By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L., Managing Editor
Well, you really did it this time Commissioner Bealefeld. The words you said actually pissed me off and they hit home with me. A hit below the belt that is. Recently you had a much ballyhooed appearance on a local talk show. As usual, I agreed with so much of what you said, but on a few points, I must differ with you in the most fierce manner possible.
Other Agencies Need To Step Up
While it may be true that other city agencies need to help bear the burden of reducing crime and violence in this city, there's something I didn't hear you mention a single word about. GETTING RID OF THE DIRTY COPS! The Baltimore Police Department is full of them and we all know this. Their presence make the good guys look bad. It makes the jobs of the honest ones more difficult too. The police have ZERO CREDIBILITY with the black community, including those of us that abide by the law.
For too long we've seen a pattern of wrongful arrest, harassment, physical abuse, deliberate and malicious false statements and testimony. How much of this has changed? When will this be addressed squarely? Oh sure, there's been a high profile conviction or two, but the problem runs deep, real deep. We know that even your brother, Charles Bealefeld's name came up a few times in investigations. Want my respect and those of others in the black community? Then let's hear you talk more about cleaning up the department.
Yes, Doc Cheatham may consider you a friend, but you know what? The black community at large does not trust you. We ain't buying it! Like it or not, this is a plain hard fact. Not only do we not trust you, we don't trust your men either. The women aren't seen much differently.
As long as so many of us are looked at as either suspect or victim by the police, the problems will continue. It doesn't take a degree in psychology to understand the deeply ingrained damage done to the collective psyche of Baltimore by this department. If I assembled the full list of abuses and illegal activity committed by members of the Baltimore Police Department, it would resemble the rap sheet of large organized crime family. Sad thing, for many, the police and the criminals are hard to tell apart.
Commisioner Bealefeld, have you ever been beaten up and arrested by a cop on your front porch simply because you were not able to produce ID when a cop demanded it? Probably not right? Well I was. What message do you think this sends to my children, my neighbors, the community at large? Don't know about you, but typically while I'm relaxing on my own property, I don't have my wallet on me. On my own private property, as a law abiding citizen, there's no valid legal reason why I should have to show ID to anyone! Especially some thug chop. Go out and protect and serve why don't you! STOP ABUSING AND HARASSING THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT CRIMINALS! I thought we went to war with foreign countries that did this sorta thing?
The culture of corruption and abuse that runs rampant in the Baltimore Police Department has done so much to undermine crime fighting. It's not just the uncooperative and overly lenient State's Attorney office. probably not the first time you've heard this, but the police lost the hearts and minds of the people, a long, long time ago.
Without citizen cooperation, and right now there is none, good luck solving crimes. If I were you, I would not be celebrating too much right now. The reported minimal decrease in crime does not amount to much. The homicide closure rate is still dismal and well below average. Most killers in Baltimore are still getting away with murder! Remember, there's still seven months to go. When the numbers were high, you told me to stop focusing on them. Now they're a little bit lower, and you guys are crowing?
My issues with your department, it's policies, and actual practices on the street run much deeper than what's been stated so far. If the goon squad doesn't fabricate another phony arrest on me in yet another attempt to see me silent, I will be providing much more details. The ongoing attempts at suppression and intimidation have been absolutely sickening. I openly state this so the next time I disappear, the people will know it's nothing but another cowardly act of reprisal, an attempt to silence a voice of truth that cannot be refuted. The facts are what they are. The dastardly deeds continue.
As an American citizen, as a black man, as a resident of Baltimore, I am disgusted that not only do I have to watch my back for violent street thugs, but I have to look out for the Baltimore Police too. The beatings, abuse, rapes, and misconduct at the hands of dirty cops in Baltimore are on par with those of any notorious street gang.
How can a department filled with so many criminal gangsters effectively protect us from the same? They won't, they can't! Until there's been a major housecleaning, this place will be forever plagued.
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With years of practical, theoretical and academic experience in criminal justice and criminology, A.F. James MacArthur is a frequent commentator on crime and justice and a harsh critic of Baltimore City government corruption and politics. A one time street level law enforcer and college instructor, MacArthur has been recently selected as a lead instructor for the soon to be chartered Baltimore Urban Institute.
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