By J. K. Schmid, AFRO Baltimore Reporter
As the debate over armed police on Johns Hopkins University (JHU) campuses moves to the Maryland General Assembly Friday, a large contingent of JHU faculty have made their feelings known.
In an open letter, nearly 100 JHU faculty co-signers, outlined in detail their opposition to SB 793 and HB 1094. If passed, the bills would authorize JHU to create an armed private force to patrol not only the JHU campus, but the surrounding neighborhood.
At least 60 members of the faculty of Johns Hopkins University are officially voicing their opposition to the school creating a private police force. (Courtesy Photo)
“Johns Hopkins rightly expresses concern about the physical, social and economic well-being of the city in which we live, but it is inconceivable to us that a private police force run by the university to patrol the neighboring communities would improve these relations. We strongly oppose this highly undemocratic proposal.”
These faculty member join Students Against Private Police (SAPP), JHU students that have been opposing the Senate Bill and House Bill since the 2018 session. Last session, the measure did not pass in the Maryland legislature but still enjoys the support of Baltimore City Mayor Catherine E. Pugh, Gov. Larry Hogan and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings.
“We are glad to see the faculty standing in solidarity with us against this proposal,” a SAPP representative told the AFRO. “It once again emphasizes the fact that Hopkins is pushing a blatantly false narrative–not even the people affiliated with Hopkins see this as beneficial to anyone, much less non-affiliated community members. Professors and faculty members recognize the harm this will cause, and are bravely voicing opposition to the proposal despite possible retaliation from Hopkins’ administration.”
A JHU student government poll of its undergraduate students found 75 percent of the population in opposition of an armed police force.
The JHU administration maintains that it has to protect the interests of its labor force on campus, workers that have to make their way home from the Homewood and Bayview campuses, communities in which these workers reside.
“We believe strongly that university police departments can and do make a meaningful contribution to public safety in Baltimore, and we at Johns Hopkins want to do our part,” JHU’s administration wrote in reply to the letter. “At an institution that employs more than 4,500 full-time faculty and teaches nearly 15,000 full time undergraduate and graduate students, we expect a variety of opinions on important issues, some expressed publicly and some expressed in meetings, correspondence and online comments. The overall response to Senate Bill 793 has been quite positive, as the bill addresses the concerns raised previously. We considered several options and have listened to and incorporated the input of many key stakeholders, including faculty and students.”
Currently, the university employs approximately 100 off duty officers from the Baltimore Police Department and Sheriff’s office to protect its campus.
“Black and brown students and Baltimoreans are already disproportionately targeted,” SAPP says. “Private police on campus are likely to exacerbate racial profiling, with even more dangerous and potentially fatal consequences.”
General Assembly hearings are scheduled Friday for both bills.