Open Thread: Will Mayor’s New Crime Fighting Initiative Work?

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and law enforcement officials announced on Thursday that two prosecutors will be detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s office to go after city criminals on a federal level.

The announcement came on the heels of an outbreak of violence that shocked the city, and caused Councilman Carl Stokes to accuse Baltimore police officers of corruption.

“This administration’s top priority is to reduce crime and violence in Baltimore,” Rawlings-Blake said in a news release. “These new prosecutors will target the worst of the worst violent offenders in neighborhoods that have struggled most with crime for far too long. The two special assistant United States attorneys will enhance our ability to identify the most dangerous offenders and prosecute them in the federal system, where the severity of the punishments are often greater than those in the state system. To prosecute violent repeat offenders to the fullest extent of the law, we must utilize all available resources—local, state, and federal.”

The prosecutors will be detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s office to try and secure lengthy jail sentences for repeat violent offenders.

“Detailing prosecutors from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office to the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues a longstanding arrangement between our two agencies,” said State’s Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein. “Cross-designated assistant state’s attorneys are able to use the resources of our federal law enforcement partners, including the ATF, DEA, and FBI, to investigate, prosecute, and incarcerate violent repeat offenders.”

Last month, Marilyn Mosby, wife of Councilman Nick Mosby, announced her intention to challenge Bernstein in next year’s Democratic primary.

The announcement follows Police Commissioner Anthony Batts’ announcement of a shake-up in command staff, including the reassignment of Maj. Sabrina Tapp-Harper, who had commanded the district covering North Baltimore for two years.

The decision to remove Tapp-Harper from the post was controversial among local City Council members, who expressed to Patch their concern on Wednesday.

Despite major crimes reportedly dropping for two straight years during her tenure in the Northern District, the number of homicides jumped 75 percent last year and is on pace with that number so far this year.

Will the mayor’s new crime fighting initiative work? Share your thoughts in the comments section.