Baltimore Police Commissioner Steps Up Patrols After Outbreak Of Violence
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Wave of violence. The police commissioner hits the streets to hear back from residents after at least 40 people were shot since the start of summer.
Meghan McCorkell talks to the city's top cop about stepped-up enforcement.
The violence streak has shaken the city.
Crime scene after crime scene spread out across the city as cries to stop the violence ring out. The commissioner himself was out walking the beat Tuesday night alongside officers.
"In order for me to direct my resources in the office, I want to feel, I want to see, I want to know what's going on," said Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.
Over the weekend, police nearly tripled the number of officers on the streets with state and transit police, as well as the sheriff's office assisting.
"I haven't seen this organization work as well, as good as this weekend," Batts said.
Even with the stepped-up enforcement, the violence continues across the city. A 26-year-old man was shot in the chest Tuesday evening along Pimlico Road.
Mary Davis is the victim's aunt.
"I'm waiting for them to call me. I know he's gone though. I know," she said.
Davis has lived here most of her life and says the neighborhood has been on a steady decline. She worries about raising her grandchildren here.
"They've got to duck from gunfire and they shouldn't have to. Put some playgrounds up; we used to have a playground right back there. Now the grass back there is so high you could lose your child in it," she said.
The commissioner is trying to restore a sense of safety.
"It can't be done unless you have the residents and the citizens telling you what's going on and participating and having faith in you," Batts said.
So children can play outside without fear of violence.
Homicide detectives are investigating the latest shooting on Pimlico Road. So far, there are no leads.
The police are promising three times the amount of officers on the streets throughout the holiday weekend.
