BALTIMOREPOLICEDEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER

MEDIA RELATIONS SECTION

Anthony W. Batts
Police Commissioner

Captain J. Eric Kowalczyk

Director

Making it happen
Working to rebuild and strengthen relationships between
police and communities is not a short-term goal; it is a longterm lasting relationship. Our path to rebuild trust has
started to see results. A 300% increase in citizens reporting
crime, community members volunteering to sit on police
promotion panels for the first time in history, and the
generosity of countless citizens and businesses donating more
than $500,000 to help rebuild the Southeast District Station
House stand as examples.
There is no better proof of trust starting to build than last year
when the parents of 150 children placed the care of their own
in the hands of our officers as we held the first Baltimore
Police Explorer Summer Camp. There is no static line by
which we can measure success or failure. We know that many
parts of our community are still in pain. Much of that pain
comes from wounds that run deep. Seeing the smiles on the
faces of children as they played with officers is a clear
indication of the importance of the work we are engaged in.
As we work to fix the problems of today we should never lose
sight of the next generation and the impact that has on the
future.
There is no argument that the Baltimore Police Department
has a history in some communities that is concerning. It does
not take away from the hard work of thousands of dedicated
officers willing to risk their lives to make Baltimore safer.
What is also true is the series of reforms that have been put
into place further improve police community relations.
Independent reviews have highlighted areas of concern in
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BALTIMOREPOLICEDEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
MEDIA RELATIONS SECTION

procedure or policy. More than 60% of the reforms have been

enacted as a result of those independent evaluations. A
nationally recognized expert in police training was hired to
lead the Professional Development and Training Academy. A
new curriculum being taught to recruits and at In-Service is a
first of its kind in Maryland. It is built around constitutional
policing and teaches recruits how to be empathetic, how to
deescalate situations, and how to police for the next
generation.
The department is keenly aware of the significant challenges
both the community and police face in Western District. The
focus of not only police, but the city, remain there. While we
recognize this is no solace for those who are victimized, let us
not forget overall Part I crime, the most serious crime is down
4%.
The Baltimore Sun omits the fact that BPD has been
forthcoming and transparent about allegations, as much as
the law allows. The stories again profile lawsuits filed about
incidents that took place in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and one
incident in 2012. All of the profiled incidents took place
before this administration started or began to enact reforms in
the discipline process. How these issues are dealt with, and
what is done to prevent them is what our community and our
critics should study.
With that in mind, some facts:
In the last 2 years more than 25 employees have been
terminated as a result of misconduct.
Nearly 50 employees in total have been separated from
the agency since Commissioner Batts was appointed
At the same time the trial board process (the mechanism
by which officers are held accountable) went from a 50%
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conviction rate in 2012 to a 91% conviction rate

currently.
The system has also been designed to ensure that officers
who face false accusations have those complaints
investigated fairly as well, ensuring that when an officer
is in fact culpable the system works to hold them
accountable.
The entire executive staff now approves or disapproves
the hiring of new officers to make every effort to ensure
the very best candidates are hired.
More than 90% of the Command Staff is newly promoted or in
new positions consist with the philosophy the police
department to help bring about systemic change in the
department.
The BPD reached out to the Department of Justice to
accelerate reform and accountability practices. Our members
past and present deserve no less. Our community deserves
only the most exceptional police department. The Baltimore
Police Department has a proud legacy of service. We would be
negligent if we didnt tap into any resource possible to help
improve the relationship between the community and the
department. The decision should be applauded for what it
was, a genuine attempt to begin the reform process that began
in October of 2012.
Everyone would like nothing more than to wave a wand to
omit history and grievances, the police department is
committed to seeking and implementing long-lasting,
effective solutions built for the real world. In that vein, here
again, are some facts that empirically show progress:

BALTIMOREPOLICEDEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
MEDIA RELATIONS SECTION

At the end of 2014 we announced that discourtesy

complaints, citizens complaining about officer conduct,
were down 54%.
As we end the 5-month point this year, we have an
additional 22% reduction, on top of the 54% reduction
last year. That is a staggering indication that change is
taking hold.
Overall complaints to Internal Affairs are down 14%
year-to-date, from last years record-breaking lows.
We continue to see the number of lawsuits against the
city decrease.
2014 was the lowest year for police-involved shootings in
more than a decade and this year we are on pace to
match those numbers or go even lower. These are
numbers that are verifiable and speak to the training and
accountability measures that have been put into place.
At the end of 2014, five short months ago, the city
experienced a drop in crime in every measureable
category. We did that while reducing excessive force
complaints, dropping discourtesy complaints, and with
the fewest arrests on record, all verifiable numbers.
2014 also showed that by every measurable metric that a
modern-day police department is measured by the crime
plan, reforms and training worked.
The challenges of deep poverty, education levels, and systems
perceived to disenfranchise is much larger than the Baltimore
Police Department. However this is a grand opportunity to
change and grow.
We understand fully the concern over the recent violence.
Nothing is more important than the sanctity of human life.
The conversations about numbers and reform miss an
important point. We are talking about real people. We are
talking about real families. We are talking about the real
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future of our city. We will shoulder the hard work that is

before us. That is our solemn duty and sacred oath. It is the
mantle we picked up in 2012 and one that we carry today.
Real change is taking place. Real reform is underway. We are
moving towards a new future.
The Baltimore Police Department is made up of many of
strong character and can do heroes. I have faith they will
show how strong their characters are and how they respond to
adversity. They will show how they grow and change making
everyone proud as they shame the naysayers. The future is
ours to make.