Report exposes a ‘Stop Snitching’ culture among Baltimore police

By DAN RODRICKS

The Baltimore Sun (TNS)

BALTIMORE — The Department of Justice report on the Baltimore Police Department describes an internal culture of intimidation and retaliation that conjures memories of the widely-condemned “Stop Snitching” campaign that drug dealers launched to intimidate police informants.

There’s a big difference, of course: The drug dealers in the infamous “Stop Snitching” DVD of 2004 used threats of violence to chill anyone thinking of cooperating with cops. The Justice Department reports no such threats against whistleblowers within the BPD. But it describes menacing practices – one, in particular – that would chill anyone to the bone.

Imagine being a cop who calls for backup in the city of Baltimore and backup doesn’t come.

“Several officers told Justice Department investigators that they believe their fellow officers have retaliated against them for reporting misconduct or objecting to improper enforcement activities,” the report says. “Other officers expressed fears that they would face such retaliation, and that BPD supervisors would not address any retaliation that occurs.

“Our review of BPD’s internal affairs files underscores these concerns.”

The report mentions a detective who considered reporting two fellow officers for brutally beating a suspect in 2011. When he asked a sergeant what he should do, the detective got the following warning: “If you’re a rat, your career here is done.”

The detective decided to do the right thing; his report about the incident ultimately led to the prosecution and conviction of the officers. But his life was hell, and he no longer serves the citizens of Baltimore.