Police Corruption is Connected to Anti Gun Legislation

[Jack McCauley]

Let me start by saying that some of the best police officers I have ever worked with come from the Baltimore City Police Department. In fact, the Baltimore City Homicide Unit was once training grounds for allied agency investigators who wanted to become homicide investigators in their own department. After attending a classroom type training course, investigators would shadow a Baltimore City Police detective for six weeks so they could learn the best techniques for homicide investigation. That speaks volumes to the talent level and expertise of the Baltimore City Officers.

If I am being honest, that level of pride no longer appears to exists. The department has been riddled with corruption. The results are that no matter how hard they work to reduce violent crime, their efforts are slowed by the constant interruption by a few bad apples. Poor hiring practices have undoubtedly contributed to this decline.

Having a relationship of trust with the community which you serve is paramount to the success of any police department. When violent crime levels fail to subside, our lawmakers begin looking for other solutions. To Maryland's misfortune, those lawmakers have targeted lawful gun owners and have created unnecessary restrictions in an effort to throw darts at the blurred target they call gun violence.

I have long stated that the Baltimore City Police Department should have the highest paid police officers anywhere in the State of Maryland. Very few places put such a level of stress on an officer and his/her family. They are walking into a war zone every time they report to work. They become hardened at the back and forth conflict between the many violent criminals they encounter on a daily basis. Finding that balance between the good citizens and the criminals can be difficult.

In 2012, the department hired an outside consulting firm to help them develop a "Strategic Plan for Improvement." Included within the final report was an analysis by the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police. I find it very compelling that within the report the Fraternal Order of Police state the following;

"During the past several years, the BPD has been in the news and court system due to the poor decisions and behavior made by a small segment of our police officers. The continued public humiliation that is a result of corruption and scandals involving that very small segment of the force has damaged public perception and internal morale among the larger ranks. The officers who cause the negative perceptions and press make up a minority of those employed by the BPD, but the entire BPD suffers when these improprieties are the subject of media and public scrutiny.

Our police officers are appalled by those individuals who betrayed their oath and have now pled guilty in the Majestic Towing scandal, along with others which
have come to light in recent years. Many now feel embarrassed to tell others they work for the BPD. The rank and file officers attribute this scandal directly to the lax hiring practices of the BPD."

The Fraternal Order of Police have made a list of recommendations to the Department they feel would help change the direction they are headed. I ask that you share this information with your representative. My experience tells me that the level of crime in Baltimore and the actions by a few corrupt officers strongly affects the type of statewide legislative action we see each year in Annapolis. If you want to focus on real issues and have these lawmakers stop targeting lawful gun owners then I suggest you bring this issue to light. Support the Fraternal Order of Police and the many excellent police officers of the Baltimore City Police Department. They don't need to be bashed for the bad actions of a few. They instead need to be recognized for the amazing work by many. They need to have their concerns addressed which they have brought to light on their own. The information shared by the men and women of the police department in this report should be taken into strong consideration. Only then will you see a violence reduction efforts headed in the right direction.

View attachment BPD FOP Report.pdf

View attachment BPD Strategic Plan for Improvement.pdf

 

[AntiGun]

We should get this distributed to non-MDS members as well.

 

[Schipperke]

Police Corruption is Connected to Anti Gun Legislation

Explain Montgomery County? I have no knowledge of police corruption in this county at the level of Baltimore City or violent crime here for that matter that would incite anti gun legislation here. Our delegates are probably more anti gun than those surrounding Baltimore. I see no connection "here", unless the argument everyone in Maryland uses Baltimore as an excuse.

 

[OrbitalEllipses]

Just because you can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist...your senses are often the easiest to deceive.

 

[AntiGun]

Police Corruption is Connected to Anti Gun Legislation

Explain Montgomery County? I have no knowledge of police corruption in this county at the level of Baltimore City or violent crime here for that matter that would incite anti gun legislation here. Our delegates are probably more anti gun than those surrounding Baltimore. I see no connection "here", unless the argument everyone in Maryland uses Baltimore as an excuse.

You answered yourself.

People in Western Maryland and the Eastern shore are paying for Baltimore City's crimes through legislation. The same applies elsewhere.

 

[Schipperke]

You answered yourself.

People in Western Maryland and the Eastern shore are paying for Baltimore City's crimes through legislation. The same applies elsewhere.

Are not the delegates in those areas more 2A friendly? My point is people in Montgomery County do not give Baltimore or its problems even an iota of thought. This is one of the most anti 2A places in Maryland, and again I see no police corruption here as a tie in to it.

 

[Jack McCauley]

Great question. Montgomery County has an outstanding law enforcement agency. In my personal opinion, they are the best department in the State of Maryland. You will never meet an officer from that department that has not been trained to the best of law enforcement standards. I will try to explain my theory, based upon my experience.

Baltimore City is a central focus of politics. Mayor of Baltimore = Potential Governor of Maryland = Potential staffing positions. Crime in Baltimore City is the worst in the state. The most news media we have in Maryland comes from Baltimore. The most rhetoric we hear comes from the liberal news media in Baltimore. All eyes are on what is happening in Baltimore. The Maryland legislator is made up of primarily Democrats. Former Governor O'Malley steered the ship and told his party what to do. His political aspirations were centered on crime reduction. Delegate Kathleen Dumais (Montgomery County) was the co-chair of the committee that dealt with the FSA13. In early January of 2013, before she was named as the co-chair, she told me personally she did not feel any gun legislation would affect violent crime. She acknowledged to me personally that she felt the proposed legislation was a bad idea. After our conversation, she was named co-chair and suddenly it was the best decision ever. She was undoubtedly influenced by the political demands of Governor O'Malley. I personally watched her staff member bribe Baltimore City Delegate Oaks to remain for a late evening voting session by serving him cup after cup of wine from Dumais' office. I watched her admonish another Delegate, who moments before a committee hearing, complained that "he did not want to vote for SB281, but he had a bill to get out and the party was voting for it." Dumais told me she had no other option but to support the bill because no one had giver her any alternatives. Montgomery County legislators support antigun legislation because of politics. Those politics are driven byBaltimore City. But this is a nationwide problem. It has become an issue that like many others, is driven by party lines. We need to explain to our legislators that there are other options to address gun violence. Police corruption is but one small piece to the puzzle. There are many issues to deal with. But this is my area of expertise and I often discuss these issues and how they affect violent crime and legislation.

 

[Schipperke]

You are better trained and experienced at credibility than most. As far as the Dumais, lets not forget politicians speak from both sides of their mouth. As far as the admission that she felt any of the legislation would not affect violent crime, I'm not sure who honestly would. It is all a red herring politically for gun control. They all know criminals don't care about laws.

 

[danb]

I am not exactly sure how the corruption in the BPD relates to anti-gun legislation.

The real problem it seems to me is first, the whole Baltimore culture of dependency. There is no way 3000 police officers could ever police a city of 600,000 people. 911 response times are, what, 10-15 minutes (I do not even think the city has the guts to publish it).

Nor should we expect the weight of the whole city fall onto 3000 people. People have to take responsibility for their own personal protection.

10% of any organization is bad. If left unchecked, what tends to happen (in any organization, including companies) is a certain amount of self-selection. Good people get tired of the BS and leave, as opportunities come up**. The bad people stay. Over time, the proportion of bad people goes up. When it achieves a critical mass, it's impossible to attract people. Once it gets to this stage, the rot goes all the way to the top. My guess is: HoCo, MoCo, and PGCo get their pick of employees (teachers, police), so they naturally get to pick the better candidates. Natural selection at work.

The second problem is that people have been voting with their feet in Maryland for 40 years, leadership has done zip to fix it. Anti-gun legislation is just a symptom of all the non-solutions leadership has been pushing for 40 years.

** I agree with all the staffing/education/retention recommendations in the report, but these are meaningless without sufficiently high attrition to meaningfully change the culture. In the current fiscally strapped environment, it probably means that natural attrition of employees won't be sufficient.

 

[Jack McCauley]

I am not exactly sure how the corruption in the BPD relates to anti-gun legislation. The real problem it seems to me is first, the whole Baltimore culture of dependency. There is no way 3000 police officers could ever police a city of 600,000 people. 911 response times are, what, 10-15 minutes (I do not even think the city has the guts to publish it). Nor should we expect the weight of the whole city fall onto 3000 people. People have to take responsibility for their own personal protection. 10% of any organization is bad. If left unchecked, what tends to happen (in any organization, including companies) is a certain amount of self-selection. Good people get tired of the BS and leave, as opportunities come up. The bad people stay. Over time, the proportion of bad people goes up. When it achieves a critical mass, it's impossible to attract people. Once it gets to this stage, the rot goes all the way to the top. My guess is: HoCo, MoCo, and PGCo get their pick of employees (teachers, police), so they naturally get to pick the better candidates. Natural selection at work. The second problem is that people have been voting with their feet in Maryland for 40 years, leadership has done zip to fix it. Anti-gun legislation is just a symptom of all the non-solutions leadership has been pushing for 40 years.

Quite honestly this may require more in-depth conversation. But I absolutely think that 3000 police officers doing good police work makes a difference to combat violent crime as opposed to 3000 police officers doing average to poor police work

 

[JasonB]

Great question. Montgomery County has an outstanding law enforcement agency. In my personal opinion, they are the best department in the State of Maryland. You will never meet an officer from that department that has not been trained to the best of law enforcement standards. I will try to explain my theory, based upon my experience. Baltimore City is a central focus of politics. Mayor of Baltimore = Potential Governor of Maryland = Potential staffing positions. Crime in Baltimore City is the worst in the state. The most news media we have in Maryland comes from Baltimore. The most rhetoric we hear comes from the liberal news media in Baltimore. All eyes are on what is happening in Baltimore. The Maryland legislator is made up of primarily Democrats. Former Governor O'Malley steered the ship and told his party what to do. His political aspirations were centered on crime reduction. Delegate Kathleen Dumais (Montgomery County) was the co-chair of the committee that dealt with the FSA13. In early January of 2013, before she was named as the co-chair, she told me personally she did not feel any gun legislation would affect violent crime. She acknowledged to me personally that she felt the proposed legislation was a bad idea. After our conversation, she was named co-chair and suddenly it was the best decision ever. She was undoubtedly influenced by the political demands of Governor O'Malley. I personally watched her staff member bribe Baltimore City Delegate Oaks to remain for a late evening voting session by serving him cup after cup of wine from Dumais' office. I watched her admonish another Delegate, who moments before a committee hearing, complained that "he did not want to vote for SB281, but he had a bill to get out and the party was voting for it." Dumais told me she had no other option but to support the bill because no one had giver her any alternatives. Montgomery County legislators support antigun legislation because of politics. Those politics are driven byBaltimore City. But this is a nationwide problem. It has become an issue that like many others, is driven by party lines. We need to explain to our legislators that there are other options to address gun violence. Police corruption is but one small piece to the puzzle. There are many issues to deal with. But this is my area of expertise and I often discuss these issues and how they affect violent crime and legislation.

Wow. They would crucify a republican delegate for this type of behavior. Why is there not more outrage?

 

[danb]

I am not saying 3000 great police officers cannot make a difference. I am saying that they need significant help from the community [, and leadership and courts], and they are not getting it. Turning 3000 average officers into 3000 great officers is only about 1/3 of the battle, IMO. Without that help, if I were one of those average-turned-great officers, I'd bolt for an opportunity in HoCo, or elsewhere, first chance. There is only so much you can pay people to hang around a god-awful environment [been there, done that].

If you are saying that leadership is focused on all the wrong things, I think we are all in complete agreement.

 

[aquaman]

I grew up outside of Baltimore city and quite honestly I can't fathom how it can have such influence over state politics. 2/3 of the city is a wasteland. Maybe 60 years ago Baltimore mattered, now the real money is by counties that border DC & Balt co.

 

[TheRealJimDavis]

Jack,
I feel awkward addressing you as Jack, but it's the interwebs, so... There it is.
Well thought out, rational thought. I agree. There is a major media problem, it's directly linked to what you're saying. Keep fighting the fight, getting your voice out there.
And, fwiw, since roughly August of 2014, cough, I've had far more people come up and thank me and say they don't listen to the media than in any period of my ten years wearing the badge. Not everyone believes it. Something's gotta give, though.
Hopefully real solutions start to come out instead of throwing more laws and taxes around. It's getting old.

 

[Bob A]

Wow. They would crucify a republican delegate for this type of behavior. Why is there not more outrage?

Outrage against what?

MoCo voters believe the anti-gun rhetoric that the Left has been spewing for decades. Their level of sanctimony is such that they are fine with whatever their reps do to solidify the position they believe in.

Their reps, Dumais for example, will do whatever they must to gain increase in power and influence - it's what they feed on, and it pays the bills, too. The political climate in MD is as corrupt as can be found anywhere, and those who are elected into the belly of the Democratic machine will do what they must to continue their climb.

Personal beliefs are personal in that atmosphere; adhering to the Party line is necessary to keep the Party's support.

Since the Party gives the voters what they think they want, those voters are happy to get the results they hope for. Doubtless they'd applaud the clever methods used to ensure these results, if they knew. But they don't care to know, so long as the scene plays out in the proper fashion.

So where's there room for outrage? Only in the hearts of those whose position has been marginalised, who cling to their Bibles and guns, and are made to look like cretins from the hills. Who would want to self-identify with that bunch of ignorant semi-savages?

 

[Schipperke]

I grew up outside of Baltimore city and quite honestly I can't fathom how it can have such influence over state politics. 2/3 of the city is a wasteland. Maybe 60 years ago Baltimore mattered, now the real money is by counties that border DC & Balt co.

I'm glad you wrote it. Honestly I can't see a Montgomery delegate cow towing to Baltimore issues in the least. Sure they'll use convenient statistics from Baltimore to support their gun control, but that's about all they care about. We are a satellite of DC here, Baltimore is beneath them.

 

[AntiGun]

I'm glad you wrote it. Honestly I can't see a Montgomery delegate cow towing to Baltimore issues in the least. Sure they'll use convenient statistics from Baltimore to support their gun control, but that's about all they care about. We are a satellite of DC here, Baltimore is beneath them.

Any future governor who was formerly a mayor of Baltimore will be carrying his Baltimore baggage with him. We've seen it plenty of times before. The MoCo elites will bend a knee to his wishes as governor. I do agree where the money comes from but the leaders often come from elsewhere.

 

[esqappellate]

Great question. Montgomery County has an outstanding law enforcement agency. In my personal opinion, they are the best department in the State of Maryland. You will never meet an officer from that department that has not been trained to the best of law enforcement standards. I will try to explain my theory, based upon my experience.

Baltimore City is a central focus of politics. Mayor of Baltimore = Potential Governor of Maryland = Potential staffing positions. Crime in Baltimore City is the worst in the state. The most news media we have in Maryland comes from Baltimore. The most rhetoric we hear comes from the liberal news media in Baltimore. All eyes are on what is happening in Baltimore. The Maryland legislator is made up of primarily Democrats. Former Governor O'Malley steered the ship and told his party what to do. His political aspirations were centered on crime reduction. Delegate Kathleen Dumais (Montgomery County) was the co-chair of the committee that dealt with the FSA13. In early January of 2013, before she was named as the co-chair, she told me personally she did not feel any gun legislation would affect violent crime. She acknowledged to me personally that she felt the proposed legislation was a bad idea. After our conversation, she was named co-chair and suddenly it was the best decision ever. She was undoubtedly influenced by the political demands of Governor O'Malley. I personally watched her staff member bribe Baltimore City Delegate Oaks to remain for a late evening voting session by serving him cup after cup of wine from Dumais' office. I watched her admonish another Delegate, who moments before a committee hearing, complained that "he did not want to vote for SB281, but he had a bill to get out and the party was voting for it." Dumais told me she had no other option but to support the bill because no one had giver her any alternatives. Montgomery County legislators support antigun legislation because of politics. Those politics are driven byBaltimore City. But this is a nationwide problem. It has become an issue that like many others, is driven by party lines. We need to explain to our legislators that there are other options to address gun violence. Police corruption is but one small piece to the puzzle. There are many issues to deal with. But this is my area of expertise and I often discuss these issues and how they affect violent crime and legislation.

Jack: This hypothesis assumes that the Baltimore City Democrats actually believe that gun legislation will actually help reduce violent crime. If that belief is genuine, then it amounts to willful ignorance. Since these are otherwise intelligent individuals, the alternative explanation appears to be more likely, viz., that the focus on guns allows them to actually avoid, politically, the expensive remedies that everyone knows will be actually effective, including longer incarceration times and no parole or suspended sentences for those individuals convicted of using a firearm illegally. Most violent crime in Baltimore, like elsewhere, is committed by recidivists. With respect to Gov. O'Malley, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that he pushed for SB 281 (he wrote it after all), for the basest of political reasons: He wanted to appeal to the Left Wing of the party nationally in prep for his run to be President. No amount of facts will change such a strategy.

 

[Schipperke]

Any future governor who was formerly a mayor of Baltimore will be carrying his Baltimore baggage with him. We've seen it plenty of times before. The MoCo elites will bend a knee to his wishes as governor. I do agree where the money comes from but the leaders often come from elsewhere.

Hey, there's not a leftist Montgomery doesn't like O'Malley is a carreer politician, Baltimore is only where he hung his hat.

 

[Bob A]

I've read the BPD FOP report referenced in the original post.

It is gratifying in the extreme to see that such an effort is being made by Baltimore's Finest; certainly there remains a core of dedicated and talented individuals, upon whose shoulders an improved BPD could be built.

While it's doubtful that political corruption could ever be totally removed from a police organisation, steps can be taken to minimise its toxic effects. The citizens of Baltimore deserve a police department that can serve their needs, and improving the quality and training of personnel would be a big step in that direction. Minimising political interference with the upper ranks of the Department would seem to be another step in a useful direction. The stated purpose of a police organisation must be to protect and serve the citizenry, not merely the political classes.