Police Presence Increases After West Baltimore Rash Of Violence
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Show of force. Baltimore City police flood the western district after an alarming spate of violence. Now the police commissioner is vowing to fight back and help the community.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the action he's taking.
The commissioner says it's time for some long-term solutions to the violence in the western district. Now he's putting some serious manpower in that area.
There's been an explosion of violence in West Baltimore. The number of homicides is skyrocketing and there was a grisly triple murder just Tuesday morning.
"I'm very concerned because I have a little one and I want to make sure she's safe, that she can play outside," said Coryea Barrow.
Reverend Keith Barrow says the murders have people scared to leave their homes.
"It's like one behind another. You comfort one and the next minute, there's another," he said.
Now police are launching their own war, flooding the area. The entire police academy is going door to door, trying to get information. Commissioner Anthony Batts admits the community is in crisis mode.
"Right now, it's starting to implode on itself and has been for a number of years," Batts said.
Police plan to hold a community meeting at the Celebration Church to get neighbors' feedback and concerns.
City leaders promise even more resources in West Baltimore.
"The pressure is on and we will continue this pressure until Baltimore becomes one of the safest big cities in the country," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
More foot patrols will be assigned to the western district as police try to bring the community together.
"What we're trying to do is bring the churches around the city back into this neighborhood and stabilize it and bring activists with us and find out what the deeper rooted issues are here in the community," Batts said.
So people can once again feel safe on their streets.
The community meeting with police will be held on March 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Police say they are making some strides with more than 1,000 felony warrants served this year and gun arrests up 34 percent.
