The Baltimore Police Department’s specialized gun units are facing scrutiny after two recent police shootings. Residents in a majority-Black community complain that certain officers harass residents and escalate peaceful encounters. Critics argue that the units disproportionately affect low-income communities of color. Baltimore police defend the officers’ actions in the recent shooting. Associated Press reported
Controversy Surrounds Baltimore Police Department’s Specialized Units
In 2017, the Baltimore Police Department disbanded its plainclothes gun squad due to a corruption scandal. The department promised to increase oversight while still focusing on seizing illegal weapons and reducing violence. However, recent incidents involving the department’s latest specialized units have raised concerns about their operations.
The most recent shooting, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, has yet to have its body camera footage released. The residents of the southwest Baltimore neighborhood expressed outrage, perceiving the loss of life as unnecessary. They have been complaining about certain officers known for harassing residents and escalating peaceful encounters in the predominantly Black community.
Rashawn McNeil, a local resident, described how officers frequently approached residents without reason, leading to a tense relationship between the police and the community. The shooting incident has heightened their concerns.
The officers involved in the shooting were part of the District Action Team (DAT), a specialized squad focused on seizing illegal guns. According to officials, the officers approached a man who appeared to be armed, and when the man started running, he allegedly pointed a gun at the officers. In response, four officers opened fire, resulting in the death of Hunter Jessup, the 27-year-old man.
The day after the shooting, residents, including McNeil, gathered outside an abandoned corner store, where they often spent time. They recounted their negative experiences with DAT officers, who they claimed treated them with disdain and initiated unnecessary confrontations. These officers, distinguishable by their unique attire, patrol the city’s most violent neighborhoods, wearing vests that identify them as police.
In defense of the officers’ actions, Police Commissioner Richard Worley stated that they repeatedly instructed Jessup to drop his weapon. The commissioner commended the officers for apprehending an armed individual. Baltimore gun violence has been on a downward trend, and the department receives recognition for 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 related to robbing the city and its residents through illegal searches and planted evidence. The corruption scandal triggered significant reform efforts within the Baltimore Police Department, which has a history of problematic interactions with the city’s Black community.
Similar controversies surrounding specialized police units have arisen in other cities. Memphis, for example, permanently disbanded its SCORPION unit after video evidence showed members beating Tyre Nichols to death. These plainclothes task forces primarily focused on illegal guns and repeat violent offenders.
Professor Daniel Webster, from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Gun Violence Solutions, emphasized the importance of a focused approach for specialized gun units. The objective should be targeting individuals responsible for violence rather than engaging in blanket enforcement of gun laws. A study conducted by Webster’s team indicated that most respondents believed the Baltimore police were targeting the wrong people, leading to harm and distrust within the community.
Critics argue that DAT teams disproportionately affect low-income communities of color in Baltimore due to their proactive patrols in neighborhoods plagued by violence. Despite the renaming of the units, researchers reported that many problematic tactics persisted, according to a National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ report.
Baltimore police spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge acknowledged the proactive nature of DAT officers and their focus on making strategic arrests of key individuals involved in violent crime. The department takes misconduct complaints seriously and implements appropriate disciplinary measures. Recent reforms have also revamped the internal discipline process.
Less than six months before Tuesday’s shooting, another police shooting occurred under similar circumstances nearby. In that incident, DAT officers attempted to stop a teenager who displayed characteristics of being armed. The teenager fled, holding a gun, and an officer shot him from behind.
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 older or of a certain race, which they find dehumanizing.
Lea Skene reports for The Associated Press.
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