Baltimore: A City on Edge
Murder, rape and other
violent crimes have caused Baltimore to be listed as one of the most violent cities
in the World. Recently Baltimore was found to be 36th on the planet
in terms of killings with 38 deaths per 100,000 residents. Few other cities in
America have received this distinction. Ironically Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake and her minions have done little to stem the tide of violence occurring
daily within the confines of Baltimore. Sadly this Mayor is at war with her own
police department. She requested the United States Attorney General’s Office to
investigate her police department for brutality towards civilians. With respect
for police ebbing to new lows these brave warriors must confront the predatory
population daily. Body cameras would be an excellent addition to the armaments
of the local police. Yet the Mayor will not allow a body camera bill, passed in
the City Council, to become law.http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/11/18/baltimore-body-cameras-passed-despite-mayors-veto-vow/
Mayor Rawlings-Blake worries the
information collected by the cameras may be used improperly. She plans to form
an investigatory group to study the issue. Behind her nonsensical rejection of
body cameras lies the real reason for her vow to defeat this issue. Body
cameras would enable the police to prove within a degree of certainty how a
crime was committed. Additionally cameras would display who is brutalizing whom
during an arrest. Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s disingenuous motivations on this issue
will not make the public safer. Instead police will continue to confront
brutality claims with little recourse to prove otherwise.
Baltimore residents and
those who visit the city are in constant fear of victimization. Crime that used
to be hidden in the shadows is now blatantly occurring in broad daylight. Violence
has spread to every neighborhood in the city. Daily police reports indicate an
array of crimes, some so hideous their description is beyond comprehension. Social
decay, perpetuated by an entitlement mentality, is at the nidus of many
negative issues in Baltimore. Attempts to rectify the crime problem over the
last decade have been challenged on every level. When police made efforts to
stem the blood flow the Department’s leaders would be either be fired or
declared an enemies of the city. Schools cannot discipline children on their
way to crime ridden lives because some lawyer somewhere will shout Civil
Rights. Government officials curry favor with City’s residents for votes so
status quo not change is inevitable from this arrangement. From the City Council
to the present Governor’s Office it is to their advantage to prevent Baltimore
from moving forward. The long term answer is leadership which is sorely lacking
at the city and state levels. Without leadership Baltimore will continue to be
immersed in the criminal quagmire for which it has become known.
Mark Davis MD, President
of Davis Writing Services. Author of the recent book, Obamacare: Dead on
Arrival, A Prescription for Disaster. www.daviswritingservices.com For media requests please contact Dr. Davis
at:
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