City of Baltimore - File #: 09-0105R

• File #: 09-0105R
• Version: 0
• Name: Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Commissioner - Policy Change
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Withdrawn
• File created: 1/26/2009
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 1/11/2010
• Title: Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Commissioner - Policy Change FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to brief the City Council on the change in policy that dictates that the names of police officers who kill or injure citizens will no longer be disclosed to the general public.
• Sponsors: President Young, Helen L. Holton, Bill Henry, James B. Kraft, Sharon Green Middleton, Edward Reisinger, Agnes Welch, Mary Pat Clarke, Warren Branch, Belinda Conaway, Stephanie President Rawlings-Blake
• Indexes: Police Commissioner, Policy, Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/11/2010	0	City Council	Withdrawn
1/29/2009	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
1/26/2009	0	City Council	Introduced
1/26/2009	0	City Council	Assigned
1/26/2009	0	Public Safety and Health Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmembers Young, Holton

A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Commissioner - Policy Change

FOR the purpose of requesting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to brief the City Council on the change in policy that dictates that the names of police officers who kill or injure citizens will no longer be disclosed to the general public.
Body
Recitals

Early January 2009, Baltimore police officials announced that the names of police officers who kill or injure citizens in the line of duty will no longer be released, changing a long-standing practice that law enforcement personnel reportedly believe puts officers at risk. Further, the new policy is in keeping with some other departments across the country and is designed to protect officers from retaliation, according to a departmental spokesman.

The new policy, while supported by the police union, was met with opposition by some elected officials and community activists as one that did not further a policy of transparent government, facilitate good police/community relations, support the public’s right to know about possible problems with problem officers, or do anything to encourage communities to work with the police to solve crimes and overcome a “Stop-Snitching” culture.

The media reports that many Baltimore area law enforcement agencies report the names of officers involved ...