Two Recent Police Shootings Raise Questions About Baltimore Police Department’s Oversight and Tactics

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Baltimore Police Department Faces Scrutiny Over Recent Police Shootings

After a corruption scandal resulted in the disbanding of the Baltimore Police Department’s plainclothes gun squad in 2017, the agency made promises to increase oversight while focusing on seizing illegal weapons and reducing violence. However, two recent police shootings involving the department’s latest specialized units have raised concerns about their current operations.

The most recent shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon, and while body camera footage has not yet been released, residents of the southwest Baltimore neighborhood expressed outrage over what they believe was an unnecessary loss of life. The incident has shed light on an ongoing issue in the majority-Black community, where certain officers are known for harassing residents and escalating peaceful encounters.

Rashawn McNeil, a resident of the neighborhood, stated, “They’re always jumping out on us for no reason. It happens all the time. Now, we see the consequences.” McNeil, who heard the barrage of gunfire, questioned why the police fired so many shots.

According to officials, the officers from the District Action Team, which focuses on seizing illegal guns, encountered a man who appeared to be armed. The man, later identified as Hunter Jessup, ran away and allegedly pointed a gun at the pursuing officers. In response, four officers opened fire, and Jessup, 27, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

The following day, McNeil and his companions gathered outside an abandoned corner store, discussing their negative experiences with the DAT officers. They claimed that the officers treated them with disdain and regularly initiated negative interactions. The officers’ unique attire, neither fully uniformed nor plainclothes, makes them easily recognizable as police as they patrol the city’s most violent neighborhoods.

In defense of the officers’ actions, Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that they repeatedly instructed Jessup to drop his weapon. He praised the officers for apprehending an armed individual, emphasizing the goal of removing illegal firearms from the streets.

The creation of the DAT squads was a response to the disbandment of the Gun Trace Task Force, which faced federal racketeering charges for robbing the city and its residents through illegal searches and planted evidence. This corruption scandal prompted widespread reform efforts within the Baltimore Police Department, which has a history of problematic interactions with the city’s Black community.

Similar issues with specialized police units have arisen in other cities. In Memphis, the SCORPION unit, which focused on illegal guns and repeat violent offenders, was permanently disbanded after video footage showed members beating Tyre Nichols to death. The success of specialized gun units often depends on a focused approach, targeting individuals who are actively involved in violence, according to Daniel Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

However, a study conducted by Webster’s team revealed that approximately two-thirds of respondents believed that Baltimore police were targeting the wrong people. Webster argued that there is no compelling evidence that blanket enforcement of gun laws enhances community safety. Instead, such enforcement can lead to harm and distrust, as individuals often carry weapons for self-protection rather than intending to commit violence.

Critics argue that the DAT teams disproportionately affect low-income communities of color in Baltimore due to their proactive patrolling of neighborhoods plagued by violence. Despite the name change, many of the problematic tactics associated with the Gun Trace Task Force era persist, as highlighted in a report released by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Lindsey Eldridge, a spokesperson for the Baltimore police, stated that in addition to proactive patrols, DAT officers focus on strategically arresting key individuals involved in violent crime. The department takes misconduct complaints seriously and applies appropriate discipline. Recent reforms have also included an overhaul of the department’s internal discipline process.

Less than six months prior to Tuesday’s shooting, another police shooting occurred a few blocks away under similar circumstances. DAT officers attempted to stop a teenager displaying characteristics of an armed person. The teenager ran away, holding a gun, and an officer shot him from behind.

Rashawn McNeil and his older brother, Rashad McNeil, expressed frustration at having to assert their constitutional rights whenever certain officers approach them. They believe that these officers view everyone as suspects unless they are older or a certain color, which they find dehumanizing.

The Baltimore Police Department continues to face scrutiny and calls for further reforms as the community demands greater accountability and an end to excessive force..