Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott leads Maryland’s most populous city.
When a bridge accident happened in Baltimore, the young Black Mayor Brandon Scott endured taunts from many on the political right about being a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) hire.
Many saw the accident as proof that the city had elected a leader based on the color of his skin, rather than merit.
But a city that has endured a reputation of violence and urban plight recently celebrated the lowest homicides for the first half of the year in 50 years.
Not bad for a city led by a DEI hire.
Darreonna Davis of The Baltimore Banner reported, “There have been 68 homicides and 164 nonfatal shootings in Baltimore the first six months of the year, according to city police, a 22% and 19% decrease, respectively, from this time last year…
“Both numbers outpace the goals in the city’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan of decreasing gun violence, fatal and nonfatal, by 15% per year. Scott said the reduction in crime has been achieved by goals in the plan that call for a public health approach to gun violence, prioritizing community engagement and transparency in sharing quantified results.”
Via the Mayor’s Office for Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), the city has also provided support for community members who speak out against crimes so that they will not encounter retaliation and revictimization.
Stefanie Mavronis, director of MONSE, said, “We have to institutionalize the efforts we know are making a difference so that we’re not just seeing one, two, or three years of reductions, but rather sustained decreases in violent crime for the foreseeable future.”
Mavronis gave credit to MONSE, local police officers, regional law enforcement agencies, Baltimore’s State’s Attorney’s Office and other local and state officials for the drop in homicides.
Mayor Scott admitted, “Our work is far from over. Sixty-eight lives lost to violence is 68 too many. While we acknowledge the historic lows we are experiencing, we must simultaneously acknowledge that there is much work to do, and our success makes me commit even further to doing it.”
According to Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, the drop in murders can be attributed to “repealing ineffective non-prosecution policies.”
Bates said that repealing those policies empowered the police department and bolstered collaborations with local, state and national agencies.
The Baltimore Banner added, “Police also pointed to improvements in the department’s operations. This includes establishing the Crime Strategies and Intelligence Division, which centralizes their intelligence, and the Youth and Community Partnership Division, which assesses community policing, officials said.”
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said more work needs to be done to rebuild trust between cops and the communities they serve.
In June, police officers were involved in three deaths.
Police officers shot Bilal “B.J.” Abdullah 38 times after he fired gunshots at the cops.
Secondly, a man having a mental health crisis approached police officers for help.
Officers detained the man, and he lost consciousness while in their custody.
The police officers transported the unconscious man to the hospital, where he eventually died.
About 12 hours after the incident with the man having a mental health episode, police shot and killed Pytorcarcha Brooks, 70, after she allegedly wielded a knife at police officers.
In that incident, police officers were also responding to a call of a mental health crisis.
Worley said, “Recent high-profile incidents remind us that there is still work to be done to improve our department and rebuild trust with our communities. Baltimore is a safer city today, and I’m proud of the dedication shown by our officers, community members and all our partners in working together towards that goal.”
In 2024, 201 people in Baltimore were murdered, while over 400 people were shot and injured.
For the second straight year, gun violence in the “Charm City” has seen enormous decreases.
In April of this year, only five people died because of homicide.
That number shows the lowest count for a month in recent memory.
Last year, RegalMag.com named Scott its 2024 Regal King of the Year.
The Regal King of the Year award goes to an African-American man making a huge impact in the African-American community and beyond.
Last year, journalist Richard Francis of RegalMag.com wrote, “The award is often reserved for an African-American man who makes a positive difference in the Black community or the community that surrounds them.
“But in a world that is often so divided by race, it is great that some cities and communities have leaders who care less about race and more about the complete collective of people they serve.
“According to the official Baltimore website, ‘During his first term, Scott emerged as a leading voice in reducing violence in Baltimore and reinstated Council Oversight of the Baltimore Police Department by holding quarterly hearings. He believes that reducing violence will require a holistic, all-hands-on-deck approach, one that recognizes violence is fundamentally a public health issue. Scott led legislative initiatives that created extensive crime data sharing and online reporting of crimes by the Baltimore Police Department. In 2016, Scott introduced and passed legislation creating an open data policy in Baltimore.’
“Scott believes that Baltimore is experiencing a rebirth with shootings and murders decreasing.
“Baltimore’s first two-term mayor in 20 years added that he wants to continue focusing on reducing crime and fixing the city’s vacant home problem.
“Scott said, ‘For decades there have been promises made to Baltimoreans about quick fixes and short-term solutions, but they have always been hollow. Many of us long-term Baltimoreans know that all too well. I know those I grew up with in Park Heights and countless neighborhoods, like it heard those promises and witnessed them fail, firsthand. I don’t ever want to be someone who promises like that.’
“In Baltimore, homicides are down 24 percent and non-fatal shootings decreased by 34 percent.
“However, Scott wants to curb youth crime as statistics show carjackings and robberies committed by juveniles increasing.
“Another thing that is increasing is Scott’s profile and the respect and admiration so many have for him.
“Some might call him a DEI hire.
“Others might call him something far worse.
“Who cares?
“RegalMag.com calls him royalty and the 2024 Regal King of the Year.
“Salute!”
