Commissioner Bealefeld Takes Aim at The Wire
Baltimore City Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III has previously been critical of the Baltimore based HBO drama.
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Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III continued his war of words with "The Wire" Saturday.
During the North Baltimore Safety Summit at Govans Presbyterian Church, Bealefeld, the event’s featured speaker, again criticized the HBO television program, derisively referring to it as "that stupid show."
The critically acclaimed program, created by David Simon, a former crime reporter at The Baltimore Sun, aired on HBO for five seasons, and often portrayed corruption and incompetence in city government and the police force. The show's final season was in 2008.
The commissioner criticized the show because he said it painted a picture of the city as "doomed." He said the city’s reduced crime figures and new strategies are proof that the show's portrayal of Baltimore isn’t accurate.
He also complained that when traveling abroad the only thing people would ask him about would be the city's homicides and "The Wire."
Bealefeld showed his contempt for the show by refusing to use its name and referring to it as "that stupid show" or "that show."
This isn’t the first time Bealefeld has made his disdain for "The Wire" known. Last year he called the show “a smear that will take decades to overcome,” according to The Baltimore Sun.
What do you think about the commissioner's comments? Tell us in comments.
Public Citizen
8:47 am on Sunday, April 29, 2012
Well, well now. The first thing that comes to mind is the old saying. "Truth hurts"doesn't it commissioner Bealefeld. Personally I thought that the show was an accurate account of the city and its regime. You Commissioner Bealefeld along with other department heads are puppets of the Mayor of Baltimore City. Heck I still think that O'Malley is running the city from Annapolis.
Steve J.
12:16 pm on Sunday, April 29, 2012
As a near life-long resident of Baltimore, I must say that "The Wire" was the truest depiction of my city I have ever seen. I'm happy that the Commissioner thinks current trends are taking away from a vision of the city as "doomed," (something which I never got from the show) but that doesn't invalidate the vision of the show anymore than Scrooge's reformation invalidated the vision presented by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
TH1CK
7:17 am on Monday, April 30, 2012
My Baltimore is Season 3. My Kids Baltimore is Season 4 & 5... IJS.
IamGayle
10:12 am on Monday, April 30, 2012
Perhaps The Commish should enroll in classes at RPCS, Bryn Bawr or Gilmas where classes are being taught on "The Wire". It doesn't even appear that he's watched the show at all. The Wire has been off the air since 2008 and in watching the 'old' episodes, so MUCH of what was portrayed back then, still rings true today. It is what it is. Many of us are well aware that The Wire is based on actual events.