Baltimore's police and firemen are risking their lives every day and now we want to cut their pension. What will stop them from leaving the city to work for the surrounding jurisdictions? This adverse condition would inevitably lead to increased crime. How can we let this happen just as the crime rate was starting to get under control?

Between the child STD cases, the dirt bike incidents, uptick in shootings, slain witnesses, where do you start?

That's for the readers to decide! - JF

family member recently moved to Balt. Canton area. I am amazed and worried about rampant crime, petty car break in to assults and robbery. Seems to me crime has potential to destroy revitalization of urban areas and drive employers elsewhere. What are Balt. politicians and police doing? Balt. could use a NYC model and prosecute petty crime to get criminals off the streets

The crime rate was never"under control". You can't stem crime exclusively with police actions. WHere are the leaders of the community and political arena? Why are they all silent on the real cause of the crime condition? The real cause being the mis-direction of our youth by parents, culture and the business community.

really

Let's start with I was a cop in Baltimore City during the height of the crack epidemic and was shot seriously in the abdomen and returned to work when healed. I worked in the Eastern and Western Districts which are notoriously the most violent. I was an aggressive officer who made in excess of 1,000 felony narcotics and handgun arrests, most of which were on view. Drop the hype. Police DO NOT risk their lives every day. True they are a likely and visible target but better than 90% of them would not go out of their way to insert themselves into harm's way. They are more than content to wait for a call for service and hang out way too long handling that. There are 3100 sworn officers in a town of 600,000. It would not seem too difficult if they would get off light duty or out of their cars or retire rather than be a mailman etc. etc. and go find trouble and address it head on. Cops are overpaid!!! DROP is bankrupting the city and should be dropped. The job when done right is done by dedicated individuals who are willing to take knowingly take less money in exchange for 1.) having a career that is more a calling than just a gov't job 2.) have access to cheap great healtcare 3.) be eleigible for terrific pension benefits after 20 years. It is a tough job, but good cops who love it do it for what it pays rather than squawking for more money more money more money. Get some dedicated civil SERVANTS who believe in doing good and contributing to society. You could start by getting rid of Debbie Owens who could not find drugs at CVS. It is drugs that is killing Bmore. Until you bring in cops at the top who can lead BY EXAMPLE you will continue to pay way too much for way too little.