Baltimore's police commissioner is about to end the practice of officers moonlighting as security guards at bars and other establishments that sell alcohol. The top cop argues that the city is liable for the officer's action regardless of whether he's been paid by the city or the bar, and that too many conflicts arise. He doesn't like officers throwing drunks onto the street only so they can committ crirmes and become problems for other officers who happen to be on duty.

My fellow-crime blogger, former Baltimore Police Capt. Jerry "Buz" Busnuk, offers his take on the new rules in his blog this morning:

"I know many of my wonderful former colleagues in the department who work these details cannot see it, but there is an inherent conflict of interest in having officers work in licensed beverage outlets such as bars, nightclubs, and strip joints. The police department has the first level of legal oversight of these places, and the economic interests of the owners sometimes conflicts with legal mandates."