Recently, the Police Commissioner suspended one of our officers for allegedly preventing a civilian from videotaping him while he was conducting a nearby investigation.  Our officer will maintain the civilian was interfering with his investigation and that his safety and ability to do his job were undermined. The civilian was not arrested or issued a criminal summons - she was merely provided with a citizen contact receipt. Since that time, the BPD's Office of Legal Affairs has shown a video of the incident, which was first broadcast on FOX-45, to in-service training classes and informed the class the officer was suspended and that the BPD will not tolerate such behavior. The FOP has requested the Office of Legal Affairs to stop showing this video. 

Last weekend, another one of our officers found himself being videotaped by a civilian while the officer was investigating a motor vehicle law infraction and had a person of interest in custody.  During the entire time, the civilian remains in striking distance of the officer and refuses to give the officer enough room to safely conduct his investigation. Even upon the arrival of additional back-up units, the civilian continues to interfere with the officers - challenging them on the application of the law, speaking directly to the person in custody, and refusing to back away to a comfortable distance for the officers. Our officers should be commended for their professionalism and commitment to duty.

During a recent interview with Tricia Bishop of The Sun, Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld made it clear he “can’t wait to throw the knuckleheads off of the bus” referring to those police officers caught up in the towing scandal and others who have been suspended recently for integrity issues. The Commissioner went on, “I'm invested in this place, and I don't want the place to get a black eye.”

The men and women who make up the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police agree wholeheartedly with the Police Commissioner’s statement about not wanting corrupt cops within our ranks. Integrity and commitment to duty is as much a part of what the FOP believes in and strives for as it is fighting for the benefits our members deserve. This in turn makes his other statement sound bizarre – While it is important to know the Police Commissioner is invested in the police force, does he really believe he is alone in that regard?