Crime & Safety

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.

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.

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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."

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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.


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