Crime Reduction Needs More Substance Over Symbolism By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
As the city continues to grapple with a sharp increase in crime, no one seems to have a ready solution, but at least leaders are finally acknowledging things are out of hand. This is no small feat. It was only a short time ago, we were stuck hearing a years repeated mantra that "overall, crime is down."
Reality has overtaken rhetoric.
At some point, the people of Baltimore stopped buying it. When this summers crime wave began, after 40 people were shot in less than two weeks, there was absolute silence from Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her appointed police commissioner Anthony Batts. The one man who dared even say SOMETHING was fired. Why, because his message was out of sync with the latest illusion they're hoping to portray. He was reading from the old script.
All Anthony Guglielmi did was repeat what they've all been saying all along. But no one told him the script was being hastily rewritten.
A kinder, gentler Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.(Tom Manzitti/Baltimore Spectator)
Enter The Mayor
After a brief stop in wardrobe and an appointment with makeup, we now have a new, kinder, gentler, more caring and compassionate Mayor. Showing up at walk after walk, and various rallies and vigils, Rawlings-Blake seems to be everywhere. Everywhere the people and the cameras are that is.
State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein and Police Commissioenr Anthony Batts have been riding the same bandwagon. What's missing is, beyond the symbolism, is anything truly different being done?
When the cameras are packed away, and the crowd has gone home, what will things be like in these war-torn neighborhoods?
I'm sorry, but merely putting a cop on every block, looking for a mythical thug under every rock is not a crime control strategy. There's zero evidence increased police presence has any lasting effect on reducing crime. What's needed is a whole new outlook and change in strategy, but no one's talking about this.
New Script Being Tested -- Community Cooperation
Now more than before, at every opportunity, whenever a mic or camera is present, city officials declare the solution to our problems is going to take all of us. They beg and plead for community participation, stating citizens have to work with police in order to make the city safer.
This may sound good on the surface, but what none of the leaders are saying is, police need to work closer with citizens. For years now, all of Black Baltimore has known, the Baltimore Police Department are more often part of the problem, than they are the solution.
Arriving on scene and treating everyone like criminal suspects and second class citizens is not how you win friends and influence people. Short shrift has been given to community complaints of police bringing misplaced aggression and needless escalation to many situations.
Cooperation is a two way street, and professionals paid and sworn to protect and serve would go a long way by setting an example and extending common courtesy in the community if they truly expect to accomplish anything of meaningful substance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After an unconstitutional imprisonment lasting 6 months, denied bail, tortured, assaulted and forced to endure inhumane conditions in the notorious Baltimore City Detention Center, A.F. James MacArthur, the original independent, established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting emerged undaunted and unafraid. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
Internet Troll Group Honors And Recognizes James MacArthur
Of the literally thousands of web references to the now infamous 1 December 2012, Baltimore Police Department siege standoff, this one (originally found here) is a contender for most unique and original.
GNAA Bestows Honorary Membership upon Dr. James MacArthur
Leon Kaiser - Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, MD - GNAA today announced that it had decided to bestow honorary membership upon Dr. James MacArthur, Ph.A.L., after a routine GNAA board meeting was interrupted with the news of his struggle against the Baltimore Police Department.
While initially police officers were sent to Dr. MacArthur's home in response to a missed court date, the Baltimore Police Department appears to have taken some allegedlythreateningcommentsmade onpopularmicrobloggingwebsiteTwitter as an excuse to send a team of heavily-armed SWAT members to intimidate Dr. MacArthur into surrendering both his First and Second Amendment rights, leading to a standoff lasting more than five hours. After a heart-wrenching series of events, Dr. MacArthur remained true to his word and turned himself in peacefully.
During the ensuing standoff, Dr. MacArthur broadcasted a live audio feed from the imperiled safety of his home, during which Dr. MacArthur streamed his lengthy discussion with police negotiator Lt. Jason Yerg, in which both parties remained remarkably calm and civil. During his long conversation with Lt. Yerg, Dr. MacArthur vividly described his disillusionment with the Baltimore Police Department's competence and effectiveness. At one point, Dr. MacArthur thoroughly depicted his frightening experiences as a black man living in Baltimore, most notably recalling the time when a hitman knocked on his door after mistaking his address for the one next door. Dr. MacArthur's next-door neighbors were found dead in their home the next morning.
"I'm honored to be considered a member of GNAA," Dr. MacArthur belched, downing the remainder of his forty-ounce bottle of King Cobra malt liquor, "I'll need all the help I can get in the coming days. That is, if I make it out of this alive."
"While normally we would condemn Dr. MacArthur for being a blogger, we have found that Dr. MacArthur's blog is a touching and dedicated account of the struggles of the Baltimore Negro community," GNAA founder and CEO Gary Niger explained, "and as such, we feel that Dr. MacArthur not only meets, but by far exceeds our definition of 'extraordinary blogger'."
"We feel that by praising Dr. MacArthur's blog," GNAA representative Brandon Vedas explained, "we reiterate that our stance on blogging is not an entirely negative one. Dr. MacArthur is a spectacular example of a 'good blogger'. That being said, the quality of Dr. MacArthur's blog is an incredibly rare pearl lying in the darkest depths of the immense sea of mediocrity known as the 'Blogosphere'."
GNAA will hold an unexpected board meeting early next week to decide whether or not Dr. MacArthur's dedication merits the awarding of a "Purple Phallus" award.
About Dr. James MacArthur Ph.A.L. :
With a reputation as a freedom fighter and true patriot, Dr. A.F. James MacArthur has become the undisputed champion of bringing Baltimore's Negro community objective, professional, up-to-date coverage of the corruption and incompetence rampant in the Baltimore Police Department, and the out-of-control crime being committed on its streets. With a well-earned reputation as a bastion of journalistic integrity, known for his extensive and insightful coverage of (and commentary on) urban decay and public corruption. Having shown time and time again that he is not afraid to get his hands dirty in order to bring Baltimore's Negro community a more thorough story, Dr. MacArthur truly is Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter.
Police Corruption And Brutality Not Always Easy To Prove
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? -- Who will guard the guards themselves? People often fear reporting police misconduct
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L. "We have too many corrupt police officers." Last week when Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes said those words while discussing the seeming non-stop bloodshed and violence coursing through the city, the statement brought instant polarization. Responses ranged from those wholeheartedly agreeing 100%, to others being deeply offended and insulted.
Does he have any proof, was asked by many who were quick to criticize the councilman's claim as being unsubstantiated. Even the Fraternal Order Of Police chimed in via Twitter.
But has anyone considered having solid "proof" meeting the level of evidentiary standards acceptable by a court of law, is not always that easy to obtain? Lack of "proof" certainly doesn't prove something hasn't happened.
Truth is, many cases of police corruption, intimidation, and even brutality are cleverly concealed. Sometimes it'll be years after the incident before even the slightest inkling of it finds its way to some form of official report.
By it's very nature, proving wrongdoing by police is not only difficult, but the one seeking proof does so at great personal risk. At the low end, one faces potential harassment and veiled threats, at the other extreme, there are cases where people have showed up dead.
It's certainly not within the scope of this story to give a ton of specific examples, but the reader is cautioned to not take this to mean it doesn't happen.
"We take the hit at people, and say they’re not telling the police what’s happening. That’s absolutely false. People tell the police.." - Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes
As someone who's personally called 911 in Baltimore on numerous occasions to report crimes, with less than satisfactory results, I've seen first hand how reports of crime was ignored by police, creating the statistical appearance of nothing having happened.
The rhetorical question comes to mind; if a crime occurs and the police ignore it, has a crime really taken place at all? If residents call the police to report street crime and see no results, how can they feel confident in reporting possible criminal wrong doing by officers and be taken seriously?
In a statement released by the Fraternal Order of Police, it suggested Stokes statement was dishonest: "Mr. Stokes’ comments are an affront to every honest and hard working Baltimore City Police Officer, not to mention those brave police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while working to protect our city streets. Mr. Stokes’ comments are outrageous, inflammatory, and untrue..."
There's no question the Baltimore Police Department is made up of many good officers, but is there any denying by a close observer that it also has more than it's fair share of bad characters?
It's not like people who see cops committing crime can just feel safe and confident that going to officials with complaints will yield results.
Even when well known crime reporter Justin Fenton recently had an incident with Baltimore Police, he chose not to file an official report. The path he picked to pursue his complaint is not one available to the typical citizen of Charm City.
Someone else would have been treated worse.
Interesting. Batts' security put hands on both of my shoulders and removed me from asking a question to the commissioner...
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) June 26, 2013
The police physically interjecting on a reporter merely trying to do his job ranks way up there in police wrong doing. Under the First Amendment, an incident like this could realistically be pursued for potential criminal wrongdoing. At a minimum, an internal affairs complaint.
We reached out to Fenton via email to ask for more details on the incident. His response was quite revealing:
"As I posted on Twitter, I was removed from asking a question of the commissioner at City Hall. Some asked what I was asking about at the time, but that wasn’t so much the issue as I hadn’t really gotten the question out. I spoke with the commissioner later, and I’m confident this particular kind of thing won’t be an issue again nor will it affect our coverage."
In the scale of police wrong doing, this incident is clearly on the minor side of things, but the principle involved is major. Were it more serious, and involving the average citizen, would they be able to cut through red tape and middlemen to go straight to the Police Commissioner with their complaint? Probably not. Even this incident, public as it may have been, does not exist on official stats. Because Fenton did not file an official complaint.
Whether or not he should have taken things further is left to individual opinion. The point is, were he an average citizen being roughed up by cops for whatever reason, without the possibility of being able to tweet or write a column about it, he probably would have just stayed quiet and moved on with his life. Most people don't have the public platform that a Baltimore Sun reporter has.
It's not far fetched to imagine the same response takes place when individuals are subjected to treatment far
Some Baltimore Police officers will literally say this.
worse. Talk to enough people in Baltimore, especially in economically challenged, disenfranchised neighborhoods, they'll tell you crimes by cops are not only a normal occurrence, but that they take place with routine frequency.
People don't feel safe reporting on incidents they're personally involved in. Someone witnessing an incident of police misconduct not directly affecting them is even less likely to come forward with all the risks involved. This lack of filing official complaints, including Fenton's incident, further bolsters the culprits feeling of immunity and emboldens their impulse to keep carrying on their abusive behavior.
Cops commit crime all the time that will never be reported or documented, because people let them get away with it. We're all to blame.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After an unconstitutional imprisonment lasting 6 months, denied bail, tortured, assaulted and forced to endure inhumane conditions in the notorious Baltimore City Detention Center, A.F. James MacArthur, the original independent, established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting emerged undaunted and unafraid. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter, Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
In the battle for truth and freedom, there will be moments which try ones soul.
They wanted to scare me, that never worked. They desired my silence, yet I shouted ever louder. They wanted me dead, but my life was spared instead. “I am immortal until God’s work for me to do is done. The Lord reigns.” – Henry Martyn
It is my prayer that Edward Snowden continues to abide under the protection of the Almighty.
Death doesn't scare me, I'm not afraid to die. It's a fate that awaits us all, but it shouldn't deter the mission.
After all, a ship is safest tied up or anchored in the harbor. But that's not what ships were designed to do. It's certainly not fulfilling their purpose to never venture out into the unknown, unseen, unstable vastness of the ocean.
When it comes to life, it has been said, nothing ventured, nothing gained. There are things worth fighting for, things worth dying for. Sometimes you have to risk it all, give everything, not for your sake, but for the sake of others who may benefit from your sacrifice.
In war victory is not guaranteed by seeming temporary victory, nor is failure for certain in times of momentary defeat.
To fight for what is right, truth, justice and freedom, is a duty I committed my life to long ago. It is not something I do, it is not a persona I assume, it is WHO I AM!
There are many who are clueless as to the grave dangers we all face. They have no idea how our very way of life is not only threatened, but being viciously assaulted on a daily basis. Making matters worse, are the ones doing the damage. The very governments who claim to be in position to protect and to serve us.
Under the guise of public safety or national security, they dig deeper and deeper into our lives. More and more of our liberties leave us, yet somehow we seem no more safer. Indeed to any astute observer, the world seems to be an increasingly dangerous and unstable place.
As I've said many times before, some of us will die in our attempts of standing strong and bringing you the truth. For many, this fate may seem pointless and futile, or perhaps even deserved. But for the enlightened ones, for the few who are chosen out of the many that are called, it will serve as encouragement to fight on. To be strong and take courage. You will see the words and prophesies spoken were indeed 100% accurate. This should boost your faith.
This freedom fighting, truth telling, gospel preaching, prophesy watching, battle hardened, life long patriot warrior is not out the game yet. Just resting, rebuilding, and recuperating. There's a lot of work ahead and I've got to get ready.
In the meantime, stay strong, stay focused. I shall return!
"But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around." Prophet David (Psalm 3:3-6
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ After an unconstitutional imprisonment lasting 6 months, denied bail, tortured, assaulted and forced to endure inhumane conditions in the notorious Baltimore City Detention Center, A.F. James MacArthur, the original independent, established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting emerged undaunted and unafraid. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. Email MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
When government tramples over the rights of it's citizens, and the media stands by and look, it is difficult to decide who has committed the greater crime.
When civil rights are willfully violated by the government, particularly by law enforcement -- charged with protecting and serving us -- there can be few crimes with a greater victim to society.
As bad, or perhaps worse than a government trampling over the rights of it's citizens, is a press that sits by and does nothing but look on while this happens. Not only is this morally reprehensible, but it defies the very purpose of a free press in a free society.
Purpose Of The Press
For the press is not needed to entertain. There's nothing wrong with diversions, but this should never become the primary purpose of our press.
When football and baseball scores, TV and movie reviews start to dominate more space, and gain ever higher placement and prominence on your news sites, know that freedom everywhere is under fire. The smoke is rising but you're being told to look the other way.
The protections guaranteed us by law are routinely disregarded by our government. Sadly, these things were prophesied in the Bible, long, long ago. Some have studied the holy scriptures and are well aware of this. The vast majority of Americans are completely clueless.
We cannot entirely place blame on the common man for not knowing. After all, he's been conditioned all his life to rely on the press to keep him informed and aware. To make sure he's knows what is important. To warn him of looming disaster and threats.
So when the common man fails to see the danger ahead, proceeds blindly onward and is slaughtered, who then can we blame for this?
It is highly doubtful that any of these words written here today will effect much change in the manner in which mainstream media operates. I have absolutely no hope of witnessing such a miracle.
We Are Already At War
What I do have hope for, is that others will pick up the torch where I drop it. If the standard I've marched forward into battle bearing were to fall, I would hope that 10 brave souls would rush forward to pick it up.
In our age, much of the battles will be fought as an information war. A war to capture your mind, to divert your attention. To keep you from focusing on things that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
We now face issues that are a serious threat not only to our way of life, that we've all come to enjoy and take for granted, but also to our very existence as a free country.
To many, these words may sound strange. To many, they may seem odd. Still others will quickly dismiss it as nonsense.
But to the chosen ones. To those tasked by God to do a great work. These words should serve to ignite the fire within. To wake up souls. Open your eyes wide. Lift your head up to the sky. Seek the protection of the Almighty and march on!
Anyone Can Be Erased
Later today, for the first time ever, I will take to the airwaves to relate my story, of being held in custody for 40 days in Baltimore correctional facilities. There were no charges. There was no warrant. Not even bail. When friends and family, including Maryland State Del. Jill P. Carter -- a defense attorney -- made official inquiry to the correctional facilities, they were all soundly told, I was not there. Even popular talk host and former State Senator Larry Young could not locate me through official channels.
As if that wasn't scary enough, that an innocent man, who's committed no crime could be held so long without anyone knowing. I had friends working inside the jail. Covertly I was allowed to see the internal inmate database. Indeed, through various searches using a multitude of matrices, with my own eyes I saw, there was no one even matching my description, anywhere to be found.
"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 NKJV There Will Be Casualties
What happened to James MacArthur was not only detestable, but should be seen as a serious threat to the peace, safety and liberty of any and all Americans. For if it happened to one, it can certainly happen to all. You could be next.
It was the great American Martin Luther King, who said; "injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere."
Another great American once said give "me liberty or give me death."
These are the words I now live by, in what's left of my relatively short, troubled life. I choose to be among the company of the courageous, and not among cowards.
I've lived a life that's been troubled, not because of drugs or alcohol, because I shun those substances. Not because of lack of opportunity or criminal wrong doing. No! My life has been a life troubled, simply because as one who decided long ago, to always go boldly forward with the truth. At times I found myself standing out front, facing the enemy, all alone.
The Future Belongs To The Brave
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 NKJV
Looking to my left, no one there. Look to my right, everyone took flight. A check to the rear, there was no one there.
While the everyday citizen is rarely in a position to make much impact by being a truth teller. The power and value of standing boldly on principle should never be dismissed. For what is done by one, is often copied by others.
Through word of mouth, person to person, and via the the near magical powers of the internet, words spoken by one mere man, even a common man, could be the media equivalent of one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.
Though some should meet disastrous fate, as in the case of mine. This should not serve as discouragement. For in war, even wars that were won, the winning side often suffers serious casualty as a result of fighting the good fight.
Your media may have failed you. Your press may have passed on, deciding not to alert you of the dangers that lay ahead. But James MacArthur has not. James MacArthur is not afraid. Not afraid of anything on this Earth. Not any man, beast or powers that be.
It is true I desire to live a long life, free of troubles and stress, to one day have grandchildren bouncing on my lap, but I am not so naive to think this is guaranteed to any man.
A man by the name of Douglas MacArthur-- you may have heard of him -- once said; “there is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.”
I intend to make the most of the moments allowed me on this Earth. To seize upon every opportunity given me by the grace of God. While I am not perfect, as is no man. I intend to do all in my power, to not only live the kind of life God would have me live in my personal walk. But to carry on with confidence and bravery in doing his work.
Remember, a crime is a crime, no matter who, or what entity commits it.
Currently busy at work building an all day news, talk and information radio network, all while managing to elude evil people out for his neck, A.F. James MacArthur has become the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
MESSAGE TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT/INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
To all those who willfully, deliberately and routinely violate the civil rights of law abiding American Citizens; Yes, you're powerful. Sure, you're everywhere. But this is still America, and the Constitution of the United States Of America still reigns supreme as the law of the land. The Baltimore Spectator will vigorously and aggressively defend against any and all attempts at spying and suppression. Let it be known to all that we are already aware of the regular monitoring and shadowing attempts. There is nothing to hide, but cross the line and there will be hell to pay.
In the end, efforts to impinge upon the freedoms of the people will ultimately fail. Some of us may get taken out in the ongoing battle for true and lasting freedom, but as I've said many times before, and will say till the day I die or get taken out by you goons, THERE ARE MORE OF US, THAN THERE ARE OF YOU.
A.F. James MacArthur -- American patriot & lover of liberty.
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