Unrest In Baltimore Has Taken Its Toll On Officers
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Coming together. The mayor is creating an initiative to help the entire city following the violence and unrest.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren with more on the impact the Freddie Gray case is having on police who walk the beat every day.
Some 114 officers were injured in the unrest. The events of the past several weeks have rattled many officers, who continue to come to work every day for a department that is facing changes.
The unrest in Baltimore has taken its toll on officers. One spoke candidly along with his wife. Their identities--concealed.
"We get cussed at. We get shot at. I know that the job is tough, but I know I signed up for it," said the officer.
"Especially now that we have a little one at home, it's even harder because I don't want him to grow up without a dad," his wife said. "I feel like there's no words for some of the things that we saw and how they treated police as a whole."
The officer believes charges against the six officers in the Gray case could affect future arrests.
"If you want them to be proactive in patrolling, trying to catch people, I could see them not being interested in doing that," the officer said.
Many other officers fear going on camera. Several tell WJZ morale is low and they feel under attack.
Yet police tell WJZ there's been no increase in officers leaving and no resignations directly due to the unrest.
"I never left the community. I just changed hats," said former detective Debbie Ramsey.
Debbie Ramsey sees both sides.
She served as a city police detective, handling criminal and internal investigations, and now is active in helping the community rebuild and will soon open a community center a block from Pennsylvania and North avenues--the epicenter of the unrest.
Hellgren: "Do you think the morale is low right now because of this?"
Ramsey: "Well, you lead by example, and I think strong leadership means everything."
"When you have taken on a position that requires you to dig deep, you can't have a thin skin," she continued.
Former detective Ramsey says officers have got to get out of their patrol cars and into the community to really bridge the divide and heal.
After recent events here in Baltimore, people are asking how they can help.
You can donate to the United Way's special fund for humanitarian relief -- CLICK HERE.
