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Baltimore Fires Another Police Commissioner, After Record High Murder Rate Baltimore Fires Another Police Commissioner, After Record High Murder Rate
(about 1 hour later)
The mayor of Baltimore abruptly announced on Friday that she had relieved the city’s police commissioner of duty after a year of unprecedented violence in the city.The mayor of Baltimore abruptly announced on Friday that she had relieved the city’s police commissioner of duty after a year of unprecedented violence in the city.
Mayor Catherine Pugh said that Darryl De Sousa, a 30-year veteran of the department who was most recently a deputy police commissioner, would replace Kevin Davis, who became commissioner in 2015. Mr. De Sousa will be Baltimore’s ninth police commissioner since 1994.Mayor Catherine Pugh said that Darryl De Sousa, a 30-year veteran of the department who was most recently a deputy police commissioner, would replace Kevin Davis, who became commissioner in 2015. Mr. De Sousa will be Baltimore’s ninth police commissioner since 1994.
Baltimore experienced a record murder rate last year and had by far the highest rate of the largest 30 cities in the United States.Baltimore experienced a record murder rate last year and had by far the highest rate of the largest 30 cities in the United States.
There have been more than 300 homicides in the city in each of the past three years, including 343 recorded in 2017. By comparison, New York, which has a population more than 10 times that of Baltimore, experienced only 286 murders last year.There have been more than 300 homicides in the city in each of the past three years, including 343 recorded in 2017. By comparison, New York, which has a population more than 10 times that of Baltimore, experienced only 286 murders last year.
“The fact is, we are not achieving the pace of progress that our residents have every right to expect,” she said in a statement. “The fact is, we are not achieving the pace of progress that our residents have every right to expect,” Ms. Pugh said in a statement.
In a news conference shortly after the statement was released, Ms. Pugh introduced Mr. De Sousa and explained why she had suddenly chosen him to replace Mr. Davis, with whom Mr. De Sousa had worked hand-in-hand.In a news conference shortly after the statement was released, Ms. Pugh introduced Mr. De Sousa and explained why she had suddenly chosen him to replace Mr. Davis, with whom Mr. De Sousa had worked hand-in-hand.
“I’m impatient,” she said. “We need violence reduction. We need the numbers to go down faster than they are.”“I’m impatient,” she said. “We need violence reduction. We need the numbers to go down faster than they are.”
She turned the podium over to Mr. De Sousa, who announced that he had already begun an initiative to flood the city’s streets with waves of police officers from 9 a.m. to midnight. She turned the podium over to Mr. De Sousa, 53, who announced that he had already begun an initiative to flood the city’s streets with waves of police officers from 9 a.m. to midnight.
“The priority as of this moment right now is really simple — it’s a really simple priority and that’s violence reduction,” he said. “Second priority is violence reduction, and third priority is violence reduction at an accelerated pace. That’s the bottom line.”“The priority as of this moment right now is really simple — it’s a really simple priority and that’s violence reduction,” he said. “Second priority is violence reduction, and third priority is violence reduction at an accelerated pace. That’s the bottom line.”
He added that the department had identified the “trigger-pullers” in the city and that it would be pursuing them.He added that the department had identified the “trigger-pullers” in the city and that it would be pursuing them.
“I’m a chess player,” he said. “I don’t like to be outwitted.”“I’m a chess player,” he said. “I don’t like to be outwitted.”
Mr. Davis had presided over years of violence and protest but had said that he was dedicated to reform. He worked closely with the United States Department of Justice as required by the city’s consent degree with the federal government. Mr. Davis had presided over several years of violence and protest but had demonstrated that he was dedicated to reform. He worked closely with the United States Department of Justice as required by the city’s consent decree with the federal government.
Criminal justice reform advocates were surprised at the news of his sudden dismissal and thanked him for his service. Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense and Educational Fund and a Baltimore native, thanked the departing commissioner for what she characterized as his “unyielding commitment” to the consent decree process.
“Commissioner Davis recognized that building trust between the community and the Baltimore Police Department requires a commitment to the promotion of constitutional policing practices, and meaningful and respectful engagement with the community,” she said in a statement, adding that the organization looked forward to working with the new commissioner, trusting that he would remain committed to reform.
Mr. Davis’s predecessor, Anthony Batts, was also fired after an increase in violence, by then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. Mr. Davis worked as acting commissioner from July to October of 2015, when he was confirmed by the City Council as permanent commissioner. Mr. De Sousa, too, will need to seek confirmation from the council.
Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, which helps advise departments on reforming their use-of-force policies, had partnered with Mr. Davis. He said that the sudden firing was characteristic of a new reality in which mayors held police chiefs accountable for the murder rate.
“This is a sign of the times,” Mr. Wexler said. “Twenty-five years ago, the conventional thinking was, no matter what the police do, it doesn’t make a difference. Today, expectations on the part of mayors have never been higher.”
But he said that Mr. Davis had moved to make changes in the department, even when it was unclear whether the Trump administration would enforce the consent decree, which originated under President Obama’s Justice Department.
“It can be daunting to have to deal with both implementing reforms and dealing with violent crime at the same time,” Mr. Wexler said.