Baltimore Police Outline New Strategy for Fells Point After Recent Violence

Baltimore city officials are preparing to implement a new strategy in Fells Point this weekend, following two consecutive weekends marked by shootings and disorderly conduct. The exact measures to be taken remain unspecified, raising questions among residents and business owners.

During a press conference on Thursday, Police Commissioner Richard Worley addressed the recent chaos, stating, "The behavior displayed last weekend and the weekend before in Fells Point will not be tolerated anywhere in the city." He assured the public that a plan is in place to address the issues, although details were not disclosed.

Mayor Brandon Scott echoed this sentiment but refrained from sharing specifics, citing operational security. "We would never share operational plans out loud for the people that we don't want them to see," he explained.

The renewed focus on Fells Point follows complaints from local residents and business owners about rampant open drinking, illegal alcohol sales, and a lack of enforcement. One local business owner expressed frustration, noting, "There were over 500 open containers, so it’s ridiculous. It’s absurd. People need to be held accountable."

Despite the significant disturbances, police reported issuing only seven citations over the past two weekends, which included three for disorderly conduct and two for open containers. Commissioner Worley attributed the low number of citations to the time-consuming nature of paperwork and a shortage of officers on the ground.

Worley explained, "If we make 15 arrests, that means we have five officers left. I don’t have any more cops to bring from anywhere else." As a result, officers have prioritized addressing violent offenses and crowd control over minor violations.

Looking ahead, the police plan to collaborate with additional partners, including the liquor board, to tackle illegal sales and restore order in the neighborhood. "You’ll see a different plan this weekend on how to combat this," Worley stated, emphasizing the need for a renewed focus on maintaining public safety.

As the weekend approaches, the effectiveness of the new strategy will soon be put to the test in Fells Point.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).