Here's what an insightful Baltimore detective had to say in a recent e-mail, following the resignation of Leonard Hamm as commissioner. He asked to remain anonymous:

First of all, "Zero Tolerance" is not currently the "Mission Statement" of the Baltimore City Police Department.  I can't tell you what the Mission Statement is, because I don't know.  Many of us in the rank and file do not.  I don't really even think there is one.  Oh, sure, we have had "pep talks" given by then Deputy Commissioner Bealefeld (now Acting Commissioner) and by Mayor Dixon, but those speeches focused on a general idea of what needs to happen in the City.  There was no clear plan laid out... just ideas such as "omnipresence" and "getting back into the community." 

I myself was present when then Deputy Commissioner Bealefeld addressed a group of Detectives in reference to the recent deployment of Detectives on weekly foot details.  Deputy Commissioner Bealefeld advised us that he wanted to make clear exactly why we were being asked to walk foot and what was expected of us.  He too mentioned omnipresence and reconnecting with the community, but what was never addressed was the fact that by taking Detectives away from their case load for five consecutive nights each week, nothing was being accomplished on said case load. 

Look at it this way:  When I work, whether it be on day work or night work, I investigate cases that have already been reported, as well as conducting pre-report interviews with victims as they occur.  In addition to that, I interview arrestees who may or may not have information that they are willing to share regarding the investigations that our Unit and others are conducting.  Every person arrested must be interviewed/debriefed to ascertain if any information is forthcoming.  Now, I am not complaining.  These tasks are no big deal and are all in a day's work.  But imagine sending me to the Eastern District starting on Wednesday night of a given week and continuing through Sunday night in order to walk foot.  Oh, and did I mention that while walking foot, I am discouraged from making arrests, issuing citations or even responding to calls because that would take away from my main focus, which is omnipresence.  And yes, during that time, I am not doing any work on my investigations because - for one thing - I am working on the complete opposite side of town from where the crimes that I am tasked with investigating took place.  And I am doing so in the presence of numerous other Detectives who are also being taken away from their work. 

Now, in fairness, the foot detail is starting to be scaled back... but gradually.

That was a long winded example (and only one of many that I could give) of why what I am about to tell you is the truth, at least as I see it:  First of all, never, NEVER discount what you called "political reasons."  Politics is everything.

We are out there walking foot instead of working cases for political reasons and political reason alone.  It is that simple. 

Second, I believe that our Department has backed away from the methods and practices that were in place during former Commissioner Norris' tenure because those in charge now want to distance themselves as much as possible from Norris's ideas and programs.  I have no proof of this, it is just a general sense that I get.  I don't know exactly why they would want to do that since those methods did seem to be working, but I have discovered that many, many members of this Department are very vindictive, insecure and jealous of other people's success.  (I should mention that I am not a fan of Ed Norris as a man, but I am able to give credit where credit is due, and Ed Norris was the only Commissioner that I have worked under that really had our best interests, and those of the citizens of Baltimore, at heart).  Third, our Department has been the focus of numerous complaints in the media and elsewhere regarding arrests that have gone unprosecuted due to lack of evidence, Officers not showing up for court, etc.  It is safe to suggest that this unwanted attention has caused some to become a bit "gun shy", pardon the pun.  Fourth, and maybe most importantly, it is my heartfelt belief (and has been for a long time) that the "powers that be" in this City - those names you mentioned above and others - do not want things to change.  If the status quo is maintained, then they will have job security.  Unless they let things get too out of hand.  I have dozens of examples to back that statement up, but this message is already a bit longer than you probably expected. 

Bottom line: I think that the citizens of Baltimore have been conditioned to expect the worst when it comes to this Department.  Citizens in other cities around the country - New York, Boston and elsewhere - feel a sense of pride in their Departments (for the most part) and are proud to be a part of that community.  Even citizens in the surrounding counties such as Baltimore, Howard  and Anne Arundle counties seem to be proud to have such dedicated and noble Officers at their service, and those citizens hold them to a higher standard.  But here in Baltimore, it just seems that people don't have very high expectations, so they are fairly casual when things fall short.  And all of that is truly sad for people like me and many of my co-workers here.  Because there are literally hundreds and hundreds of good, honest, hard working, caring Cops that work here.  And we want to make a difference.  We started to when Norris was here.  But because those "powers that be" are more concerned with securing their positions, fattening their pensions, and hurting those within the Department that they do not like - for whatever reason - then what you end up with is literally hundreds and hundreds of great Cops who just feel like giving up.  I know I do many days.

I love this City, and - believe it or not - I love this Department.  I want to see it get better, and if this helps accomplish that, then I am all for it.