A Republican bill in Maryland is proposing giving the state governor the power to declare a state of emergency for crime-fighting amid a wave of homicides in Baltimore.
The bill, proposed by state Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings, would give Gov. Larry Hogan the power to expand resources if the rate of homicides reaches 3 in 100,000 per month, according to WBALTV-11.
Gov. Hogan's office issued a statement, supporting the measure, per the report:
"It is encouraging to see that some legislators are focused on addressing the violent crime crisis in Baltimore City, which the governor has repeatedly said is the most urgent issue facing our state. The governor will consider any legislation that comes to his desk."
In 2019, Baltimore reported 348 homicides, the fifth consecutive year the city had over 300, per the report.
"That's the goal of this," Jennings told the TV station. "Enough is enough. Let's stop the crime."
The governor's declaration would give the authority to bring in Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority police, Maryland Transit Administration police, Department of General Services police and Natural Resources to fight crime and potentially fill policing shortages in Baltimore City.
"I disagree with the way the city state's attorney is handling her cases right now," Jennings said. "I don't think she's prosecuting enough. There is a lot of nolle prosse we are hearing.
Marilyn J. Mosby is the Baltimore City state attorney. Her office released a statement Tuesday in response to the bill, which faces Democratic opposition, per the report:
"The governor and his allies have become increasingly desperate as they try and ram their old-school, tough-on-crime agenda through the Legislature. Gov. Hogan has blamed me for crime. He has blamed the Senate judiciary chair, the mayor, the city delegation, and Democratic leadership.
"But he ought to take a look in the mirror. As city representatives, we have all put forward sustainable solutions that would reduce crime in the city – investments in education, public health programs, and more – but the governor won't listen. Instead, he wants to usurp the authority of elected officials and bring his disproven and outdated crime strategy to Baltimore City.
"I urge him to come out of the era of zero tolerance policing, mandatory minimums, a failed war on drugs, and mass incarceration into an era of evidence-based solutions that promote public health, public safety, and will actually reduce crime. Stop pointing fingers and start leading."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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