Baltimore has hit historic lows in violent crime, with homicides at their lowest in more than 50 years. But State’s Attorney Ivan Bates says the city is falling short in addressing quality-of-life crimes, like car break-ins, vandalism and public drug use.
Tag: Baltimore Police Department
Posted inHBCU
Bomb threats against HBCUs, public universities continue
By Alexis TaylorAFRO Managing Editor Morgan State University (MSU) officials are taking extra precaution on the Northeast Baltimore campus after receiving a bomb threat on Sept. 30. Leaders of the historically Black university put out a statement saying that they “received an email threat indicating a potential explosive device in the Richardson Library.” School authorities […]
Posted inMaryland News
Moore and Scott push back against 47th president’s criticism, tout historic crime decreases
Gov. Wes Moore and Mayor Brandon Scott pushed back against White House criticism by pointing to major crime reductions—Maryland homicides are down 20 percent since Moore’s inauguration, while Baltimore is seeing its lowest homicide rate in 50 years. Both leaders credit data-driven strategies, law enforcement and community partnerships for the historic progress.
Posted inBaltimore Events
National Night Out brings music, food and unity to Baltimore City
On Aug. 5, Baltimore’s National Night Out brought music, food, and back-to-school giveaways to neighborhoods across the city. Mayor Brandon M. Scott visited nine sites, highlighting the event’s goal of fostering unity between residents, law enforcement, and community leaders.
Posted inBaltimore News
Mass overdose in West Baltimore hospitalizes 25, sparks citywide response
A mass overdose in West Baltimore affected around 25 people, highlighting the strain Baltimore’s opioid crisis places on emergency services. Community leaders are calling for lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore police release bodycam video in fatal shooting of 70-year-old woman
Baltimore police have released bodycam footage showing the fatal shooting of 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Clark-Brooks, a mentally ill woman who approached officers with a knife during a welfare check. The NAACP is demanding an independent investigation, condemning the use of lethal force and calling for systemic change in how mental health crises are handled.
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore City Council president demands action after multiple police-involved deaths
Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen has called for a hearing to examine the city’s mental health crisis response systems after recent deaths involving law enforcement.
Posted inBaltimore News
City leaders respond to Bilal “BJ” Abdullah Jr. death with resource fair as body-cam footage is released
Baltimore City officials and community members gathered for a resource fair to provide aid and support after the police-involved shooting death of Bilal “B.J.” Abdullah Jr., with vendors offering testing for STDs, housing resources, drug rehabilitation programs, food, books, and school supplies.
Posted inBaltimore News
2 shootings in 1 night leave 8 people wounded in Baltimore
By Tavon N. ThomassonAFRO Intern Within the span of a few hours on June 23, two separate mass shootings erupted in Baltimore, leaving multiple people wounded. The first incident occurred about 7 p.m., after the sound of gunfire echoed from the 1900 block of McHenry St., alerting officers nearby. At the scene, police found three […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore City NAACP speaks on death of man killed in police involved shooting
Officials are investigating the circumstances of a police-involved shooting near the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave. and Laurens St. on June 17. According to the Baltimore City NAACP, the man killed was Bilal “BJ” Abdullah.
Posted inBaltimore Community
What police training gets right and where it falls short
Retired Maj. Neill Franklin says while police academies provide solid legal instruction, much of that training is lost once officers hit the streets. He believes stronger supervision and ongoing education are key to preventing civil rights violations.
Posted inMaryland News
Sister of Tyrone West speaks out after audit finds 36 misclassified deaths in Maryland
A statewide audit revealed that dozens of deaths involving police restraint—including Tyrone West’s—were wrongly classified as accidental, natural, or undetermined instead of homicide. West’s family, who has long sought justice, now has their claims validated by the report exposing this critical misclassification.