Baltimore Police Department

to protect & serve

By Anthony Guglielmi, Director Public Affairs Section
Wednesday, March 11, 2009; 12:39 pm

STATEMENT OF BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER FREDERICK H. BEALEFELD, III. IN RESPONSE TO CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
ON 2008 HOMICIDE REDUCTION

On behalf of the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department I am disappointed with the remarks made by Councilman Bernard "Jack" Young during last night's hearing  as they pertain to last year's murder reduction. While I recognize that many factors go into the rate of murders in any city, it is wrong to imply or proclaim that the incredibly dedicated work of over 3,000 sworn and civilian members of the Baltimore Police Department was a result of "luck".

Furthermore, many other devoted people are working to make Baltimore safer, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, Maryland Parole and Probation, Safe Streets Program, University Hospital's VIP initiative, the NAACP, city schools, countless youth violence prevention initiatives, local clergy, and countless number of citizens and community associations across this great city.

The men and women of the Baltimore Police Department did not and do not succeed on our own - but their work and devotion can not and must not be written off or attributed  to "luck".


Anthony J. Guglielmi
Director, Public Affairs Division
Office of the Police Commissioner
Baltimore Police Department
242 W. 29th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
Telephone: 410-396-2012
www.baltimorepolice.org