Talk Of Crime Decline Is Premature And Shows Desperation
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
It's way too early to say one word about a decline in crime. WHAT A FREAKING JOKE! Any appearance of making headway can be wiped out in less than 30 days. In this town, a sudden spike in crime is not unheard of. Hey guys, why don't we slow down a bit on celebrating, we're only five months into the year.
With officer morale low, and public perception of the effectiveness of the Police even lower, Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld and his Baltimore Police Department has been under a continuous barrage from all sides. When you're being attacked and cornered, you become desperate. And desperation is just what we're seeing right now.
To speak about crime being down compared to a year ago is totally meaningless. A sham! In a city with more violence than most, what's there to brag about? So instead of a shooting or two every couple of days, NEWSFLASH we got three shootings TODAY, and it's not even noon yet! (see more on three shootings so far today). I guess with all my cries for transparency in government, I'm finally getting my wish. I can see right through this phony PR move! Now that's clear!
There's been so much violence lately. The now bankrupt Baltimore Sun, our once venerable little local newspaper, can barely keep up. After reducing their newsroom staff to a skeleton crew, there's simply not enough reporters to rush out and dig into these stories. With less serious reporters around, a few things could slip by and no one would know.
Have we really become that naive that we no longer B E L I E V E governments engage is cover ups and misleading actions? Seriously folks! We're not in Kansas anymore. Hell, even there they're probably doing it too!
A recent above the fold headline boldly states crime is down? How can we say this when day be day the tally grows? The final count isn't in. There are dead bodies found with causes undetermined, there's a ton of unreported crime, officers not taking reports, and so much more. Can we at least wait till the end of the year before we take account of where crime truly is? At least then if there's a reason to celebrate no one will accuse you of being a lush for breaking out the bubbly.
I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures. And a desperate man with a department in the doldrums will be quick to embrace a so call decline in crime. Even if it is farce! Commissioner Bealefeld is coming near the max life expectancy of a Baltimore Police Commissioner, so understandably, he wants to keep his job. Positive headlines in the paper are helpful. Sadly, our local daily diary was all to willing to lend a hand.
