BALTIMORE CITY HOUSING POLICE SOON TO BE NO MORE!!!!!!

[umpolice]

HAS ANY ONE ELSE HEARD THAT THE BALTIMORE CITY HOUSING POLICE ARE CLOSING? I AM A DISPATCHER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE POLICE FORCE (DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE CITY)
OUR STATION HOUSE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HOUSING POLICE HEADQUATERS ON MLK BLVD. MY SERGEANT JUST TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD ABOUT 30 HOUSING OFFICERS APPLY FOR JOBS WITH MY DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING OFFICERS TOLD HIM THEIR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE DISBANDING IN A FEW MONTHS.

CINDY #25
UMB POLICE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

 

[mlevin]

No this is news to me. I guess O'malley ran out of money again :roll: :x . I wonder what will happen to the talkgroup?

 

[NINN27]

oh goodie... leftovers (refering to the talkgroup)

thats ok, omalley is out soon... maybe the next guy can bring back the housing pd (i mean, i dont listen to much B.C. PD, but still, im sure others do)

 

[mlevin]

I don't usually listen either, but that doesn't mean they're not worthy of their existence. BeLIEve hon you must beLIEve.

 

[Metro174]

My department has had several lateral transfers from HABC Police in the past several years. One went back and I called him to see if this story is true.

It is "unofficially" true. Apparently HABC Officers were told in roll call that if they have any job leads, they should take the job and that while not a 100% certainty, HABC Police will cease to exist in the coming weeks. There is a slim, very slim chance that HABC Police will continue on.

HABC has been extremely unfair to their officers through the years. At one time they had 150+ officers. Due to the layoff of a few new hires in 2000 and rumor upon rumor of them folding, most left. HABC is down to about 50 officers currently. I know a LT who left for DC police to become an offiicer. That is one hell of an indication to me that a place is run poorly. Morale there has been low for years for these and numerous other reasons.

 

[mlevin]

fellas, here's an article from WBALs website.

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3658935/detail.html

 

[TinEar]

Cindy, there was also a story in today's Baltimore Sun about the closing. It goes into some detail about when and why. Budget, budget, budget.

 

[K2KOH]

Why not just do what NYPD did...absorb them into the Baltimore Police Department. Or does politics REALLY figure into this?

 

[mlevin]

Well not so much politics, money. The City is broke and it's not just the Housing Authority that's suffering. It's the schools, rotating closures of fire houses, and the list goes on. The thing is this mayor says a whole bunch then wants us to believe in his progress, which if you aren't blind, can easily tell doesn't exist. The City is being poorly managed and this is what's leading to this. Yes some of it's politics. But this time around it's just a lack of money. When you're public schools go bankrupt, you know something isn't right.

 

[Metro174]

Merging them into BPD was proposed a few years ago. A mix of reality and politics figured into it not happening.

HABC Police received tons of federal money that BPD wanted and HABC itself was not inclined to lose it.

Many HABC officers had applied to BPD previously before being hired by HABC and been turned down for various reasons. HABC hiring standards met MPCTC requirements but BPD's hiring standards were higher than required, especially were it comes to previous "experimental" drug use.

I'm am not trying to imply that HABC Police were drug addicts or less than ideal candidates for police officers. Many people are often turned down by an agency for credit problems in the past, an interview with a neighbor that may not have had anything good to say or maybe they just didn't interview well. Basically comes down to an agency losing face in hiring someone they previously turned down.

 

[ffjeff1984]

I Agree

Why not just do what NYPD did...absorb them into the Baltimore Police Department. Or does politics REALLY figure into this?

Probably Politics do Figure into This Issue, but That Will Maybe save the
City of Baltimore alot of Money, and thats If They were To Combine
The Housing Authority within Baltimore Police or Sheriffs Dept. and Trust
me Baltimore City needs The Housing Authority more than anything else,
due to Section 8 Housing and People Fighting on These People That
Foreclose on Homes. I dont here much about Sheriffs Dept in Balto.City
So Maybe Combine those in Police Dept too...

 

[Metro174]

One of the reasons you don't hear much about the City Sheriff's Office is because they are one of the most ineptly operated departments around. John Anderson is clueless and he runs the department by whim. Those who are activiely supporting him and sell the most tables to his fundraisers get the good assignments. Those that are on the S list get to do door security at the courthouse. Job knowledge, ability and training mean nothing to him.

My department has had several laterals from the Sheriff's Office. Most lateraled based on who the Sheriff is. I at first thought their tales of woe were exagerated but I definitely don't feel that way anymore. I've talked to current deputies and they say the same.

If their department has a warrant for someone's arrest, good luck in retrieving the warrant. I once had an arrest in NW Baltimore based on them telling me the warrant was active. Was advised they would meet me at CBIF with the warrant. Got there only to be met by a deputy who sheepishly stated "we have a problem, the warrant is missing". I kindly told him I had no problem since I acted in good faith based on their confirmation of an active (and servable) warrant. Didn't want to dump the guy on the deputy but it was their mistake that made me drive the guy across town. Their mistake means it's their transport of the suspect back to his residence. Not the first or last warrant issue I have seen regarding them, just the worst.

Anderson has the resourses to have a great department and do more than what they actually do. They don't work closely with the Baltimore PD or any other police department in the city at all from what I've seen in 7+ years of being in LE and as a nearly lifelong City resident. Once in a blue moon I hear them do a car stop or make an onview arrest. Could be doing much more to be visible and active in fighting crime. Sorry if this has turned into a rant, but over time I have lost a lot of respect for that department. At least the management side of it anyways. Deputies seem to want better things then they are provided.

To the guys at HABC who are looking for a job, come to us!! We are in need in capable officers. If not us, go to a place that will put you to good use. You'll be very unhappy at the Sheriff's Office.

 

[ffjeff1984]

Damn

One of the reasons you don't hear much about the City Sheriff's Office is because they are one of the most ineptly operated departments around. John Anderson is clueless and he runs the department by whim. Those who are activiely supporting him and sell the most tables to his fundraisers get the good assignments. Those that are on the S list get to do door security at the courthouse. Job knowledge, ability and training mean nothing to him.

My department has had several laterals from the Sheriff's Office. Most lateraled based on who the Sheriff is. I at first thought their tales of woe were exagerated but I definitely don't feel that way anymore. I've talked to current deputies and they say the same.

If their department has a warrant for someone's arrest, good luck in retrieving the warrant. I once had an arrest in NW Baltimore based on them telling me the warrant was active. Was advised they would meet me at CBIF with the warrant. Got there only to be met by a deputy who sheepishly stated "we have a problem, the warrant is missing". I kindly told him I had no problem since I acted in good faith based on their confirmation of an active (and servable) warrant. Didn't want to dump the guy on the deputy but it was their mistake that made me drive the guy across town. Their mistake means it's their transport of the suspect back to his residence. Not the first or last warrant issue I have seen regarding them, just the worst.

Anderson has the resourses to have a great department and do more than what they actually do. They don't work closely with the Baltimore PD or any other police department in the city at all from what I've seen in 7+ years of being in LE and as a nearly lifelong City resident. Once in a blue moon I hear them do a car stop or make an onview arrest. Could be doing much more to be visible and active in fighting crime. Sorry if this has turned into a rant, but over time I have lost a lot of respect for that department. At least the management side of it anyways. Deputies seem to want better things then they are provided.

To the guys at HABC who are looking for a job, come to us!! We are in need in capable officers. If not us, go to a place that will put you to good use. You'll be very unhappy at the Sheriff's Office.

I Believe Thier Should be no more Balto. City Sheriff's Dept. Maybe
They Should keep Housing Authority and do away with Sheriffs Dept
Im sure Sheriffs Dept has Good Deputys. Its ashame That some People
with Govt Jobs just sit on thier Butts, Drink Coffee, and Waiting on 430
and Pay Day. It should be like Private Industry, If Your not making me
money and Then I cant pay you. Is The Dept you work for Hiring, If So
Please eMail me... Address listed on Bottom of page-Thanks