Two recent police shootings in Baltimore involving the department’s specialized units have raised concerns about their operations. Residents claim that certain officers are known for harassing and escalating encounters with the community. Body camera footage of the most recent shooting has not been released yet. LEA SKENE reported
In 2017, the Baltimore Police Department disbanded its plainclothes gun squad after a corruption scandal. The department promised increased oversight while still focusing on seizing illegal weapons and reducing violence. However, recent police shootings involving the department’s specialized units have raised concerns about their current operations. The most recent shooting, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, has not yet had its body camera footage released. Residents of the southwest Baltimore neighborhood are outraged by what they view as an unnecessary loss of life. They claim that certain officers are known for harassing residents and escalating peaceful encounters.
Rashawn McNeil, a resident of the neighborhood, expressed his frustration, stating that police officers often jump out on them for no reason. He questioned why so many shots were fired in the recent incident. According to officials, the officers involved were part of a District Action Team focused on seizing illegal guns. They approached a man who appeared to be armed, but he started running and allegedly pointed a gun at the officers during the chase. Four officers opened fire, and the man, identified as Hunter Jessup, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The following day, McNeil and his brother were hanging out with a friend outside an abandoned corner store when they discussed their negative experiences with the DAT officers. They claimed that the officers treated them with disdain and regularly initiated negative interactions. The officers are easily recognizable by their unique attire, which consists of vests identifying them as police. These officers patrol the city’s most violent neighborhoods.
Police Commissioner Richard Worley defended the officers’ actions, stating that they repeatedly told Jessup to drop his weapon. He commended the officers for apprehending an armed individual. The creation of the DAT squads came in the aftermath of the disbandment of the Gun Trace Task Force, which was involved in a corruption scandal. The 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 been seen in other cities. In Memphis, the SCORPION unit was permanently disbanded after body camera footage showed members beating Tyre Nichols to death. These units, focused on illegal guns and repeat violent offenders, have faced criticism for disproportionately affecting low-income communities of color.
Daniel Webster, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, emphasized the importance of a focused approach for specialized gun units. He stated that the focus should be on individuals who are actually creating violence. A study conducted by Webster’s team found that a majority of respondents in Baltimore believed that the police were targeting the wrong people. Webster argued that blanket enforcement of gun laws does not make communities safer and can cause harm and distrust.
Critics argue that the DAT teams continue to use troubling tactics despite their new name. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers released a report earlier this year highlighting the persistence of these tactics. Baltimore police spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge stated that the DAT officers focus on making strategic arrests of key individuals perpetuating violent crime. The department takes misconduct complaints seriously and implements discipline when appropriate. Recent reforms have included an overhaul of the department’s internal discipline process.
Less than six months prior to the most recent shooting, another police shooting occurred under similar circumstances. This incident involved DAT officers attempting to stop a teenager they believed was armed. The teenager ran away, holding a gun, and was shot from behind by an officer.
Rashawn McNeil and his older brother, Rashad McNeil, expressed their frustration with having to assert their constitutional rights whenever certain officers approach them. They believe that these officers view everyone as suspects unless they are old or of a certain color. The McNeil brothers find this treatment dehumanizing..