Highlights
Maryland’s governor calls crime in Baltimore City a crisis.
Both Governor Hogan and President Trump are taking a traditional view of law enforcement. Why?
Author
Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr.
Retired federal senior spokesperson. Thirty-five years of award-winning public relations for national and state criminal justice agencies. Interviewed multiple times by every national news outlet. Former Senior Specialist for Crime Prevention for the Department of Justice’s clearinghouse. Former Director of Information Services, National Crime Prevention Council. Former Adjunct Associate Professor of criminology and public affairs-University of Maryland, University College. Former advisor to presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Former advisor to the “McGruff-Take a Bite Out of Crime” national media campaign. Certificate of Advanced Study-Johns Hopkins University. Aspiring drummer.
Introduction
Shocking crime news seems to be a daily part of Baltimore’s existence. Since the riots of April, 2015, the city has experienced massive increases in violent crime. Observers state that Baltimore’s police officers are no longer proactive after unrelenting criticism. A variety of measures indicate that the city has suffered economically and spiritually with people leaving for safer locations. Getting people to become officers (or to stay on the job) is a daunting task.
Some suggest that it will take decades for the city to overcome its violent reputation.
There has been a 63% decrease in applicants applying to become a police officer per a national survey, Out Of Cops. I’m told that it’s worse in Baltimore. Some are worried about the city’s future.
An Emphasis on Traditional Law Enforcement
But what’s startling about Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s top budget priority is the reliance on traditional law enforcement methods and strategies. It focuses on local law enforcement grants, crime prevention, prosecution, witness protection, $2.7 million for the Baltimore Regional Intelligence Center, and $2.6 million for 25 new prosecutors and support staff for the Attorney General (not Baltimore’s State’s Attorney) to prosecute violent crime. The budget maintains $3 million to fund initiatives to recruit and retain police officers at the local level.
A Very Liberal State
I was the director of public information for the Maryland Department of Public Safety for 14 years and until retirement, I was a lifelong Marylander. The state is one of the most liberal in the country as measured by opinions and politics, especially in major metropolitan counties. The fact that a Maryland governor declares crime a crisis and places traditional tactics as the top budget priority is a surprise. There isn’t a hint of a discussion as to criminal justice reform or other progressive tactics.
Hogan and Trump
Larry Hogan was re-elected to a second term in 2018 becoming only the second Republican governor in Maryland history to be reelected, and the first since Theodore McKeldin in 1954. He has criticized President Trump on a variety of issues and is considered a moderate governor. He’s no friend of the president.
A Traditional Law Enforcement Path
So why is Governor Hogan taking a traditional law enforcement path when there are endless numbers of Maryland liberals espousing alternate strategies? Is he taking cues from the president who he criticizes on a frequent basis?
“President Trump…ordered Attorney General William Barr to establish a new commission to study crime and law enforcement and the administration of justice with the goal of recommending actions that can be taken to prevent, reduce, and control crime, increase respect for the law, and assist victims. The creation of the commission aligns with Trump’s law and order agenda. During his Chicago speech, Trump touted his successes on reducing crime and curtailing the harmful and intrusive use of federal consent decrees,” Government Executive.
“Trump’s order focused on policing issues, including challenges to law enforcement associated with mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse, and other social factors that influence crime and strain criminal justice resources, as well as “the recruitment, hiring, training, and retention of law enforcement officers,” The Crime Report. Trump’s commission will rely mostly on politicians and law enforcement officials. As of December 2019, there were no announcements regarding the composition of the commission.
The governor’s priorities and those of President Trump seem similar as to improving policing and recruitment.
National Violent Crime Increases
The crime problem in Baltimore affects the city and surrounding counties. What’s happening in Baltimore is occurring to some degree in many cities and metropolitan areas throughout the United States.
There is an increase in “all” violent crime as measured by the National Crime Survey (an increase in violent crime of 28 percent from 2015-2018) and measures of “reported” crime compiled from local law enforcement agencies via the FBI. Per the FBI, violent crime increased in 2015 and 2016 but decreased slightly in 2017 (violence was essentially flat) and 2018 (a decrease of 3.3 percent).
Thus we have a fundamental question, which holds more importance, a 28 percent increase in all violent crime per the National Crime Survey since 2015 or a 3.3 percent decrease in 2018 for reported crime from the FBI, US Crime.
Conclusions
I assume that Governor Hogan has future elections in mind when he created a budget embracing traditional law enforcement strategies. I assume that President Trump has the 2020 election in mind with his commission on law enforcement.
In a world where the vast majority of verbiage on crime involves criminal justice reform advocated by dozens of organizations, this seems startling. Both men consider themselves politically savvy and both seem out of step with the overwhelming number of experts and organizations wanting fundamental change, including vast decreases in the prison population.
But when looking at public opinion polls, you get a different perspective. Fear of crime was the national top concern in 2018. Per Gallup, 75 percent of Americans worry about crime and violence, which was the same as health care, the top concern, Fear of Crime.
Per Gallup, the ideological balance of the country remained center-right in 2019, with 37% of Americans, on average, identifying as conservative, 35% as moderate and 24% as liberal, Gallup.
Hogan and Trump may be Republicans but they clearly don’t support each other’s agendas. But when it comes to crime, both are kindred spirits who understand that Americans are fed up with disorder in a wide array of cities and metropolitan areas.
There’s nothing wrong with criminal justice reform; it’s a discussion worth having. But when it comes to fundamental views of personal and family safety, even an extremely liberal state like Maryland will turn to traditional law enforcement tactics and leadership when things seem out of control.
Governor Hogan’s Budget
Governor Hogan today released his Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) budget, which funds Marylanders’ top priorities, including crime, education, transportation, and the environment.
The full budget is available online.
This morning, Governor Hogan hosted lawmakers from both sides of the aisle for a fiscal summit breakfast at Government House to present the details of his budget, which has been formally submitted to the General Assembly.
Addressing Violent Crime
- In FY21, police aid to local governments is funded at $74.5 million and local law enforcement grants are funded at $38.7 million. Another $1.9 million is provided for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program.
- In the second year of the Governor’s Baltimore City Crime Prevention Initiative, the FY21 budget includes $6.9 million for grants that support crime prevention, prosecution, and witness protection and $2.7 million for the Baltimore Regional Intelligence Center.
- In keeping with Governor Hogan’s commitment to address the violent crime crisis in Baltimore City, the FY21 budget includes nearly $2.6 million for 25 new prosecutors and support staff for the Attorney General to prosecute violent crime.
- The budget maintains $3 million to fund initiatives to recruit and retain police officers at the local level.
- The FY21 budget includes nearly $272 million for community and residential operations to provide direct care services to youth under the Department of Juvenile Services’ supervision.
- Since taking office, Governor Hogan has invested nearly $44 million in the State Police fleet, including $9.1 million for the replacement of new police vehicles and equipment in FY21.
See More
See more articles on crime and justice at Crime in America.
Contact
Contact us at leonardsipes@gmail.com.
My book based on thirty-five years of criminal justice public relations, Success With The Media: Everything You Need To Survive Reporters and Your Organization available at Amazon
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