Md. sheriff: Baltimore police dept. ‘eviscerated,’ cops ‘fearful’

[Suzanimal]

Sheriff Mike Lewis of Wicomico County, Maryland, said the Baltimore Police Department has been “eviscerated” and police officers are fearful to do their jobs in the city rocked by violence following the death of Freddie Gray.

“The Baltimore City Police Department, the officers particularly on the street, have been eviscerated, they’ve been disemboweled, their guts removed to have the courage to go out there and do this job,” Mr. Lewis told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday.

“They’re very fearful that if they go out there and be proactive, which we all should be doing in law enforcement today, we can’t afford to be reactive, especially in urban areas. Those officers are no longer being proactive, and as you see, the violence has surged,” he said. “And I hope this is a shot fired across the bow of mayors and urban leaders across this country. Once you disembowel your law enforcement officers, then you cannot no longer expect them to go out there and protect you, or protect your communities.

“This is very troubling the worst I’ve ever seen in 31 years of law enforcement,” the sheriff added. “I’m hearing it all the time. They’re [police officers] fearful at doing their jobs.”

Baltimore has seen 36 homicides so far this month, the highest homicide count for May since 1999, but arrests have plunged more than 50 percent compared to last year, according to the Associated Press.

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said last week that his officers “are not holding back” from policing tough neighborhoods, but they are encountering dangerous hostility in the Western District.

“Our officers tell me that when officers pull up, they have 30 to 50 people surrounding them at any time,” Commissioner Batts said.

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[presence]

eviscerated? dang, for a second there I...

[JK/SEA]

eviscerated was used in the right context here. They're 'fearful', because they don't have any guts.

“Our officers tell me that when officers pull up, they have 30 to 50 people surrounding them at any time,” Commissioner Batts said.

sounds like a good idea.

[Anti Federalist]

“They’re very fearful that if they go out there and be proactive, which we all should be doing in law enforcement today, we can’t afford to be reactive, especially in urban areas. Those officers are no longer being proactive, and as you see, the violence has surged,” he said. “And I hope this is a shot fired across the bow of mayors and urban leaders across this country. Once you disembowel your law enforcement officers, then you cannot no longer expect them to go out there and protect you, or protect your communities.

Nicely veiled threat there.

Years and years and years of abuse at the hands of cops had nothing to do with any of this.

[Dr.3D]

Nicely veiled threat there.

Years and years and years of abuse at the hands of cops had nothing to do with any of this.

What kind of English is "cannot no longer?"

[thoughtomator]

If they tried to do what they do without the uniforms and badges, the mobs would already have torn them limb from limb. The people have just had enough of revenue-driven fines and imprisonments.

[torchbearer]

What kind of English is "cannot no longer?"

I guess the double negs cancel each other out.

[kcchiefs6465]

So should I assume all of these disenfranchised Baltimore police have found productive employment in the private sector?

Lol.

By all means, if they're ready to jump, they ought to.

Here's to hoping the cirrhosis flares up and they go the way of Al Capone.

[Danke]

They should quit and just let elected Sheriffs appoint volunteer deputies when they need them.