Community Corner

Councilman Stokes: 'We Have Too Many Corrupt Police Officers'

Councilman Carl Stokes accused Baltimore police officers of being corrupt and in league with drug dealers during a morning radio appearance on WBAL.

Stokes, who represents parts of Charles Village and Remington, told Dave Durian that residents are afraid to come forward about crimes because they know who the officers are really working for.

"We take the hit at people, and say they’re not telling the police what’s happening. That’s absolutely false. People tell the police," Stokes said. "And we have too many corrupt police officers, who are running drugs with the drug runners, who are protecting the drug dealers, who are telling the drug dealers that Mrs. Jones just told on him."

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He went on to say the police officers are not doing their jobs and that they’re not getting out and working in the city’s neighborhoods.

"It’s a mess, the law enforcement criminal justice system in Baltimore City, as we speak, is a mess," he said.

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The police union took offense at Stokes comments and issued a statement critical of the councilman.

"We find Mr. Stokes’ comments an affront to every honest and hard working Baltimore City Police Officer, not to mention those brave police officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while working to protect our city streets.  Mr. Stokes’ comments are outrageous, inflammatory, and untrue," the Fraternal Order of Police’s statement reads.

The war of words between the union and Stokes comes after a violent few days that included 32 shootings since last Friday.

Stokes also defended Anthony Guglielmi, the department’s former top spokesman, who was reassigned after comments he made to The Baltimore Sun indicating the spike in violence was to be expected.

Stokes said Guglielmi is "a good guy," who was being penalized for a moment of candor about the department’s mind set about violent crime.  


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