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Report: Baltimore City Council President Says Officers 'Raping The City' By Not Living In Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Baltimore City Council President Jack Young reportedly said that Baltimore Police Department officers are "raping the city" by not living in Baltimore.

Baltimore City leaders are concerned about the lack of firefighters and police officers living in Baltimore neighborhoods, and Young has proposed a tax break to public safety officers who own a home inside Baltimore City limits.

In the heat of his argument, Young said something he appears to regret.

"Police officers not living in the city is not a new issue," Baltimore PD Commissioner Kevin Davis said. "It's been around for a long, long time."

During a meeting Thursday morning on the proposed tax credit, Luke Broadwater, a reporter for our media partner The Baltimore Sun, tweeted that Young said officers are "raping the city" by not living in Baltimore.

Broadwater reports that Young said, "We need to figure out how we can force them to live in the city. This is madness. They have the nerve to vote to not sign the contract? They're raping the city."

Broadwater reports Young later clarified, saying he used a "poor choice of words."

WJZ asked Davis about Young's statement.

"Well I've heard those remarks, and let me say this about our city council president, there is no bigger cheerleader in the city for us getting more police officers, both on our department and getting police officers who hail from the city of Baltimore. So Jack Young's motives are pure," Davis said.

Of the 4,012 sworn officers and firefighters, 3,162 live outside the city. Of the 850 who are Baltimore city residents, 531 of them live in their own homes.

"Let me also say this, and I think I'm obligated to say this. Police officers who do not live in Baltimore are not committing a crime," Davis said. "Police officers who do not live in Baltimore are not violating any type of rule or procedure, and to have those police officers compared to - and again, it's an unfortunate use of words - the vile act committed by a rapist, is something that really offends the sensibilities of all of us."

The committee unanimously approved the tax credit legislation. It now goes to the full council for a vote.

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