The federal corruption probe accusing officers of taking kickbacks from towing companies involved skirting the city-approved system. But that city system is receiving new scrutiny nonetheless this week, shining a spotlight on an arcane and poorly documented process, reports The Sun's City Hall reporter Julie Scharper:

Baltimore's police commissioner is demanding a review of the decades-old practice of funneling the city's multimillion-dollar towing business to a small circle of companies without requiring them to compete for contracts.

Other city officials, including Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, are also calling for a closer look at the towing system — just days before the contract was scheduled for a two-year renewal.

The companies — known as "medallions" for the police-issued stickers affixed to their trucks — have had a lock on the city's towing business for at least three decades, elbowing out competitors by expanding their fleets to cover more territory. One of the companies forfeited its state business certification two years ago but continued to operate under its exclusive city contract.