Gov. Hogan pledges funds to right criminal wrongs in embattled Baltimore

OPINION:

The city of Baltimore is teetering, hit in the stomach by a dizzying crime rate, and still grappling with a seemingly endless police corruption investigation.

Baltimore chief prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, who handled the controversial murder of Freddie Gray in 2015, said earlier this month the city will need to re-investigate at least 790 contaminated cases related to filthy police officers.

None of this suits Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.

Because of this, the Republican governor rightly beat crime policy in Charm City on Friday and outlined his $ 150 million “Re-Fund the Police” initiative for state and local law enforcement agencies.

The Hogan Initiative demands:

• $ 45 million to increase police aid to local jurisdictions by 50% nationwide, including a prorated portion to Baltimore.
• $ 50 million in raise and hiring bonuses to ensure competitive pay with state law enforcement agencies.
• $ 24 million to create a new Accountability Resources Fund that will be used to provide more bodycams, de-escalation training, and other vital tools for state and local law enforcement agencies.
• $ 1 million for the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and Maryland Sheriffs’ Association to strengthen on-the-job training and support.
• $ 10 million in neighborhood security grants to support hardware upgrades, lighting, cameras, and heightened security services for community organizations and business districts through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
• A 100% government funded match for any Crime Stoppers rewards that lead to arrests.

The “Re-Fund the Police Initiative” also awards funds for victim protection:

• $ 14 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to restore Congress’s drastic cuts in Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) funding for victim service providers.
• $ 6 million to restore Maryland General Assembly cuts to programs and initiatives for Critical Victims, including the Sexual Assault Reimbursement Unit, the Safe Home Confidentiality Program, the Crisis Intervention Team Competence Center, the New Futures Bridge Subsidy Program, the Regional Navigators Program and Community Service Coordinator.

That Mr. Hogan did not hesitate to curse Baltimore as “the figurehead for the fundamental failure to stop lawlessness” was also fairly blunt in naming some of the politicians and criminals who were to blame.

“There is a prosecutor who refuses to prosecute crimes, and there is a revolving door of repeat offenders who are released straight back into the streets to keep shooting people,” he said.

The governor also beat out Baltimore city councilor Ryan Dorsey, an ambitious Democrat looking to refute law enforcement.

“Just last week a Baltimore city council actually called for the abolition of the police,” Hogan said, referring to several tweets from Mr Dorsey that redoubled his call for the abolition and disbandment of the Baltimore police force. “Trying to reduce crime by defusing the police is dangerous, radical and left-wing madness.”

The makers and makers of Baltimore should thank the Hogan government for trying to neutralize the “far-left madness” in Baltimore.

After all, David Simon’s We Own This City tells the rise and fall of the Baltimore PD Gun Trace Task Force. The miniseries airs on HBO, and Simon fans know well that the DC native deals with police proceedings, which means his latest version of Baltimore crime and police corruption may or may not turn Baltimore back into a naked city .

Anyway, Baltimore residents have the Hogan government to thank for wielding several of the brooms their leaders left in the corners of town hall.

• Deborah Simmons can be contacted at dsimmons@washingtontimes.com.

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