LetltB
@LetltB
12 Years5,000+ Posts
Comments: 1 · Posts: 9186 · Topics: 179
126 Shootings so far this month
At a City Council meeting Wednesday, Batts said officers have expressed concern they could be arrested for making mistakes.
"What is happening, there is a lot of levels of confusion in the police organization. There are people who have pain, there are people who are hurt, there are people who are frustrated, there are people who are angry," Batts said. "There are people, and they've said this to me, 'If I get out of my car and make a stop for a reasonable suspicion that leads to probable cause but I make a mistake on it, will I be arrested?' They pull up to a scene and another officer has done something that they don't know, it may be illegal, will they be arrested for it? Those are things they are asking."
Protesters said Gray's death is emblematic of a pattern of police violence and brutality against impoverished African-Americans in Baltimore. In October, Batts and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake invited the U.S. Justice Department to participate in a collaborative review of the police department's policies. The fallout from Gray's death prompted the mayor to ask U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch for a full-fledged probe into whether the department employs discriminatory policing, excessive force and unconstitutional searches and arrests.
Baltimore was seeing a slight rise in homicides this year even before Gray's death April 19. But the 36 homicides so far in May is a major spike, after 22 in April, 15 in March, 13 in February and 23 in January.
Ten of May's homicides happened in the Western District, which has had as many homicides in the first five months of this year as it did all of last year.
Non-fatal shootings are spiking as well. So far in May there have been 91 — 58 of them in the Western District.
And the arrest rate has plummeted.
The statistics showed that even before Gray's death, police were making between 25 and 28 percent fewer arrests each month than they made in the same month last year. But in May arrests declined far more sharply.
So far this month, arrests are down roughly 56 percent. Police booked just 1,045 people in the first 19 days of May, an average of 55 a day. In the same time period last year, police arrested 2,396 people, an average of 126 a day.
"What is happening, there is a lot of levels of confusion in the police organization. There are people who have pain, there are people who are hurt, there are people who are frustrated, there are people who are angry," Batts said. "There are people, and they've said this to me, 'If I get out of my car and make a stop for a reasonable suspicion that leads to probable cause but I make a mistake on it, will I be arrested?' They pull up to a scene and another officer has done something that they don't know, it may be illegal, will they be arrested for it? Those are things they are asking."
Protesters said Gray's death is emblematic of a pattern of police violence and brutality against impoverished African-Americans in Baltimore. In October, Batts and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake invited the U.S. Justice Department to participate in a collaborative review of the police department's policies. The fallout from Gray's death prompted the mayor to ask U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch for a full-fledged probe into whether the department employs discriminatory policing, excessive force and unconstitutional searches and arrests.
Baltimore was seeing a slight rise in homicides this year even before Gray's death April 19. But the 36 homicides so far in May is a major spike, after 22 in April, 15 in March, 13 in February and 23 in January.
Ten of May's homicides happened in the Western District, which has had as many homicides in the first five months of this year as it did all of last year.
Non-fatal shootings are spiking as well. So far in May there have been 91 — 58 of them in the Western District.
And the arrest rate has plummeted.
The statistics showed that even before Gray's death, police were making between 25 and 28 percent fewer arrests each month than they made in the same month last year. But in May arrests declined far more sharply.
So far this month, arrests are down roughly 56 percent. Police booked just 1,045 people in the first 19 days of May, an average of 55 a day. In the same time period last year, police arrested 2,396 people, an average of 126 a day.
In fact, police did not make any arrests in the triple digits between April 22 and May 19, except on two occasions. On April 27, when protests gave way to rioting, police arrested 246 people. On May 2, the last day of a city-wide curfew, police booked 140 people.
At a news conference Wednesday, Rawlings-Blake said there were "a lot of reasons why we're having a surge in violence."
"Other cities that have experienced police officers accused or indicted of crimes, there's a lot of distrust and a community breakdown," Rawlings-Blake said. "The result is routinely increased violence."
Rawlings-Blake said her office is "examining" the relationship between the homicide spike and the dwindling arrest rate.
"It's clear that the relationship between the commissioner and the rank-and-file is strained," she said. "He's working very hard to repair that relationship."
Emergency response specialist Michael Greenberger cautions against blaming the police for the violence. The founder and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, he said it's more likely a response to Gray's death and the rioting.
"We went through a period of such intense anger that the murder rate got out of control. I think it's been really hard for the police to keep on top of that," he said.
Lee disagrees. He says rival gang members are taking advantage of the police reticence to settle scores.
"There was a shooting down the street, and the man was standing in the middle of the street with a gun, just shooting," Lee added. "Usually, you can't walk up and down the street drinking or smoking weed. Now, people are everywhere smoking weed, and police just ride by, look at you, and keep going. There used to be police on every corner. I don't think they'll be back this summer."
Batts acknowledged that "the service we're giving is off-target with the community as a whole" and he promised to pay special attention to the Western District.
Veronica Edmonds, a 26-year-old mother of seven in the Gilmor Homes, said she wishes the police would return and focus on violent crime rather than minor drug offenses.
"If they focused more on criminals and left the petty stuff alone, the community would have more respect for police officers," she said.
At a news conference Wednesday, Rawlings-Blake said there were "a lot of reasons why we're having a surge in violence."
"Other cities that have experienced police officers accused or indicted of crimes, there's a lot of distrust and a community breakdown," Rawlings-Blake said. "The result is routinely increased violence."
Rawlings-Blake said her office is "examining" the relationship between the homicide spike and the dwindling arrest rate.
"It's clear that the relationship between the commissioner and the rank-and-file is strained," she said. "He's working very hard to repair that relationship."
Emergency response specialist Michael Greenberger cautions against blaming the police for the violence. The founder and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, he said it's more likely a response to Gray's death and the rioting.
"We went through a period of such intense anger that the murder rate got out of control. I think it's been really hard for the police to keep on top of that," he said.
Lee disagrees. He says rival gang members are taking advantage of the police reticence to settle scores.
"There was a shooting down the street, and the man was standing in the middle of the street with a gun, just shooting," Lee added. "Usually, you can't walk up and down the street drinking or smoking weed. Now, people are everywhere smoking weed, and police just ride by, look at you, and keep going. There used to be police on every corner. I don't think they'll be back this summer."
Batts acknowledged that "the service we're giving is off-target with the community as a whole" and he promised to pay special attention to the Western District.
Veronica Edmonds, a 26-year-old mother of seven in the Gilmor Homes, said she wishes the police would return and focus on violent crime rather than minor drug offenses.
"If they focused more on criminals and left the petty stuff alone, the community would have more respect for police officers," she said.
Two thoughts came to my head:
1. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
2..Baltimore, Detroit says "hello"
1. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
2..Baltimore, Detroit says "hello"
Posted by LetltB
Veronica Edmonds, a 26-year-old mother of seven in the Gilmor Homes, said she wishes the police would return and focus on violent crime rather than minor drug offenses.
Um, does anyone see something odd here? It begs the question if the children are all from the same father.
It also touches on the real issue that very few want to talk about.
Be careful what you fucking wish for! Lol ain't that the truth.
Well i mean cops are obviously the problem right? So fuck em, they wanna be left alone so be it.
Now. ..maybe someone will protest over the senseless violence. Maybe someone will see that as the root issue in the community, see that is the reason the cops are "harder" on them.
Maybe. Probably not.
Nice post LIB
Well i mean cops are obviously the problem right? So fuck em, they wanna be left alone so be it.
Now. ..maybe someone will protest over the senseless violence. Maybe someone will see that as the root issue in the community, see that is the reason the cops are "harder" on them.
Maybe. Probably not.
Nice post LIB
Posted by CancerOnTheCuspPosted by LetltB
Veronica Edmonds, a 26-year-old mother of seven in the Gilmor Homes, said she wishes the police would return and focus on violent crime rather than minor drug offenses.
Um, does anyone see something odd here? It begs the question if the children are all from the same father.
It also touches on the real issue that very few want to talk about.click to expand
Oh you mean this woman in the hood has more children than she can probably handle and probably on her own? And that these children will grow up in the streets and become the same hoodlums shes afraid of herself?
Posted by MayDay31
Oh you mean this woman in the hood has more children than she can probably handle and probably on her own? And that these children will grow up in the streets and become the same hoodlums shes afraid of herself?
Sadly enough, odds are they will.
Sounds like the cops are letting the gangs just kill each other out.
Posted by CancerOnTheCusp
Two thoughts came to my head:
1. Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.
2..Baltimore, Detroit says "hello"
Yes
Posted by MayDay31Posted by CancerOnTheCuspPosted by LetltB
Veronica Edmonds, a 26-year-old mother of seven in the Gilmor Homes, said she wishes the police would return and focus on violent crime rather than minor drug offenses.
Um, does anyone see something odd here? It begs the question if the children are all from the same father.
It also touches on the real issue that very few want to talk about.
Oh you mean this woman in the hood has more children than she can probably handle and probably on her own? And that these children will grow up in the streets and become the same hoodlums shes afraid of herself?click to expand
Yes
Well, more than enough Veronicas around to replenish the hood.
Posted by GetMisted
I can throw around stats too:
Homicide victims w/prior violent charges (murder/assault/homicide) VS. Total Homicides
2014
Jan - 17/27 63%
Feb - 3/10 30%
March - 2/7 29%
April - 5/12 42%
May - 9/23 39%
2015
Jan - 14/23 61%
Feb - 6/13 46%
March - 10/14 71%
April - 9/23 39%
May - 18/35 51%
Now given that the charges only include victims procecuted in the State of Maryland..
I would say that the city of Baltimore is doing a lot better this year policing their own city.
41% up to 53% for those 5 months when it comes to ridding of violent past offenders in their own city.
I'm going to assume that that percetage is far better than the innocent/conviction rate by BPD
So is it your response...500+ have to be shot for the people to protest as they police their own city? Or that it's ok to just shoot innocent people with no consequences?
Posted by GetMisted
Is it okay to shoot innocent people with no consequences?
Almost caught me in your spin, regardless..
My response:
Absolutely not. This thread is about the community itself.
My question is, why do communities protest when one person in a community gets shot, yet chooses not to protest when HUNDREDS get shot in less than a month??
Very simple question.
Posted by LetltBPosted by GetMisted
Is it okay to shoot innocent people with no consequences?
My question is, why do communities protest when one person in a community gets shot, yet chooses not to protest when HUNDREDS get shot in less than a month??
Very simple question.click to expand
1. Because it doesn't serve the interest of professional agitators (read: community organizers) to actually address the real issues in the community.
2. Bringing to light the spike in violence only highlights the incompetence of the elected officials, and exposes the lie of "progressive" social policies.
3. Obviously the money has run out for the protesters who were getting paid to protest.
4. There is a movement among certain intelligencia of the Marxist/socialist mindset to nationalize the police force rather than the local communities maintaining control. Both the protests of the death, and increased violence because the cops are emasculated both serve the narrative that " if only the federal government controlled the police, all would be skittles and rainbows"
Posted by CancerOnTheCusp
Baltimore requests FEMA funds for city riot aftermath
Talk about adding insult to injury.
So we the people get to pay for it.
But, of course.
The FEMA funds need to go to real disasters not stirred up, purposely agitated,
preventable acts of idiocy.
preventable acts of idiocy.
Posted by truecap
The FEMA funds need to go to real disasters not stirred up, purposely agitated,
preventable acts of idiocy.
I read somewhere the paid protesters got stiffed.
Ferguson, was it?
Acorn?
Something like that.
So much of this is contrived, Merc Rx, notwithstanding.
There was a protest against police brutality in Texas a week or so ago. Not sure whether it was Dallas or Houston. They marched. They spoke. It was peaceful. Everyone got their say. Cops were respectful, protestors were respectful. There was no looting or rioting...Texas must be doing something right.
🙂
🙂
Posted by MontgomeryPosted by truecap
The FEMA funds need to go to real disasters not stirred up, purposely agitated,
preventable acts of idiocy.
I read somewhere the paid protesters got stiffed.
Ferguson, was it?
Acorn?
Something like that.
So much of this is contrived, Merc Rx, notwithstanding.click to expand
It's really, really a sad world when you have to pay people to get them to protest.
Then, to jip them like that....smh. Just an example of BS politics.
Peaceful protests work.
Agitated protests reinforce the stereotypes.
Posted by truecap
There was a protest against police brutality in Texas a week or so ago. Not sure whether it was Dallas or Houston. They marched. They spoke. It was peaceful. Everyone got their say. Cops were respectful, protestors were respectful. There was no looting or rioting...Texas must be doing something right.
🙂
Reason for that is Texas carrying laws. Anyone stupid enough to loot a business, or try to set a home on fire in that state wouldn't be shot by the cops, they'd be shot by the owner LEGALLY.
Posted by LetltBPosted by truecap
There was a protest against police brutality in Texas a week or so ago. Not sure whether it was Dallas or Houston. They marched. They spoke. It was peaceful. Everyone got their say. Cops were respectful, protestors were respectful. There was no looting or rioting...Texas must be doing something right.
🙂
Reason for that is Texas carrying laws. Anyone stupid enough to loot a business, or try to set a home on fire in that state wouldn't be shot by the cops, they'd be shot by the owner LEGALLY.click to expand
Exactly!!!!
That's why I wouldn't live anywhere else.
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BALTIMORE (AP) — Antoinette Perrine has barricaded her front door since her brother was killed three weeks ago on a basketball court near her home in the Harlem Park neighborhood of West Baltimore. She already has iron bars outside her windows and added metal slabs on the inside to deflect the gunfire.
"I'm afraid to go outside," said Perrine, 47. "It's so bad, people are afraid to let their kids outside. People wake up with shots through their windows. Police used to sit on every corner, on the top of the block. These days? They're nowhere."
Perrine's brother is one of 36 people killed in Baltimore so far this month, already the highest homicide count for May since 1999. But while homicides are spiking, arrests have plunged more than 50 percent compared to last year.
The drop in arrests followed the death of Freddie Gray from injuries he suffered in police custody. Gray's death sparked protests against the police and some rioting, and led to the indictment of six officers.
Now West Baltimore residents worry they've been abandoned by the officers they once accused of harassing them. In recent weeks, some neighborhoods have become like the Wild West without a lawman around, residents said.
"Before it was over-policing. Now there's no police," said Donnail "Dreads" Lee, 34, who lives in the Gilmor Homes, the public housing complex where Gray, 25, was arrested.
"I haven't seen the police since the riots," Lee said. "People feel as though they can do things and get away with it. I see people walking with guns almost every single day, because they know the police aren't pulling them up like they used to."
Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said last week his officers "are not holding back" from policing tough neighborhoods, but they are encountering dangerous hostility in the Western District.
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