated or examined. So logically it is just a story.
2
So the cops have either have to be bad cops or not cops at all? I read this in disbelief. That's a shameful attitude to have. What kind of training are they getting anyway? Where's that attitude coming from?
I disagree that it's due to "a few bad apples." What we've seen in the last months - and what the black people of Baltimore have to live with every day - tells us the problem is endemic. And it starts with the police's profound disrespect for the people they are sworn to protect and serve.
And it's not just in Baltimore - and frankly, it's not just people of color for whom cops nationwide seem to have a generic disrespect; I'm as white and law-abiding as you can get, and I feel it too.
In a profession that is ALL about training - just like the military - the answer has to lie in leadership. It's clear that the leadership in the Baltimore PD has to be thoroughly renovated, starting from the top and especially including the mid-level people in charge of training. Those trainers were obviously mis-trained themselves, and mustn't be allowed to pass their poor attitudes on to new recruits.
I disagree that it's due to "a few bad apples." What we've seen in the last months - and what the black people of Baltimore have to live with every day - tells us the problem is endemic. And it starts with the police's profound disrespect for the people they are sworn to protect and serve.
And it's not just in Baltimore - and frankly, it's not just people of color for whom cops nationwide seem to have a generic disrespect; I'm as white and law-abiding as you can get, and I feel it too.
In a profession that is ALL about training - just like the military - the answer has to lie in leadership. It's clear that the leadership in the Baltimore PD has to be thoroughly renovated, starting from the top and especially including the mid-level people in charge of training. Those trainers were obviously mis-trained themselves, and mustn't be allowed to pass their poor attitudes on to new recruits.
27
Your analogy to the military, while reasonable, cuts both ways. Even the best trained armies make mistakes. Any general in the Pentagon can tell you that friendly fire casualties are inevitable in any conflict. And soldiers, being human beings just like the rest of us, sometimes have problems dealing appropriately with their traumas.
Certainly a well-run organization should identify and deal with its problems. But those problems will always be there, no matter how hard we try to eradicate them.
Certainly a well-run organization should identify and deal with its problems. But those problems will always be there, no matter how hard we try to eradicate them.
4
Right - in no way should we all be faced with a false choice between policing that treats people in general as if they were felons, and no policing. That's rather like choosing between the Taliban and anarchy. There have to be well trained officers, in sufficient numbers and they have to create ties with the community, not alliances against it - for their own safety and job satisfaction as much as for the public's safety.
1
Black lives do matter, but until we believe that ourselves and stop the black on black crime the rest of the country wont take us seriously. why do we expect others to treat us with the respect we demand if we don't first treat each other with that same respect.
36
You worded your comment in a way that implies that you are black. I hope I guessed right. You have no idea how many whites are on the side of law abiding black people. Nothing on earth would please me more than to see law abiding black people rally around the police -- in the central cities all around this country.
The rates of violent crime among young black men are astronomical, yet for some reason this is a forbidden subject in places like The New York Times. More than 90% of the victims of these crimes are other black people. Whites are frustrated as all get-out at the situation, but no matter how carefully we phrase it, the minute we say anything we are branded as racists.
This must, must change. Tens of millions of white people helped put Barack Obama into this country's most important job. We all have our ghosts, and yes there are stone-cold racists. But most whites want law abiding blacks to get ahead. We fear the crime, but we do not hate you.
The rates of violent crime among young black men are astronomical, yet for some reason this is a forbidden subject in places like The New York Times. More than 90% of the victims of these crimes are other black people. Whites are frustrated as all get-out at the situation, but no matter how carefully we phrase it, the minute we say anything we are branded as racists.
This must, must change. Tens of millions of white people helped put Barack Obama into this country's most important job. We all have our ghosts, and yes there are stone-cold racists. But most whites want law abiding blacks to get ahead. We fear the crime, but we do not hate you.
3
Most arson fires in the US are set by firemen. In truth, firemen will admit that their profession attracts "firebugs." Time for police to admit their profession attracts the occasional murderous psychopath, and clean house.
2
The impulse to say, "What did you expect?" is almost overwhelming, though the reaction (or inaction) of the Baltimore police certainly cannot be condoned Notwithstanding, you are asking individuals (they remain so despite the badge) to routinely confront hostile, taunting circumstances with Superman cool, to uphold the law while jeering thugs; e.g., smoke marijuana while daring officers to arrest them with cellphone recorders at the ready. if you think my example an exaggeration you shouldn't be part of this conversation. We need law and order, and we can not live with police brutality. But many of the persons quoted in this article, as well as COMMENTers, chant a mantra of remedy, though in reality they're asking common police to find an immediate cure for cancer.
9
This is outrageous. The community needs responsible policing, the police need to do their jobs - and the mayor, who seems not to understand this, needs to demonstrate strong leadership. Unfortunately, she has seemed more concerned with her image than with governing. We cannot allow public servants like the police to stop working, just because they are pouting about being held accountable for their actions. They need to stay on the job and win back the support of the people they are supposed to protect.
3
In the absence of a viable police force, perhaps the Black Panthers can open the West Baltimore chapter of the Guardian Angels, policing their own, rather than defending Baltimore from the government.
1
Typical extremist, all-or-nothing, black and white thinking. "Give me all the power to do whatever I want or I'll do nothing". That is the typical mind-set of children, and if the same can be said of our police forces, than the entire profession needs an overhaul.
4
Maybe they just don't want to be killed while conforming to the new standards of non-engagement.
3
If cops don't want to do their job, fire them. Simple as that only with police officers do we tolerate this kind of nonsense. Police departments all want to be military units without any of the rules. There are hundreds of cops who do their job according to the law. Only a sociopath believes it's ok to have legal authority to kill people and have no accountability.
4
Go be a cop, then. Be the change you want to see. Otherwise, stop whining. These police are genuinely afraid that the racist Mayor may throw the book at them at any given time, or that some young twit will pull out their smart phone and record half of a situation that, pulled out of context, makes the cop look bad and then post it to social media. No thanks. We support the cops right here right now.
4
They are working to rule. You want more than that? Good luck if the response to vigorous policing is to file charges against them.
1
My, who would have thought that in a crime infected and infested area an absence of police would mean anything!
I feel very badly for the poor cops who have been made villains, when what they've done is try to serve and protect the public good.
I feel very badly for the poor cops who have been made villains, when what they've done is try to serve and protect the public good.
26
Have we all lost sight of what the real issue is here? This is murder -- not opening fire hydrants or shoplifting. This is people being killed. I'm stunned that murder rates go up when the police are not around. Have any of us ever needed to hide our gun because a police car drove by? Police brutality is untenable, but neither the police nor police brutality cause people to kill other people. The fault lies not with the cops but with the people who are doing the killing. Let's not blame law enforcement for the sins and ills or our society. Let's blame the people who are creating the ills.
33
So the police are free to stage work slow-downs, costing lives and property, in any city where the citizens protest the violent actions of their rogue force members? They are free to close ranks around the criminals in their own team and refuse to stop the criminals on the streets?
And people commenting on here say the citizens asked for it? Really?
And people commenting on here say the citizens asked for it? Really?
4
Heartbreakingly sad. And who is offering any real solutions?? The police aren't the main problem when it is the people who live here who live in fear of each other.
America has few heroes anymore. We just settle for cynicism and the blame game. Liberals are in denial and blame "racism" for everything, while many conservatives won't even tackle the issue and propose any sensible solutions either.
Two things to start: Religion and economic opportunity. We need a real Christian revival in America and inculcate into young people a sense of moral values. Second: End the fed, the foreign wars, offshoring jobs and most of what Ron Paul campaigned about when he ran for President!
America has few heroes anymore. We just settle for cynicism and the blame game. Liberals are in denial and blame "racism" for everything, while many conservatives won't even tackle the issue and propose any sensible solutions either.
Two things to start: Religion and economic opportunity. We need a real Christian revival in America and inculcate into young people a sense of moral values. Second: End the fed, the foreign wars, offshoring jobs and most of what Ron Paul campaigned about when he ran for President!
3
This is not a policing issue. This is a community standards issue.
The people of West Baltimore know exactly who the thugs and trouble-makers are, and until the community is committed to working with the local authorities - including the police - to rid their neighborhoods of these individuals, no amount of policing will - on its own - bring about the peace and tranquility the community deserves.
The community has allowed this to happen, and its time for the people of West Baltimore to take its community back.
The people of West Baltimore know exactly who the thugs and trouble-makers are, and until the community is committed to working with the local authorities - including the police - to rid their neighborhoods of these individuals, no amount of policing will - on its own - bring about the peace and tranquility the community deserves.
The community has allowed this to happen, and its time for the people of West Baltimore to take its community back.
20
Police are not part of the community. They are outsiders given the responsibly to maintain social order via containment tactics. It's not going to work.
Neighborhoods will need to form local autonomous governing bodies to set social rules of conduct and enforcement. The alternative is to let local drug gangs run the area.
Neighborhoods will need to form local autonomous governing bodies to set social rules of conduct and enforcement. The alternative is to let local drug gangs run the area.
The article states that in one Baltimore district "one in four children age 10 to 17 were arrested from 2005 to 2009". Clearly problems in this city run deep. What really needs to be looked at is the extreme poverty found in Baltimore. If there are no jobs and there is very little hope, it is not surprising that people would turn to criminal activities.
3
A widespread lack of personal responsibility leads directly to community poverty.
2
This is the type of petulance you would try to raise your child beyond.
Years of abuse and the response is "following protocol - nothing to see here but the thin blue wall". Finally, the most outrageous incident is called out for the brutality that it is and the response is "well, Police are pulling back because they fear they might be prosecuted".
They fear for their lives in routing encounters.
They fear they might be prosecuted.
They fear that their pensions might not be paid out.
A lot of fear for the so called "bravest" or "finest".
And policeman does not even rank in the top ten most deadliest occupation.
Communities need police. But police do not have to be brutal. It is a mistake to conflate the two.
Years of abuse and the response is "following protocol - nothing to see here but the thin blue wall". Finally, the most outrageous incident is called out for the brutality that it is and the response is "well, Police are pulling back because they fear they might be prosecuted".
They fear for their lives in routing encounters.
They fear they might be prosecuted.
They fear that their pensions might not be paid out.
A lot of fear for the so called "bravest" or "finest".
And policeman does not even rank in the top ten most deadliest occupation.
Communities need police. But police do not have to be brutal. It is a mistake to conflate the two.
3
The behavior of the Baltimore police in allowing crime to go unchecked seems to prove, perhaps more so than the death of Freddie Gray, that the force is unprofessional and its members unworthy to carry a badge - which is, after all, a symbol of the commitment made to serve and protect.
4
Seems also to indicate that the source of the violence is the neighborhoods themselves. So if no cops are allowed to patrol, should we just wall the zone off and let its occupants fight to the death?
1
This is a problem that goes much deeper than a simple argument over police methods. A small city that registers over 50 murders in 6 weeks has some serious problems. You could flood Baltimore with the nicest, best trained, most civil police officers in the country and the underlying dysfunctions wouldn't be solved.
Blaming this surge in violent crime on lazy cops may be emotionally satisfying for some, but it's just as nonsensical as asking why the poor black residents of Baltimore don't all go out and get a job, or move to the suburbs or something.
Blaming this surge in violent crime on lazy cops may be emotionally satisfying for some, but it's just as nonsensical as asking why the poor black residents of Baltimore don't all go out and get a job, or move to the suburbs or something.
98
Some might even argue that the exploitation of this situation on behalf of politically correct fatuity, with no serious suggestions, and no real concern, for the alleviation of this crisis - whose primary victims, obviously, are African-Americans - is racist.
4
I fully agree that crime goes beyond police officers control. To be objective, thecrime rate among inner city inhabitants irrespective of their skin color will indeed higher especially during thesummer months. Th e reason is worldwide in similar social milieu. Persons with little eduation , values, will easily be offended evenby a simply glance at them. Their mental capability to exercise discipline is limited, thus resort to murder when an individual feels insecure enoughto a glance.That is beyond thecontrol of police officers.
but your argument implies that there are problems among the residents of these neighborhood. Not very PC.
2
Here is H.L. Mencken making the point that Americans value order above everything else:
"Every time an officer of the constabulary, in the execution of his just and awful powers under American law, produces a compound fracture of the occiput of some citizen in his custody, with hemorrhage, shock, coma and death, there comes a feeble, falsetto protest from specialists in human liberty. Is it a fact without significance that this protest is never supported by the great body of American freemen, setting aside the actual heirs and creditors of the victim? I think not. Here, as usual, public opinion is very realistic. It does not rise against the policeman for the plain and simple reason that it does not question his right to do what he has done. Policemen are not given night-sticks for ornament. They are given them for the purpose of cracking the skulls of the recalcitrant plain people, Democrats and Republicans alike. When they execute that high duty (Americans believe) they are palpably within their rights."
H.L.Mencken, The Nature of Liberty, 1922
http://grammar.about.com/od/classicessays/a/libertyhlm.htm
"Every time an officer of the constabulary, in the execution of his just and awful powers under American law, produces a compound fracture of the occiput of some citizen in his custody, with hemorrhage, shock, coma and death, there comes a feeble, falsetto protest from specialists in human liberty. Is it a fact without significance that this protest is never supported by the great body of American freemen, setting aside the actual heirs and creditors of the victim? I think not. Here, as usual, public opinion is very realistic. It does not rise against the policeman for the plain and simple reason that it does not question his right to do what he has done. Policemen are not given night-sticks for ornament. They are given them for the purpose of cracking the skulls of the recalcitrant plain people, Democrats and Republicans alike. When they execute that high duty (Americans believe) they are palpably within their rights."
H.L.Mencken, The Nature of Liberty, 1922
http://grammar.about.com/od/classicessays/a/libertyhlm.htm
6
First, the number of murders that the police were actually *preventing* is probably close to zero. It's apparent that the police spokespeople are just using this uptick in violence for their own self interest.
The most plausible explanation is the supply/demand dynamic mentioned.
But the real takeaway is that we just don't know exactly why this is happening.
As in most complex societal situations, simple (simplistic) explanations are invariably wrong.
The most plausible explanation is the supply/demand dynamic mentioned.
But the real takeaway is that we just don't know exactly why this is happening.
As in most complex societal situations, simple (simplistic) explanations are invariably wrong.
2
When you teach your kids to hate authority and to treat the police as the enemy we get what we see, cops acting like they are in a war zone. Now of course the same people who hate cops from 9-5 want them on patrol keeping their property and family safe the rest of the day. This is is the problem with activism. Activist will toss the truth out the window as soon as their cause demands it. The truth is police are not the enemy, they help keep poor and rich neighborhoods safe. But police can't change the root of the problem, violence, they only respond to it. That problem is only changed slowly via the social education that people get while growing up. Until certain communities seek to change how they label and judge authority the violence will continue and now with an media focused anti-cop movement underway we will see the police less assertive and sadly this will be seen as a chance to exploit by those out there who have no qualms about being criminal
14
The police of Baltimore are being blamed for the crime in Baltimore, as though the failed schools, broken economic opportunities, and lack of a cohesive community which lead people desperately to the one viable economic option (crime and the drug trade) were their fault. They are not the social safety net. They are a force that has been battered by the political ambitions and poor strategic choices of decades, but also by the disrespect and frank aggression of the communities they police. The people the police work against do not operate within the context of a judicial code, and they certainly are finding gleeful opportunism to be even more flagrant with murder and crime. Where are the marches of solidarity against the drug trade and crime? Where is the community coming together behind demanding better schools? This certainly should be taken as an opportunity for BPD to restructure its approach to policing, but the communities affected by the violence would be well served to organize and (to invert an old Baltimore term) start snitchin. Blame for what comes out of the end of a gun should be laid at the feet of those with the guns, and the anger for the death and evisceration of a community should be theirs as well.
12
to say that the only viable option in West Baltimore is the drug trade is degrading and insulting to the majority who find employment and work hard.
So from the police perspective there are only two mutually exclusive options. Either they abuse or kill the citizens they are sworn and paid to protect or they pretty much stop doing their jobs. Unless Freddie Gray inflicted the injury which paralyzed him on himself - while being in handcuff, the police, rightfully, should be held accountable for his subsequent death. If I refused to do my job simply because I don't want to follow established procedures, I would be fired - period. What is needed is some statute that can be used to fire them all for dereliction of duty - something similar to what Regan did to air traffic controllers in the 1980's.
4
Right on, well said, 100 % in agreement. If police don't want to or can't do the job without abuse of force, violation of civil rights, criminality on duty, THEN DONT SIGN ON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
If you come home at end of shift angry, soured against the job or a segment of society, the DONT take the job!
Being a police officer is holding a position ensuring and based on the public trust!
If you can't handle that, or are not fit for duty, then don't swear the oath!
Things will never improve if police act like the criminals they are sworn to arrest and investigate!
If you come home at end of shift angry, soured against the job or a segment of society, the DONT take the job!
Being a police officer is holding a position ensuring and based on the public trust!
If you can't handle that, or are not fit for duty, then don't swear the oath!
Things will never improve if police act like the criminals they are sworn to arrest and investigate!
1
Poilce Departments across the Nation must recognize that with the power that that have been granted that they must perform their duties at a higher standard than the average citizen.
The Public needs to recognize that unless they want to live in a community with the criminals running wild then they need to demand proper police protection and give the police the respect that they are due.
Finally, the Authorities in charge must conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism and they must recognize that their words and deeds also have a significant impact on the subsequent actions both the public and the police.
When all three groups ultimately come to the conclusion that they are all in it together maybe then we can have a safe and sane society to look forward to.
The Public needs to recognize that unless they want to live in a community with the criminals running wild then they need to demand proper police protection and give the police the respect that they are due.
Finally, the Authorities in charge must conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism and they must recognize that their words and deeds also have a significant impact on the subsequent actions both the public and the police.
When all three groups ultimately come to the conclusion that they are all in it together maybe then we can have a safe and sane society to look forward to.
2
The police in Baltimore and elsewhere in the US need to answer this simple question: Why is it that police in the UK or Germany or France or Canada are able to do their jobs effectively without shooting hundreds of their unarmed citizens every year but our police officers clearly are not? And are police in Baltimore (and elsewhere in the US) really saying that they cannot do carry out their duties properly without their actions being scrutinized and in the absence of carte blanche to brutalize and frequently kill mostly black unarmed citizens.
We must hold our police to a higher standard of conduct and restraint than has been the case to date and seriously reform both our recruitment and training of police officers. And for those whose excuse is that a police officer's job is more dangerous here than it is for his peer in England or Germany, I would agree except that it is made so by our lunatic gun culture - and as the NRA never fails to remind us, most police officers support lax gun laws (in contrast to city police chiefs who know better). So don't use that excuse, please.
We must hold our police to a higher standard of conduct and restraint than has been the case to date and seriously reform both our recruitment and training of police officers. And for those whose excuse is that a police officer's job is more dangerous here than it is for his peer in England or Germany, I would agree except that it is made so by our lunatic gun culture - and as the NRA never fails to remind us, most police officers support lax gun laws (in contrast to city police chiefs who know better). So don't use that excuse, please.
4
In the UK, they would probably say it's because very, very few civilians are allowed to have guns. Different story here though, isn't it?
1
Baltimore is experiencing a societal collapse. The police, the government, and the people are all to blame. Conditions were allowed to deteriorate to the point where the cops resorted to brutality as a commonplace tactic. The people want law enforcement but won't cooperate with the police either out of fear of the cops, or fear of retribution. The government just stood by and let it all fall apart. I would bet that behind closed doors the words, "That's just the way those people are" were uttered quite frequently.
Now the cops are pulling back. They can't conduct business as usual. They don't know what to do. The necessary support systems that any police force needs are not in place just as individuals need support systems. Without these systems, neighborhoods and even entire societies fall apart.
If we can learn anything from Baltimore, is that hyper individualism doesn't work. The glue that holds communities together must be present. The policing problems that Baltimore has will not be resolved until the glue gets put back in. It took decades for it to be washed away. We can't save Iraq, but we must save Baltimore.
Now the cops are pulling back. They can't conduct business as usual. They don't know what to do. The necessary support systems that any police force needs are not in place just as individuals need support systems. Without these systems, neighborhoods and even entire societies fall apart.
If we can learn anything from Baltimore, is that hyper individualism doesn't work. The glue that holds communities together must be present. The policing problems that Baltimore has will not be resolved until the glue gets put back in. It took decades for it to be washed away. We can't save Iraq, but we must save Baltimore.
6
Absolutely, there are bad apples in police departments everywhere. After all, police officers are human like the rest of us and are not perfect. That said the biggest issue for the Black communities, to me, is not police brutality but the crimes that the community members inflict on each other. That is what Blacks should be protesting and be up in arms about. They cannot have it both ways - put police officers under a microscope, Monday-morning quarterbacking every move they make AND expecting those same officers to keep them safe under dangerous circumstances. If Black Baltimore is not safe for its Black citizens, neither is it safe for police officers. So, the Baltimore PD is now concerned about their own safety which leads them to hold back and to de-policing, which leads to more crime. Chickens come to roost; you reap what you sow. I say this as a Brown person and immigrant from a Third World country.
25
oK, so you want to blame policing problems on "a few bad apples". So why aren't the good apples doing something about it? When an entire department closes its eyes to the crimes of "a few bad apples", there is no such thing as a good cop in that community.
1
If you look at crimes committed against people, crimes are usually intra-racial, the fact that you do not point out how "white community members" inflict the same type of crimes on each other points to seeing black people as something other worldly. Crime is an issue, police are supposed to be there to protect and serve the public. When a man who has committed no crime is killed, the police need to be scrutinized. If one of your family members was killed in a "nickel ride," I am almost positive you would not claim that such misconduct is the fault of your community. How about the police stop brutalizing the black community?
The suggestion that you need to brutalize the community in order to police it is downright racist and unacceptable.
The suggestion that you need to brutalize the community in order to police it is downright racist and unacceptable.
1
Who could be surprised by this? What cops in their right minds would jump into a situation in which they can't win and might very well lose their livelihoods or their lives for their trouble? They certainly aren't being appreciated.
The ultimate responsibility and blame here is with parents who are doing a terrible job if they're doing any job at all of raising their kids with reasonable boundaries. You obviously don't want police to be there. so you'd better step up to be responsible for your kids and accountable for the condition of own community.
The ultimate responsibility and blame here is with parents who are doing a terrible job if they're doing any job at all of raising their kids with reasonable boundaries. You obviously don't want police to be there. so you'd better step up to be responsible for your kids and accountable for the condition of own community.
39
"What cops in their right minds would jump into a situation in which they can't win and might very well lose their livelihoods or their lives for their trouble?"
Honorable, brave cops who focus more on the safety, welfare, and rights of the people than their own personal feelings. Apparently such cops don't exist in Baltimore.
Honorable, brave cops who focus more on the safety, welfare, and rights of the people than their own personal feelings. Apparently such cops don't exist in Baltimore.
1
Um, that IS what they'rw getting paid for. If they don't want to do their jobs they should resign or be fired.
1
You simply cannot have it both ways. You either want a proactive police force, or one that simply takes reports. Cops know that arresting a person that runs or resists does not look pretty, and someone can get hurt--so why take the chance. It's simply easier when you "don't" see something. I would do the same.
83
They can blame the police all they want, but that doesn't change the fact that THEY are the ones committing the crimes. Drop all this "snitches get stitches" nonsense and help the cops help YOU.
1
so, now is about the time the liberals who were screaming about abusive police two weeks ago, and how stop and frisk and broken windows type policing needs to end, will now start to scream about the current policing and the way it is carried out (or not carried out) is racist. Choose one, folks.
18
I choose both. The either or given here is absurd. The police killed a guy and when called on it, refuse to continue to do the job for which they are being paid. You are right that it can't be both ways. There is, however, a middle ground. Police engage the community in cooperation to reduce crime. This is somewhere between abusing citizens and ignoring them. Maybe they should try that for a while. Just one liberal offering a suggestion.
1
Is responsible policing a choice?
1
This is a false dilemma fallacy. First, look at what gives rise to the situation: the phony drug war (decriminalize the stuff and treat it as a health issue.); full employment policy; bring back the trade schools; FDR-type social programs; community organizing around establishing cooperative institutions and programs. Second, creating police forces based on peer-reviewed sociology, where police also are community workers and are more educated. Do DSM-V screening for mental disorders. So rather that react, think about the causes. Do some critical thinking based on peer-reviewed sources.
1
are we sure that it is the police and the black community that are the great threat or maybe it is the "unknown outsiders" who might be working to separate one group against the other. I think "isis" must be feeling good!
That's always the veiled threat of the police. Don't like the way we do our jobs? See how you like it when we don't do it at all. But there is a third option. Hopefully there are enough officers who have both the integrity to do their jobs and to not to abuse their power.
22
Without the support of the police union, integrity will not win out.
That is the veiled threat by any employee. When a boss doesn't provide the environment or the standards that the employees want, many of them quit. This happens all over the free world. Each employee has a minimum standard of support he requires from the boss. If you want cops who will work without communal support, you can have them.
All people understand that cops have a hard job. But when cops take an attitude for no reason or treat everyone like a suspect, or use their authority to intimidate everyone around them things like this happen. If we see that cops are not held accountable for what they do where can we expect to come out on the scale of justice? I see cops commit small violations when they drive. Many never stop at stop signs, don't signal, tailgate, cut people off, and this is their normal driving mode.
They want us to respect them but they don't respect us. Granted they come into already bad situations but there have been times when I've felt that they've made it worse. Other times they've done a good job defusing it and keeping the public safe. But there's always that one or three officers who cause most of the problems. They make the rest look awful. It's also the same in the communities. All it takes is one rotten apple to make life miserable for everyone else when it comes to dealing with authority. However, that does not excuse the incidents that we've been seeing or a pull back. Most of us do appreciate good policing when we see it.
They want us to respect them but they don't respect us. Granted they come into already bad situations but there have been times when I've felt that they've made it worse. Other times they've done a good job defusing it and keeping the public safe. But there's always that one or three officers who cause most of the problems. They make the rest look awful. It's also the same in the communities. All it takes is one rotten apple to make life miserable for everyone else when it comes to dealing with authority. However, that does not excuse the incidents that we've been seeing or a pull back. Most of us do appreciate good policing when we see it.
6
No surprises here. If you demonize all police officers for the acts of a few, you will get what you asked for. I have no sympathy for the whiners in this article. They brought it upon themselves. As the saying go, you made your bed, now lie in it. Also this article, does not emphasize enough that with the necessity to have two officers patrolling, rather than one, for officer safety purposes, the police department has been forced basically to cut its coverage in half.
149
Question: don't most metropolitan police department pair their officers up? I've rarely seen one officer in a car in NYC. It's almost always 2.
1
How is this a NYT picked comment? I know "they" exist, but I didn't hear people whining in this article. “In truth, residents want a strong police force, but they also want accountability.” Citizens shouldn't demand this? I empathize with moms like Tiffany who are really anxious about the summer violence. I also empathize with police that try to understand the complexity of the communities they work in and remain professional in a really tough job. This expectation shouldn't change and your comment does nothing the elevate the conversation.
2
"I have no sympathy for..." is the national slogan of American conservatives. Perhaps that is why conservatism is destroying the nation.
1
The police are being vilified in this country. Their pulling back in high crime neighborhoods is perfectly understandable.
30
If less policing leads to high murder rates then what does it say about the people in that community?
My mostly white suburb has hardly any police and the crime rate is negligible.
My mostly white suburb has hardly any police and the crime rate is negligible.
64
What the police seem to be saying is that they know only two ways to do their job: brutalize the citizenry, or let people kill one another. Hm. I wonder if there's perhaps a middle ground -- say, do the job the right way.
12
I guess either way it is law enforcement's fault.
It's very sad but I'm not surprised and I suspect most people feel likewise.
Why aren't the same community leaders who protested Freddie Gray's and other's deaths, protesting these killings?
Do some black live matter more than others?
I don't think so.
Why aren't the same community leaders who protested Freddie Gray's and other's deaths, protesting these killings?
Do some black live matter more than others?
I don't think so.
66
My opinion of the police has crashed this spring, primarily because of the San Bernadino Sheriffs incident. A traffic helicopter was nearby and the sheriffs didn't know they were monitored. Out of 10-12 officers I don't remember seeing a single one do the right thing. It was clear they all assumed it was their turn for a little street justice. I am sorry but I no longer believe you when you say the police are fearful so they aren't policing. I suspect it has more to do with either except their thugish ideology or you are on your own. After what I've seen the police have lost the benefit of my doubt.
7
Many police are among the bravest and noblest members of the human race. Some others are thugs. In between are too many cowards who look the other way when the thugs run wild. When people do not want the police around, it is often because there is no guarantee of what they will get.
As a doctor, I know that many people avoid medical care for the same reason. And I see that both of our professions have a history of poor quality control. People nowadays are unlikely to give us the benefit of the doubt, and often come to us out of desperation more than trust. When people see others fouling the creek, they may be reluctant when offered a drink, even by a good guy.
As a doctor, I know that many people avoid medical care for the same reason. And I see that both of our professions have a history of poor quality control. People nowadays are unlikely to give us the benefit of the doubt, and often come to us out of desperation more than trust. When people see others fouling the creek, they may be reluctant when offered a drink, even by a good guy.
7
So let me get this straight, the police who have for generations oppressed and terrorized the poor black community, in concert with politicians who have destroyed the economic fortunes of the poor black community, who want to be called heroes who protect and serve, have decided that they will stop working simply because people want cops held accountable for their crimes? And we are supposed to respect the police?
Writing an article about the violence in Baltimore without acknowledging how the police have directly contributed to the social situation in Baltimore would be like writing a book about the emergence of the United States of America without talking about the relationship the colonies had with the British before 1776.
Writing an article about the violence in Baltimore without acknowledging how the police have directly contributed to the social situation in Baltimore would be like writing a book about the emergence of the United States of America without talking about the relationship the colonies had with the British before 1776.
16
Antonio,
Your comment is part of the problem. Blacks do not hold a monopoly on being poor. There are many poor whites and Latinos who are abused by the police also. The media could choose to highlight every case of police misconduct, but that does not sell papers. It starts with leadership. Why do the citizens of these cities keep electing the same leaders expecting different results?
Your comment is part of the problem. Blacks do not hold a monopoly on being poor. There are many poor whites and Latinos who are abused by the police also. The media could choose to highlight every case of police misconduct, but that does not sell papers. It starts with leadership. Why do the citizens of these cities keep electing the same leaders expecting different results?
2
Right, my comment is part of the problem ... Not the comments of cop apologists who believe that cops should be allowed to commit crimes without criticism or accountability. And let's ignore all the sociological and psychological factors that results in poor black communities being targeted by the police more so than any other communities.
1
You seem to be saying that the black politicians that have been running Baltimore for many years have "destroyed the economic fortunes" of their fellow blacks there. Really?
1
I'm really surprised by many of the comments here, to the effect that Baltimore is getting what it asked for, or what it deserves. Police are paid by taxpayers to serve and protect. Serve and protect does not include assaulting citizens in their custody. In the Freddy Gray case, assault turned to murder, and the officers responsible have been rightly charged. That's how it works: you commit murder, or are apparently involved in committing murder, you get charged and you get a trial to see if the charge will stand up in court. NOW, fellow officers who are also paid by the taxpayers to serve and protect, are carrying out a passive aggressive campaign that can only be justifiable to officers who believe themselves above the law, who believe that they have a right to assault prisoners, and/or a right not to be questioned on the outcome. There was similar behavior in NYC in the way officers treated the new mayor by turning their backs on him at a funeral. In both cases, disgraceful. I'm paying your salary with my hard earned money. You're fired.
14
I live in Baltimore City. This story is a huge oversimplification. According to endless local reporting, the primary cause of the increased violence is the injection of a huge supply of narcotics that came out of the pharmacies that the "protestors" looted (http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/freddie-gray/bs-md-dea-suspect.... There are now a new slew of dealers on the street. The shootings and killings are a function of old-fashioned turf warfare.
I am sure the police are gun shy, but they show up everyday and put themselves in danger to protect us. It is not helpful to make it sound like they have backed away. The violence-prone class here is not an easy thing to manage, to say the least. Please give some credit to those who try.
I am sure the police are gun shy, but they show up everyday and put themselves in danger to protect us. It is not helpful to make it sound like they have backed away. The violence-prone class here is not an easy thing to manage, to say the least. Please give some credit to those who try.
94
Curious that activists don't march on drug dealers as they do on cops.
Curious that activists don't surround drug dealers with their phones to video every movement they make as they do with cops.
Curious that activists don't demand the indictment of drug dealers as they do for cops.
Curious that activists don't demilitarize drug dealers as they do for cops.
Curious that activists are perfectly able to co-exist with drug dealers but not with cops.
Curious that activists don't surround drug dealers with their phones to video every movement they make as they do with cops.
Curious that activists don't demand the indictment of drug dealers as they do for cops.
Curious that activists don't demilitarize drug dealers as they do for cops.
Curious that activists are perfectly able to co-exist with drug dealers but not with cops.
179
Best comments I have read in the dozens and dozens of articles about ferguson, baltimore, nyc...
1
activists are black. The drug dealers are black. The cops are predominately white. Do you suppose that has anything to do with it?
Another false argument that only conservatives are stupid enough to make.
We PAY the police to take down drug dealers. Yet when citizens in Oakland and SF provide the police with video evidence of drug dealing, the police are always somehow "too busy" to do anything about it. On the take much, guys? And if citizens marched against drug dealing, the cops would just attack the demonstrators, because beating up innocent civilians is SO much more fun - and safer! - than fighting crome.
We PAY the police to take down drug dealers. Yet when citizens in Oakland and SF provide the police with video evidence of drug dealing, the police are always somehow "too busy" to do anything about it. On the take much, guys? And if citizens marched against drug dealing, the cops would just attack the demonstrators, because beating up innocent civilians is SO much more fun - and safer! - than fighting crome.
1
It stuns me that the New York Times which has published countless articles regarding police shootings themselves, is only now reporting to its readers what has been happening in Baltimore.
In fact, it has devoted far more energy to reporting on the McKinney, Texas incident of the policeman shoving a teenager than to the Baltimore crime wave.
It's hard not to suspect that black lives matter only when they collide with the police, especially and above all, if the police are white. Otherwise, crime and murders of black people barely register in the national media. (Or, perhaps, in the attention and passion of many New York Times commenters.)
In fact, it has devoted far more energy to reporting on the McKinney, Texas incident of the policeman shoving a teenager than to the Baltimore crime wave.
It's hard not to suspect that black lives matter only when they collide with the police, especially and above all, if the police are white. Otherwise, crime and murders of black people barely register in the national media. (Or, perhaps, in the attention and passion of many New York Times commenters.)
28
What great logic by the police. Officers get indicted (and rightfully so) for unjustly killing a man so now no one on the force can do their job? What an utter lack of professionalism and pride.
8
Really, the choice for poor urban minorities is to either get beanten up or shot to death for no or minor crimes committed or no policing at all. What disgusting, passive aggressive behavior! Most of us would normally be fired if we performed that way on a job.
8
This is not a case of the police pulling back from traditional reactive policing (where cops respond to calls during or after crime.)
This is a case of cops pulling back from the hated "broken windows" policing, where cops are stopping and frisking people in high crime neighborhoods and getting in everyone's business.
Another example of trying to find a balance between freedom and security.
This is a case of cops pulling back from the hated "broken windows" policing, where cops are stopping and frisking people in high crime neighborhoods and getting in everyone's business.
Another example of trying to find a balance between freedom and security.
6
I would like NYT to investigate in more detail which community centres were closed and why. For all we know, Baltimore's spending per resident and per student is rather high. I won't be surprised if all of a sudden it turns out that some of those centres were phased out, or closed after complaints, or something else.
4
As if this result wasn't entirely predictable when West Baltimore made their feelings about cops abundantly clear in the past couple months.
25
I *used* to support unions and protecting police pension funds.
However, the Baltimore Police Dept. is changing my position.
However, the Baltimore Police Dept. is changing my position.
4
Why is this article even discussing the police at all? Why is it not rather a discussion and statistics explaining ,or attempting to explain, why people in bad neighborhoods seem intent on shooting each other, thugs and innocents alike. If people are intent on this behavior, no police force, no matter how good or ethical can stop them. Start holding these shooters responsible for their crimes and stop blaming the police for not stopping them for these shootings.
79
More policing, less policing? it's a question of how few or how many band aids. Unless we as a society get to the root of the problem and fix it, this untenable situation that will not be fixed.
Ary Kempler
Ary Kempler
1
And that root is obviously a lack of personal responsibility in the community, as Daniel Patrick Moynihan pointed out forty years ago. And it has worsened in the interim.
2
Cops can't win. The new gotcha journalism where cops who are even remotely out of line now make headlines serves no purpose and I don't like this trend. If they slack off - says who anyway - violence is their fault. Like it or not cops are the last line of defense against total anarchy in our cities and even some towns. It's a tough thankless job, especially for inner city cops. Also you have to ask if the presence of police would have stopped these violent incidents or would they have happened anyway. Stop blaming police for everything.
55
Whether the police are aggressive or not - I still wouldn't commit murder. Its sad that the default is more murder when the police become less aggressive in their crime fighting tactics. Sorry the same can't be said for those that live in Baltimore-Brooklyn-St Louis and other cities where the police have been forced to be less aggressive and the murder rates have shot up. Perhaps, just a theory, aggressive policing and murder and crime rates are connected.
10
Unfortunately the Baltimore PD have too many unqualified members to serve as Officers of the Peace, no matter what amount of training they receive. They lack the character and temperament for the job. This is evidenced by their self imposed job action unprecedented submission of Workers Comp claims that we all must pay. Growing up in Brooklyn these were the guys that had baseball bats in their trunk the dead of winter. Inmatture adolescent behavior, like a child taking a tantrum, both condoned and encouraged, very sad !
4
Law enforcement should not be allowed to unionize for the same reasons the military cannot. Unions, while great in other industries, have no place in the military or police. Strikes by either weaken the nation, and create a conflict with the chain of command. Witness that the NYC cops who killed Eric Garner calling their union before 911 as Garner lay dying on the pavement. Now we see an illegal work slowdown leading to deaths.
5
I thought the rioters of Baltimore were trying to prove they are not "thugs." Maybe other words should be used to describe the people doing the shooting. Do the residents of Baltimore want flawed cops or more dead people? Maybe the residents themselves can set the ground rules for police that keep both the police and the residents safe from the shooters. Maybe the people will realize that when cops confront the drug dealers and shooters, if the cops are judged by how the drug dealers and shooters behave, the cops can never succeed in keeping the people safe. But then again, why do we care if it is not the cops doing the shooting and killing the residents. Nobody is rioting, nobody is demonstrating to bring back the cops.
13
Surely something went awry in the arrest of Freddie Gray. The facts are very unclear, but videos at the scene suggest that he was injured prior to being placed in the van. Nevertheless...
Indicting six officers for murder/manslaughter by an activist DA was a gross over reach and had to send a chilling message to every Baltimore police officer. Every officer now in an impossible position. Damned if he sits on his hands. Damned if he even appears to "cross the line." If I were in their position I too would err on the side of just being a bystander.
Indicting six officers for murder/manslaughter by an activist DA was a gross over reach and had to send a chilling message to every Baltimore police officer. Every officer now in an impossible position. Damned if he sits on his hands. Damned if he even appears to "cross the line." If I were in their position I too would err on the side of just being a bystander.
95
So does this logic apply to any job, or just police officers. I know if I took the position that I'm not going to do my job anymore because someone complained about how I did my job or disciplined me for how I did my job, I would not likely keep my job for very long. I'm quite sure that applies to most employees. I'm not clear why police officers would be exempt. They are being paid by taxpayers to do a job. They best do it, or get to work on that career change they've been dreaming about.
20
Larrye, While teaching is not a life or death occupation, I can definitely understand how the police officers have been demoralized. As a teacher, my every word is scrutinized and criticized by people not even in the room, so at a certain point, for my own mental preservation, I step back. I can't take my job as seriously as I should, because no matter what I do, I'm going to get flack.
1
Are you saying that one cannot police without physically assaulting people?
2
Can we as Americans look to Europe and see that our tenacity to the right to bear arms is killing us. The police are in constant fear of being out gunned.
We need to compromise, especially in cities, and put a limit to guns.
People will say then only the bad guys will have guns, but if we regulated the sales of guns and had stricter permitting, we might go some way to reducing over all violence.
We might look to the UK and the decisions the government took after a massacre of school children some years ago, and reflect on what has happened since the Newtown massacre.
We need to compromise, especially in cities, and put a limit to guns.
People will say then only the bad guys will have guns, but if we regulated the sales of guns and had stricter permitting, we might go some way to reducing over all violence.
We might look to the UK and the decisions the government took after a massacre of school children some years ago, and reflect on what has happened since the Newtown massacre.
5
Yeah but it's incredibly unlikely that a single one of the guns used in these 55 murders was a legally purchased weapon. So more regulation, while nice, would have no effect on this problem.
1
Police violence certainly has many negative repercussions and should by all means be prevented, but this is a reminder that it is a very small portion of the overall amount of violence in West Baltimore and other inner city areas. Gang violence, domestic violence, and drug-related violence are far bigger issues, and without the police they would be exponentially worse.
9
If what is suggested here were true. That is if Baltimore police were retaliating on Baltimore citizens for some cops prosecuted for criminal conduct, then this would mean that Baltimore police, as an institution, would be operating as an organized criminal agency. If this were the case, the whole police department would need to be dismissed and replaced by honorable and lawful officers, at all levels. It sounds hard, but living under the gun of a corrupt criminal organization would be even harder.
3
Requiring the police to manage all the ills in the crime ridden neighborhoods is not the answer. A force of social engineers need to be activated to address the issues that are many including crime, mental disorders, family degradation, and respect to the police and other authorities. The job or the police should be to protect and preserve citizens from the criminal element. Baltimore officials better change their attitude about the police or the city will continue to degrade.
2
Why does it have to be one or the other? Can't Baltimore police patrol crime-ridden areas without treating the inhabitants like animals?
Some will surely portray this as a "see, we told you!" moment, but the reality is that the fault of this lays at the feet of the police department. There are towns and cities throughout the United States where police treat black people with dignity, while simultaneously enforcing the law and keeping violent crime low. If Newark can lower the murder rate without an uptick in police violence against young black men, surely Baltimore can do the same.
I would further point to New York City after the federal courts put a stop to search-and-frisk; no crime wave. NYPD continued to patrol (although I'm sure there were and are continued abuses), but poor black and hispanic neighborhoods didn't go up in flames.
The solution here is simple: train Baltimore cops to not harass people, have more foot patrols, and increase the number of drug treatment programs. Relations between West Baltimore residents and the police will heal, people will trust each other, and crime will go down.
Some will surely portray this as a "see, we told you!" moment, but the reality is that the fault of this lays at the feet of the police department. There are towns and cities throughout the United States where police treat black people with dignity, while simultaneously enforcing the law and keeping violent crime low. If Newark can lower the murder rate without an uptick in police violence against young black men, surely Baltimore can do the same.
I would further point to New York City after the federal courts put a stop to search-and-frisk; no crime wave. NYPD continued to patrol (although I'm sure there were and are continued abuses), but poor black and hispanic neighborhoods didn't go up in flames.
The solution here is simple: train Baltimore cops to not harass people, have more foot patrols, and increase the number of drug treatment programs. Relations between West Baltimore residents and the police will heal, people will trust each other, and crime will go down.
5
Law enforcement throughout the country have used this type of bullying tactic in many aspects of their business, including budgeting and any attempts at oversight. Their message, "Do it our way or we'll stop enforcing the law and all chaos will ensue."
That attitude is immoral, unethical, and a dereliction of their duties, for which they are paid. Perhaps it's time to for a complete overhaul of the police department there, starting from the top and moving down to individual officers who are shirking their duties.
That attitude is immoral, unethical, and a dereliction of their duties, for which they are paid. Perhaps it's time to for a complete overhaul of the police department there, starting from the top and moving down to individual officers who are shirking their duties.
11
Now it is the time for the community to step in and clean their neighborhoods from the criminals. The police might have made mistakes but some are unavoidable and if we do not treat them as just accidents, instead of charging police with criminal conducts, the only choice for police is to withdraw.
Besides, we need to make sure what kind of skills we need from policemen. Sometimes I feel that we expect them to act as psychology majors plus judo maters while we hire high school graduates and pay the Wall-mart salaries.
Finally, the best way is a long term plan for communities to work with children if parents are not qualified to bring them up and if the community is destructive. The personality formation starts soon after the birth and consists of zillions of precious moments for next many years. If we lose too many of those moments, the child when grows up, may only have a police mugshot to show.
Besides, we need to make sure what kind of skills we need from policemen. Sometimes I feel that we expect them to act as psychology majors plus judo maters while we hire high school graduates and pay the Wall-mart salaries.
Finally, the best way is a long term plan for communities to work with children if parents are not qualified to bring them up and if the community is destructive. The personality formation starts soon after the birth and consists of zillions of precious moments for next many years. If we lose too many of those moments, the child when grows up, may only have a police mugshot to show.
4
Following the death of Freddie Gray at the hands of the police, the state's attorney, Marilyn Mosby, justifiably brought charges against the officers so as to hold them accountable for their actions. In the aftermath of Mr. Gray's death, the public learned of so-called "hard rides," and the fact that Baltimore police had routinely inflicted this unlawful practice on people in their custody for decades.
Now the police are refusing to perform their job, with the complaint that they are concerned they they too might be charged in the performance of their duties. This conduct is not only unfounded, but disgraceful. The officers that were charged in Mr. Gray's death, weren't simply performing their duties, they purposely caused a handcuffed and defenseless individual to sustain spinal injuries, resulting in death. What officers are saying when they refuse to perform their duties, is that they want to police outside the confines of the Constitution and the public's civil rights, or they will not police at all, and in doing so will allow member of the public to die. This is unconscionable, and our civic leaders need to put and end to this non-policing and the police unions that enable this abuse.
Now the police are refusing to perform their job, with the complaint that they are concerned they they too might be charged in the performance of their duties. This conduct is not only unfounded, but disgraceful. The officers that were charged in Mr. Gray's death, weren't simply performing their duties, they purposely caused a handcuffed and defenseless individual to sustain spinal injuries, resulting in death. What officers are saying when they refuse to perform their duties, is that they want to police outside the confines of the Constitution and the public's civil rights, or they will not police at all, and in doing so will allow member of the public to die. This is unconscionable, and our civic leaders need to put and end to this non-policing and the police unions that enable this abuse.
59
After apparently having convicted all the officers charged (without benefit of trial) of by "simply performing their duties, they purposely caused a handcuffed and defenseless individual to sustain spinal injuries, resulting in death," and calling for "civic leaders" to give "the police unions" a good, stern talking to, do you feel all better and righteous now, JEG?
1
"the fact that Baltimore police had routinely inflicted this unlawful practice on people in their custody for decades". Apparently, you have an agenda as you throw out unsubstantiated statements without even a shred of proof. Am I surprised that good police become reluctant to be heroes when the anti-police bigotry is so evident in their critics
1
I am sorry, but this is a puerile narrative. Terrifying number of American left wingers and journalists keep inventing horror stories and then get upset about their own inventions.
You should be the brains of your country! I am worried that this hands-up-don't-shoot groupthink festival is leading to unforeseen consequences. The American public is already feeling unsafe for many reasons and now the left is destroying its reputation as a safe and trustworthy political movement. Don't you know how people vote when they are afraid?
You should be the brains of your country! I am worried that this hands-up-don't-shoot groupthink festival is leading to unforeseen consequences. The American public is already feeling unsafe for many reasons and now the left is destroying its reputation as a safe and trustworthy political movement. Don't you know how people vote when they are afraid?
2
Here's an idea! Why doesn't this "crazy neighborhood" police itself with citizen security patrols. None criminals always outnumber criminals 50 to 1. Take responsibility and chase the drug dealers off the streets! Then residents will have no one to blame but themselves, they will get what they deserve.
20
And how many people do you think would step forward to do so???
1
The police are defending their ability to act without external oversight by slowing down until the oversight goes away. They can defeat external pressure and oversight by slowing down more until a desperate community invites them back on their terms.
As long as they defeat external oversight, the tone of policing will be set by those police who need the oversight, who will be protected by the other police and allowed to upset the community and make policing more dangerous for all policemen. This situation could be changed if police start ratting on their out-of-control colleagues, but this is unlikely. Other ways of changing it are much more difficult.
As long as they defeat external oversight, the tone of policing will be set by those police who need the oversight, who will be protected by the other police and allowed to upset the community and make policing more dangerous for all policemen. This situation could be changed if police start ratting on their out-of-control colleagues, but this is unlikely. Other ways of changing it are much more difficult.
8
You sound like you could work for the KGB, "ratting" on their out of control colleagues. Unless you've lived or worked as a law enforcement officer in these areas you probably have no idea what it's really like.
5
What I am amazed at, is that this piece is written as if this were unexpected and a surprise.
We can't possibly be that stupid
We can't possibly be that stupid
32
there's a myth out there that violent crimes have magically decreased due to demographic changes or evolving attitudes in poor communities.
I live in a poor community that has little crime -- but it has a significant police presence. And not long ago it had more crime, and when the police significantly increased visibility and went after (pro-actively) people with warrants, it changed things very fast.
I woke up one morning at five am by accident and peered out the window and saw about eight police cars and many cops entering walk up buildings on my block -- they arrested a number of people up and down the block. Things changed dramatically after that. No more knife fights, threats - a new block.
Of course, gentrification and much higher rents followed!
I live in a poor community that has little crime -- but it has a significant police presence. And not long ago it had more crime, and when the police significantly increased visibility and went after (pro-actively) people with warrants, it changed things very fast.
I woke up one morning at five am by accident and peered out the window and saw about eight police cars and many cops entering walk up buildings on my block -- they arrested a number of people up and down the block. Things changed dramatically after that. No more knife fights, threats - a new block.
Of course, gentrification and much higher rents followed!
52
did the residents attack the police for doing so however?
1
The police are vilified. Their pulling back is a surprise? Not to me.
97
Then they should not receive a pay check. People that don't do their jobs get fired.
5
In this case the police are the criminals.
5
This is what any community can expect when the city administration, police chief with a federal government that takes the word of a recidivist criminal over that of a police officers.
Time to put the blinders on until which time the fear of indictment fades for doing the job you're trained to do.
Time to put the blinders on until which time the fear of indictment fades for doing the job you're trained to do.
32
They didn't take the word of a "recidivist criminal". They killed him. Remember?
5
"Doing the job you're trained to do." What job is that, exactly? Killing people that are handcuffed, unarmed, or running away? Is that what we train officers to do? Or harass minorities and poor people and arresting them with no cause?
Shouldn't officers that do these things be afraid of indictment? What is it exactly that allows you to continue to believe it can't happen to you?
Shouldn't officers that do these things be afraid of indictment? What is it exactly that allows you to continue to believe it can't happen to you?
3
I know the good that unions have done in the past, when they were instrumental in stopping the depredations of robber barons who exploited working people into depths of poverty we haven't seen since.
But when people refuse to do their jobs, sulking and snarling instead, people who are actually well rewarded in many ways in spite of troubles (which every profession faces; ask a teacher) when they do their jobs rightly, there I have to draw the line. These police officers, if they are allowing murders and other crimes to burgeon because they are dissatisfied with their jobs or the public, should be fired, and the union should support it. There are plenty of good people who would be glad to train and to do the work well for the pay and benefits they'll get, and for the good of the public. Find them, and send the sulkers packing, the sooner the better.
But when people refuse to do their jobs, sulking and snarling instead, people who are actually well rewarded in many ways in spite of troubles (which every profession faces; ask a teacher) when they do their jobs rightly, there I have to draw the line. These police officers, if they are allowing murders and other crimes to burgeon because they are dissatisfied with their jobs or the public, should be fired, and the union should support it. There are plenty of good people who would be glad to train and to do the work well for the pay and benefits they'll get, and for the good of the public. Find them, and send the sulkers packing, the sooner the better.
18
The Mayor of Baltimore said she wanted to give the residents more "space" from the police. Well, now they have it.
175
Be careful what you ask for....
59
The blue flu. The city should take the police union to court and get an injunction forcing the union to pay a daily penalty until the slow down is stopped. It is also a great opportunity to get rid of some unproductive cops. Don't forget, the cops created this mess.
25
Is this bazarro world? The cops are the bad guys? It is obvious the public does not want them to be proactive--would you be?
3
The police are very low on the pole of who created this mess. You need to do a whole lot more investigating if you want to arrive at a educated opinion!
1
I am retired federal agent and former county sheriff. There is no way I would ever advise a youngster to go into policing in any venu today. At the Federal level the GOP Senators treat you as garbage and you will never be able to put your kids through college as your pay is stagnant and shrinking. At the local level the public expects super human ultra fast decisions without any room for error, screw up and they convict you without trial. All this for piddly wages? Forget it protect yourself pepole, I would rather be a farmer and if anyone else has alternatives take them dont be police.
81
If any comment on this issue deserves the imprimatur of the Times' "Picks", it's this one. And of course it did not receive it.
4
If you don't like the police, if you don't want the police, the police won't bother you, and they won't hang around and stare at you. I lived in Baltimore for a long time, and I can tell you this is not a new situation in West Baltimore. Now the people of Baltimore, in general, have indicated through their actions - the lootings, the shootings, the burnings and the riotings, that they are angry with the police and do not want them around. And that is exactly what they are getting.
I must sympathize with the police - I would do the same. And I hope all the other big cities of America are watching what happens when you "do not want the police around"..........
I must sympathize with the police - I would do the same. And I hope all the other big cities of America are watching what happens when you "do not want the police around"..........
133
It seems that the criminal element engaged in the riotings, burnings, etc. have received their wish. Now ALL the residents need to live with it.
6
What you are suggesting, sir, is basically blackmail: Either the police get free reign with minimal scrutiny and criticism, or else the police let criminals run amok.
It's a brilliant tactic, just not an ethical one. It implies that the police care more about their own power than the welfare of the community they are supposed to be serving.
There is a third option: The police serve their communities with integrity -- which implies that they acknowledge inevitable mistakes and erase the Blue Line when one of their own gets out of hand. Unlikely to happen, I know, but it's a nice thought...
It's a brilliant tactic, just not an ethical one. It implies that the police care more about their own power than the welfare of the community they are supposed to be serving.
There is a third option: The police serve their communities with integrity -- which implies that they acknowledge inevitable mistakes and erase the Blue Line when one of their own gets out of hand. Unlikely to happen, I know, but it's a nice thought...
5
So the public responds with outrage to a man who may have been beaten to death by six cops, and the police must defend their actions at a trial...that equates with the cops having a work stoppage? Sorry, I don't see the equation here. This feels like a police union is out of control and my grandfather was a cop and I am pro-union.
49
No, its more like they are afraid. If they do their jobs, even by the book with no hint of assault or whatever, someone with disagree or take something out of context. Then they will be thrown to the wolves. Better to drive through the neighborhoods with eyes front and respond only to 911 calls.
8
Read the newspaper. This is not just about the tragic death case....which may very well have been criminal - I admit.
The people of Baltimore have made their bed, now it's time to lay in it.
138
This is boloney. Don't come to the conclusion that just because officers can't shoot at will, it hampers their crime fighting abilities. The rise in crime is a result of office attitudes and lowered policing. Either it is a function of not feeling supported by their community, and/or a pouty sense that they can't do as they please so why bother?
24
Forget shoot at will... they are not even allowed to raise their voice, swear, or perform crowd control on disrespectful animals (both colors by the way) without some video camera going viral accusing them of bloody murder.
7
Oh, the irony. Chasing down murderers and violent criminals is exactly what a good police force should be doing, not rounding up debtors, traffic offenders and dope smokers.
The Baltimore police could gain some good will back if they were seen as accomplishing the right tasks and not just hassling people.
I hope the city of Baltimore and police officials and union officials will give some serious thought to this problem--and I hope every police department in the US will do the same.
The Baltimore police could gain some good will back if they were seen as accomplishing the right tasks and not just hassling people.
I hope the city of Baltimore and police officials and union officials will give some serious thought to this problem--and I hope every police department in the US will do the same.
31
Nope.. you are wrong. They should be doing both and the citizens should learn to respect them a bit more. Sure there will be a few real unprovoked police abuses but most of this silly stuff would go away tomorrow if some people learned to respect authority.
3
Please google "Broken Windows" policing and Guiliani / crime / New York.
1
It seems the message being sent by the Baltimore police union is "Leave us alone to police the way we always have, or we won't police at all". Is that the message being sent?
56
Sounds fair to me. If there is less crime and I am free to do my business then its a good arrangement. If the guys with the pants around their knees and tattoos up their arms who cannot resist the urge to swear down the cops don't agree .... well there really is not much I can do about that.
2
Baltimore's police are doing a serious disservice to their city. What if the teachers decide to stop teaching? Paramedics decide to stop showing up? Nurses not bother to assist their patients?
I'm sorry, but when you do something criminal at work, you have to face the consequences, like the 6 police who took Freddie Gray into custody. Do the job by the book. Don't make up barbaric rituals like 'rough rides.' The police in Baltimore need to grow up and act like professionals. This is absurd.
I'm sorry, but when you do something criminal at work, you have to face the consequences, like the 6 police who took Freddie Gray into custody. Do the job by the book. Don't make up barbaric rituals like 'rough rides.' The police in Baltimore need to grow up and act like professionals. This is absurd.
157
Funny, I haven't seen the public demand a teachers or paramedics head.
5
And the protestors are facing the repercussions for injuring over 100 officers. There are consequences all around for the bad behavior.
3
They are not pulling back as punishment. They are pulling back out of fear that they will be accused of a crime while doing their job. Policing is tough and requires tough action. Its like making sausage. You do not want to watch it being done even if you love how it tastes. The only comparison with teachers is teachers who are afraid to address controversial subjects for fear of being accused of something nefarious.
5
It just goes to show that, no matter what happens, police just do not want to do their jobs the proper way. If that's the case, get new ones. Start firing and hiring, now.
99
Really, you think there's a huge pool of qualified people that are dying to patrol in West Baltimore, due to the skyrocketing murder rate no doubt? I also have a lot of trouble believing that every police officer in the country does not want to do their job. But heck, prove me wrong, apply to police the streets of massive gunfire, see how easy it is to stay upbeat about it.
11
considering the views and behavior of so many Baltimore residents where would new applicants come from? If someone provides the stupid answer of "from Baltimore" they need to be reminded that Police applicants need clean records, drug tests and high schools diplomas. In inner city DC only a third of high school students ever finish. About 1/3 of black men between 18 and 30 have been incarcerated. Drug tests in the construction business turn up 2/3 positive. Considering these facts, where would these appllicants be found in inner city Baltimore?
From outside that area (i.e., "white" areas) who would subject themselves to the treatment and behavior of the residents (as shown by the residents)?
From outside that area (i.e., "white" areas) who would subject themselves to the treatment and behavior of the residents (as shown by the residents)?
9
@ejzim " Start firing and hiring, now."
Whom do you suggest they hire? Minorities seldom apply for police jobs.
Whom do you suggest they hire? Minorities seldom apply for police jobs.
4
The worst month since the 70's and people can still think policing isn't one of the most important (though not only) factor in keeping crim in check? Now NYC hadn't reverted as much as Baltimore- but it's the same issue do to the new mayor - council speaker - public advocate persons that were elected. Their rhetoric has emboldened criminals.
98
During the South African struggle against Apartheid it was called "work slow" as a form of civil disobedience. Things like checking out of the grocery store line would take 30 minutes when it should only take 5 minutes. Baltimore, NYPD and Cleveland are doing this by sitting in their cars, not making as many stops and so on, civil disobedience against their State Attorney's office or Mayors.
1
Obviously you don't want rogue or a runaway police force trampling on the rights of citizens. However you also have to recognize that policing in a high violent crime area is going to look and feel different than a stable lower crime area.
I think the activists forget that or can't recognize that nuance involved. You simply can't ask cops to go the extra mile if the community is antagonistic towards them. Hopefully a detente can be arrived at shortly and the vigilant policing that these areas require can resume.
I think the activists forget that or can't recognize that nuance involved. You simply can't ask cops to go the extra mile if the community is antagonistic towards them. Hopefully a detente can be arrived at shortly and the vigilant policing that these areas require can resume.
177
Ed, good comment. I can't help but notice that you use the word "detente". How ironic and sad given the word's history. I am not optimistic as I think the issues in these communities are devastating. Teachers, too, in many ways are having to deal with the same kind of cultural collapse.
1
I think that teachers saying, "I'll do a poor job of teaching, to the harm of the children I teach, because I'm not being respected, I'm being vilified unjustly--but I'll keep taking my paycheck and benefits" would be seen as utterly out of line, not commiserated with. And rightly so. But I haven't known a teacher who would take it out on the children or refuse to do his or her job despite the flack, and I know a number of them. It's called "dedication" or "honor", and it is something that decent adults have.
4
You should tell that to Bill de Blasio. Ray Kelly tried, but he didn't listen. Maybe you'll have better luck.
2
Seriously, How can the citizens of Baltimore reclaim their city? I suggest, that if left alone, they can solve their own problems. A loan of funds is fine but more involvement from Fed and state gov. won't solve the issues. City gov should reduce regulations, lower taxes, empower business and people.