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Former Baltimore PD Task Force Supervisor Thomas Allers Pleads Guilty To Racketeering

Sgt. Thomas Allers plead guilty to racketeering conspiracy, admitting he robbed citizens for years and he alerted members of the Gun Trace Task Force of investigations into their crimes and many other things.  He faces up to 20 years in prison.  Allers is the fifth of the group to plead guilty and the highest ranking.  Allers admitted to participating in 9 robberies between 2014-2016 in which he netted $100,000.  His son also participated in a "raid" in which the two pocketed $66,000.  The son has not been charged with that crime as of yet.

The five that have now plead guilty are Sgt. Allers, Det. Gondo, Det. Rayam, Det. Hendricks, and Det. Maurice Ward.  There are two indicted officers who are going to trial, tentatively scheduled for January.  The name I don't see in this report is Kevin Jenkins - the officer who planted "
a cache" of heroin in a car during a traffic stop and set up Det. Suiter to find the drugs.  Where is his plea?  More importantly, where was he when Suiter was gunned down?  Jenkins was a dirty cop and I'm sure he knew plenty of "suspicious men" who owed him favors.  Was this payback for a favor to Jenkins?  Suiter was about to testify against Jenkins the following day.  Hmmmm.  Makes you wonder.

Know what also makes me wonder?  How can so many people from a task force become dirty?  Was it that easy or tempting for them? Was it about the money or just getting away with it because they could?  Power corrupts.  Stories such as this is why people are increasingly afraid of the police and getting pulled over by the police.  Especially at risk are African American males and any female.  Females have reportedly been assaulted in squad cars in other jurisdictions across the country.  The police have the badge on their side.  They believe a jury will take their word over any perpetrator's word.  How many police crimes have gone unpunished/undetected?  I hate to think of how big that number may be.

I'm not saying all police departments are corrupt.  Most are brave and upstanding and take great pride in their work.  They protect the public and run into dangerous situations to keep us safe.  These few dirty departments really tarnish the good work of all of the other good police departments.  The LAPD had a big problem years ago as well - police brutality.  The Rodney King beating, the LA riots - that was a mess.  The citizens fought back, there were fires, property damage and more police brutality.  That culture has to change.
These Baltimore PD Task Force officers seem more like a criminal gang operating under their own rules.  Thankfully they got caught and hopefully none of them will escape the net of justice.

Baltimore PD Needs to "Drain the Swamp"

This is outrageous, how a police department can systematically and without consequence get away with this type of conduct - here is a report I found on the Department of Justice Website from 2016.  The BPD has been shady for some time now.  I'm NOT saying the entire police force is dirty, but when you have this many public problems it makes you wonder what we don't yet know about.

You cannot have a police department with officers on the take, working with drug dealers and pulling over people without probable cause, planting evidence and all other sorts of violations of people's Constitutional rights.  This police commissioner needs to go.  What was Trump's calling card during his campaign, "Drain the Swamp".  The Baltimore PD needs to drain the swamp and quickly.

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Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Baltimore Police Department

Justice Department Finds a Pattern of Civil Rights Violations by the Baltimore Police Department
The Justice Department announced today that it found reasonable cause to believe that the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution as well as federal anti-discrimination laws.  BPD makes stops, searches and arrests without the required justification; uses enforcement strategies that unlawfully subject African Americans to disproportionate rates of stops, searches and arrests; uses excessive force; and retaliates against individuals for their constitutionally-protected expression.  The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies that have persisted within BPD for many years and has exacerbated community distrust of the police, particularly in the African-American community.  The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree addressing the deficiencies found during the investigation.
“Public trust is critical to effective policing and public safety,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.  “Our investigation found that Baltimore is a city where the bonds of trust have been broken, and that the Baltimore Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct, ranging from the use of excessive force to unjustified stops, seizures and arrests.  The results of our investigation raise serious concerns, and in the days ahead, the Department of Justice will continue working tirelessly to ensure that all Baltimoreans enjoy the safety, security and dignity they expect and deserve.  I am grateful to all of the community members, local officials, faith leaders and current and former police officers who spoke with us during the course of our inquiry, and whose input will remain critical to our efforts as we move forward.  Additionally, I commend the city and BPD for its proactive and collaborative approach to our inquiry and for demonstrating a strong commitment to restoring public confidence by already taking steps to make needed changes.  I look forward to continuing our work together to implement urgent and necessary reforms.”
“We found that BPD has engaged in a pattern or practice of serious violations of the U.S. Constitution and federal law that has disproportionately harmed Baltimore’s African-American community and eroded the public’s trust in the police,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.  “The agency also fails to provide officers with the guidance, oversight and resources they need to police safely, constitutionally and effectively.  In communities across America, even in communities where trust has been broken, we’ve seen transformative reform rebuild relationships and advance public safety.  In the weeks ahead, as we negotiate our consent decree with the city, we will seek input from law enforcement and community members.  With the city and commissioner’s commitment to reform, I am optimistic that we will work to drive that same progress in Baltimore.”
In May 2015, Attorney General Lynch announced the comprehensive investigation into the BPD after considering requests from city officials and hearing directly from community members about a potential pattern or practice of constitutional violations.  The investigation focused on BPD’s use of force, including deadly force; stops, searches and arrests; and discriminatory policing.
In the course of its pattern or practice investigation, the department interviewed and met with city leaders and police officials, including BPD Commissioner Kevin Davis, former commissioners and numerous officers throughout all ranks of the police department; accompanied line officers on dozens of ride-alongs in every police district; conducted hundreds of interviews and participated in meetings with community members, activists, and other stakeholders; reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages of police documents, including all relevant policies and training materials; and analyzed BPD’s data on internal affairs, use of force, sexual assault cases and pedestrian stops, searches and arrests.
During the course of its investigation, the department found that the legacy of “zero tolerance” street enforcement, along with deficient policies, training and accountability systems, resulted in conduct that routinely violates the Constitution and federal anti-discrimination law.  Throughout the investigation, the department heard consistently from both the community and law enforcement that BPD requires significant reforms to address problems that undermine its efforts to police constitutionally and effectively.
The department found reasonable cause to believe that BPD engages in a pattern or practice of:
  • Conducting stops, searches and arrests without meeting the requirements of the Fourth Amendment;
  • Focusing enforcement strategies on African Americans, leading to severe and unjustified racial disparities in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act;
  • Using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment;
  • Interacting with individuals with mental health disabilities in a manner that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
  • Interfering with the right to free expression in violation of the First Amendment.
The department also identified serious concerns about other BPD practices, including an inadequate response to reports of sexual assault, which may result, at least in part, from underlying gender bias.  Another significant concern identified by the department was transport practices that place detainees at significant risk of harm.
In the agreement in principle, both parties agreed that compliance with the consent decree will be reviewed by an independent monitor.  The agreement in principle highlights specific areas of reform to be included in the consent decree, including:
  • Policies, training, data collection and analysis to allow for the assessment of officer activity and to ensure that officers’ actions conform to legal and constitutional requirements;
  • Technology and infrastructure to ensure capability to effectively monitor officer activity;
  • Officer support to ensure that officers are equipped to perform their jobs effectively and constitutionally; and
  • Community policing strategies to guide all aspects of BPD’s operations and help rebuild the relationship between BPD and the various communities it serves. 
The agreement in principle provides a framework for change, but the department will be doing community outreach to solicit input in developing comprehensive reforms.  Comments may be provided by email at Community.Baltimore@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail).  
Throughout the department’s investigation, BPD leadership remained receptive to preliminary feedback and technical assistance, and started the process of implementing reforms.  BPD leadership has proactively taken steps to address some of the findings, including updating its policies, instituting new trainings and responding to other issues identified by the department.  While these measures are an important start to cooperative reform, a comprehensive agreement is still needed to remedy all of the department’s findings.
In October 2014, city and BPD leadership requested to enter a collaborative reform process with the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS office).  While the Civil Rights Division opened the pattern or practice investigation in May 2015, the COPS office, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs and others have maintained their ongoing efforts to offer federal resources, such as technical assistance, to the BPD, city officials and community leaders.
This investigation was conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section with the assistance of law enforcement professionals pursuant to the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  Over the last seven years, the Special Litigation Section has opened 23 investigations into law enforcement agencies.  The section is enforcing 17 agreements with law enforcement agencies, including 14 consent decrees and one post-judgment order.  For more information on the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.
BPD Findings Report
BPD Agreement in Principle
BPD Executive Summary
SPL Police Accomplishments 8.10.16
Topic(s): 
Civil Rights
Component(s): 
Press Release Number: 
16-927
e News

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Baltimore Police Department

Justice Department Finds a Pattern of Civil Rights Violations by the Baltimore Police Department
The Justice Department announced today that it found reasonable cause to believe that the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution as well as federal anti-discrimination laws.  BPD makes stops, searches and arrests without the required justification; uses enforcement strategies that unlawfully subject African Americans to disproportionate rates of stops, searches and arrests; uses excessive force; and retaliates against individuals for their constitutionally-protected expression.  The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies that have persisted within BPD for many years and has exacerbated community distrust of the police, particularly in the African-American community.  The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree addressing the deficiencies found during the investigation.
“Public trust is critical to effective policing and public safety,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.  “Our investigation found that Baltimore is a city where the bonds of trust have been broken, and that the Baltimore Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct, ranging from the use of excessive force to unjustified stops, seizures and arrests.  The results of our investigation raise serious concerns, and in the days ahead, the Department of Justice will continue working tirelessly to ensure that all Baltimoreans enjoy the safety, security and dignity they expect and deserve.  I am grateful to all of the community members, local officials, faith leaders and current and former police officers who spoke with us during the course of our inquiry, and whose input will remain critical to our efforts as we move forward.  Additionally, I commend the city and BPD for its proactive and collaborative approach to our inquiry and for demonstrating a strong commitment to restoring public confidence by already taking steps to make needed changes.  I look forward to continuing our work together to implement urgent and necessary reforms.”
“We found that BPD has engaged in a pattern or practice of serious violations of the U.S. Constitution and federal law that has disproportionately harmed Baltimore’s African-American community and eroded the public’s trust in the police,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.  “The agency also fails to provide officers with the guidance, oversight and resources they need to police safely, constitutionally and effectively.  In communities across America, even in communities where trust has been broken, we’ve seen transformative reform rebuild relationships and advance public safety.  In the weeks ahead, as we negotiate our consent decree with the city, we will seek input from law enforcement and community members.  With the city and commissioner’s commitment to reform, I am optimistic that we will work to drive that same progress in Baltimore.”
In May 2015, Attorney General Lynch announced the comprehensive investigation into the BPD after considering requests from city officials and hearing directly from community members about a potential pattern or practice of constitutional violations.  The investigation focused on BPD’s use of force, including deadly force; stops, searches and arrests; and discriminatory policing.
In the course of its pattern or practice investigation, the department interviewed and met with city leaders and police officials, including BPD Commissioner Kevin Davis, former commissioners and numerous officers throughout all ranks of the police department; accompanied line officers on dozens of ride-alongs in every police district; conducted hundreds of interviews and participated in meetings with community members, activists, and other stakeholders; reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages of police documents, including all relevant policies and training materials; and analyzed BPD’s data on internal affairs, use of force, sexual assault cases and pedestrian stops, searches and arrests.
During the course of its investigation, the department found that the legacy of “zero tolerance” street enforcement, along with deficient policies, training and accountability systems, resulted in conduct that routinely violates the Constitution and federal anti-discrimination law.  Throughout the investigation, the department heard consistently from both the community and law enforcement that BPD requires significant reforms to address problems that undermine its efforts to police constitutionally and effectively.
The department found reasonable cause to believe that BPD engages in a pattern or practice of:
  • Conducting stops, searches and arrests without meeting the requirements of the Fourth Amendment;
  • Focusing enforcement strategies on African Americans, leading to severe and unjustified racial disparities in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act;
  • Using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment;
  • Interacting with individuals with mental health disabilities in a manner that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
  • Interfering with the right to free expression in violation of the First Amendment.
The department also identified serious concerns about other BPD practices, including an inadequate response to reports of sexual assault, which may result, at least in part, from underlying gender bias.  Another significant concern identified by the department was transport practices that place detainees at significant risk of harm.
In the agreement in principle, both parties agreed that compliance with the consent decree will be reviewed by an independent monitor.  The agreement in principle highlights specific areas of reform to be included in the consent decree, including:
  • Policies, training, data collection and analysis to allow for the assessment of officer activity and to ensure that officers’ actions conform to legal and constitutional requirements;
  • Technology and infrastructure to ensure capability to effectively monitor officer activity;
  • Officer support to ensure that officers are equipped to perform their jobs effectively and constitutionally; and
  • Community policing strategies to guide all aspects of BPD’s operations and help rebuild the relationship between BPD and the various communities it serves. 
The agreement in principle provides a framework for change, but the department will be doing community outreach to solicit input in developing comprehensive reforms.  Comments may be provided by email at Community.Baltimore@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail).  
Throughout the department’s investigation, BPD leadership remained receptive to preliminary feedback and technical assistance, and started the process of implementing reforms.  BPD leadership has proactively taken steps to address some of the findings, including updating its policies, instituting new trainings and responding to other issues identified by the department.  While these measures are an important start to cooperative reform, a comprehensive agreement is still needed to remedy all of the department’s findings.
In October 2014, city and BPD leadership requested to enter a collaborative reform process with the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS office).  While the Civil Rights Division opened the pattern or practice investigation in May 2015, the COPS office, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs and others have maintained their ongoing efforts to offer federal resources, such as technical assistance, to the BPD, city officials and community leaders.
This investigation was conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section with the assistance of law enforcement professionals pursuant to the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  Over the last seven years, the Special Litigation Section has opened 23 investigations into law enforcement agencies.  The section is enforcing 17 agreements with law enforcement agencies, including 14 consent decrees and one post-judgment order.  For more information on the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.
BPD Findings Report
BPD Agreement in Principle
BPD Executive Summary
SPL Police Accomplishments 8.10.16
Topic(s): 
Civil Rights
Component(s): 
Press Release Number: 
16-927

My Apologies for Yesterday's Offensive Photo

I wanted to apologize for the photo posted with yesterday's story about a large mural that appeared suddenly on Christmas Eve in NYC.  I...

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