From Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler:
“Tonight, I responded to the call from the State of Maryland to provide deputies to assist with law enforcement efforts restoring peace and providing safety to the citizens of Baltimore.
At this time the Harford County Sheriff’s Office has sent 22 deputies to join with thousands of officers from around the state. We are prepared to stay as long as we are needed. These deputies have offered to go to Baltimore, outside of their normal duties, so that other deputies can continue to patrol Harford County and keep our citizens safe.
Please keep the communities that are impacted by violence and the law enforcement officers who are responding, in your thoughts and prayers.”
A Realist says
What a waste of resources needed in Harford County…
Unreal says
Police are criticized for being too tough on criminals and then get criticized for not going after the looters & rioters. They are getting blamed for not protecting the stores….how about the responsibility being placed on the rioters???? Quit passing the buck to the cops and take responsibility for your own actions.
paul says
I wana say what those kids are doing is wrong and i get they feel failed by a system that is said is therevto help them but NEVER does but All of this would of been avoided if the 6 cops involved in the death where fired and or locked up now what you got a say about that cause please believe all the looter who broke the law are going to jail and they should but the coos get a pass because? Right smh
RTFU says
Were you in the van with them? So you have definitive proof that the police were at fault?
Or, are you being the typical a-hole and passing generalizations?
He was a criminal, he ran, how do you know he didn’t get hurt running away?
Miss Gulch says
It’s about time the National Guard were called in. They should have been called 2 days ago. Mayor Rawlings-Blake is way out of her league. I say find every single person involved in the rioting, looting, burning and beating. Prosecute them to the max. Of course, we all know that won’t happen. The State will be left to bail out the City like it has done numerous times in the past. Indirectly, we will all pay. What really needs to happen is anyone receiving a welfare check who was directly or indirectly related to this despicable behavior, should be cut off permanently and perhaps those monies used as restitution for all of the innocent victims who lost property, business, or injured.
SoulCrusher says
Agreed, Mayor Rawlings-Blake definitely dropped the ball on this one.
paul says
I wana say what those kids are doing is wrong and i get they feel failed by a system that is said is therevto help them but NEVER does but All of this would of been avoided if the 6 cops involved in the death where fired and or locked up now what you got a say about that cause please believe all the looter who broke the law are going to jail and they should but the coos get a pass because? Right smh
Go Orioles says
This goes out to Paul who is “SMH ing because looters go to jail and cops get a free pass.” First and foremost people want instant charges and the investigation to be completed. It takes time to get every statement, every video, all of the autopsy results back and properly analyzed, and to get the officers involved statements. Perhaps you are completely uneducated in this arena. A normal suspect would not be required by law to make any statements at all with or without a lawyer, they are allowed to completely not cooperate with an investigation, and they are not mandated to take a polygraph (lie detector test). Fortunately for you cops are governed by something much more strict, the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights. This affords us 10 days to get legal representation but then we are required to give truthful statements and can be forced to take polygraphs. Could you imagine if we were able to do the same thing to suspects on the streets! Wow would we solve a lot more crimes, but thats deemed a violation of ones constitutional rights for a normal citizen. Did you notice what I said, 10 days!!! Yet so many people including yourself want immediate justice, when they probably don’t even have the officers statements yet, wow, wow WOW! Why would you want an incomplete investigation, yet throw these cops in jail or fire them. Plus do you know for a fact that all six were involved in any wrongdoing. What if its two out of the six for an example, but its okay to fire and lock up all of them. Contrary to popular belief when people run from the police in a high drug high crime area, the supreme court has recognized that the person in question may be involved in “undetected criminal activity as this is unusual practice by a law abiding citizen.” Therefore they are allowed to chase and identify him to see if he had any outstanding warrants. Running in of itself is not a crime, but it certainly warrants an additional investigation. One more thing, if I hear “unarmed” was killed by police one more time, I’m going to throw up. There is always a weapon involved in police altercations, the cops on gun. Here’s a little diddy for you in the past ten years 51 police officers have been killed BY THEIR OWN WEAPON, because they let a aggressive “unarmed” person too close who was refusing to comply with orders and got overpowered, again wow. But I am sure the completely unbiased media will “educate” all of the angry people out there about that one. Fifty one is an awful lot of Freddie Gray’s and Michael Brown’s, except those 51 were actual street angels for everyone making this world a better place. Whereas the other two were robbers and drug dealers. Nobody deserves to die, but we especially can’t afford to have our street angels viciously killed by their own weapons. Here’s a nugget of advise, stop committing crime, stop fleeing, stop fighting, and you will have a whole lot less problems.
how? says
And why do you think these communities commit so many crimes? How can you expect them to obey the law when they either cannot afford or don’t now how to feed themselves or their families without breaking the law? For too long we have all ignored those questions and as a result we now see the consequences.
Mike Welsh says
Did you miss the video of a Mother confronting her son who was participating in the riot and manhandling him out of the area. She was well dressed, probably came from work and certainly appeared able to feed herself and her family, along with teaching them right from wrong. Yet her son was among those who were rioting as I’m sure there were many others who know right from wrong but make the wrong choices in their lives.
Giving people a pass on bad behavior because of their perceived upbringing only adds to the problem and ensures that things within that community will never change.
how? says
Knowing the difference between right and wrong does not mean that you will do what is right, especially when you are young and live in an environment were most don’t know the difference or simply don’t care because their experience tells them they have few if any opportunities to succeed. Nobody gets a pass for bad behavior and those responsible for committing crimes should be punished. But if we want bad behavior to stop we need to identify ALL of the causes, not just the causes that are easy to address. Providing more opportunities and investment will change these communities. But everyone has to see the value in doing so.
The Money Tree says
If they can’t afford to feed they’re families then why are the families so large? F. Gray had 6 siblings – 7 kids, and without even knowing much of anything about them I’d bet something of value that they’re from multiple fathers, there’s no male in the household that’s majority sober or working nor the mother working, and that the entire family is borderline illiterate. I have every suspicion the cops injured this man and that resulted in his death but let’s not pretend the bulk of urban blacks are anything other than marginally employable. That culture has been in free fall since we adopted the war on poverty back in 1963 and after spending billions upon billions feeding, housing, providing transportation and clothing and any other basic need it’s worse than it’s ever been so to claim “we” are ignoring the problem is completely false – all we’ve accomplished is the decimation of the black family. So let’s keep dumping money into a sinkhole since it’s just worked so well before.
Cdev says
money tree it could be a sincerly held religious belief that birth control is bad.
The Money Tree says
Perhaps, but if you can’t afford your own kids and otherwise have no clue how to raise a family shutting ones legs and/or keeping little Willie contained is another option. We only assume dogs hump without awareness.
Cdev says
It could also be a sincerly held religious belief that they are meant to be fruitful and multiple as is stated in the bible!
It is also equally as likely their economic status changed after they had kids.
The Money Tree says
Where in the bible is the part where it’s so important to be fruitful and multiply that you lay down with anybody, unmarried and rely upon the government to raise your family? I must have missed that part in all the sermons through the years.
Cdev says
The iorny is the officers involved did not afford these rights to others and it caused this community outrage!
Cdev says
Correct me if I am wrong but the Mayor of Baltimore can not mobilize the National Guard….that is the Governor’s job!
That said rememeber protesting does not equal rioting. The community has a right to be outraged at the polices behavior in this situation. The misguided individuals who are rioting need to be dealt with but they are not the majority they are the minority!
mr. bill says
From what I understand the mayor needs to call the gov. Her fault.
RTFU says
She is more worried about her physical appearance than the citizens of the city.
She needs to take that down a notch.
Gary Ambridge says
How well did Mayor Stephaney Rawlings do yesterday? Her dress was stunning, her makeup was perfect, and every hair on her head was in place. Other than that, when she finally decided to appear late evening, she did not do much.
I remember the riots of 1968 when the same looting and burning erupted to “protest” the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, a man who ironically dedicated his life to PEACEFUL protest. Those riots were the end of Baltimore as we knew it and yesterday’s riots set back Baltimore 50 years. It was the start of massive “white flight” of people and businesses. The people of Baltimore worked so very energetically to bring the city back from the brick of becoming Detroit and all of their hard work now is for naught.
Previously I said that 99% of the people in Baltimore were peaceful and productive citizens; now, I am saddened to say, I can no longer believe that.
RTFU says
Well said!
going hot says
Sheriff Gahler,
The police in Baltimore have basically been told to allow the rioters to assault police, impede traffic, beat people, rob people, loot and commit various other crimes because they do not want to “fan the flame of racial tension”. I would submit to you sir that many of these people do not respect the police and they never will. By allowing these criminals to tear at the very fabric of our society you are all making this situation much worse. I would urge you to load your weapons with rubber bullets and bean bag rounds and take this fight directly at the criminals who are hell bent to hurt or kill you. I would imagine that a few of these assholes shot with some bean bag rounds would think twice about throwing rocks at the police.
I can assure you that many citizens have the AR15s at the ready should your lose control like the mayor did.
NotJustaSpermDonor says
Sheriff Gahler is not in command of the situation in Baltimore. Should something like this occur in Harford County he will be the person in command.
Ponder This says
How about all of us pausing, taking a deep breath, and pray that Sheriff Gahler’s Deputies, all our State Troopers and other brave and honorable law enforcement officers and all the firefighters, paid and volunteer arrive, complete, and return home safely and uninjured? Maybe we all are to blame in some way, but all the finger pointing and blaming is not going to resolve this mess. If our legal system fails, last night was an example of what we have to look forward too.
God Bless the public safety and National Guard troops return safely….
God Bless the looters, may you find your way to be a productive member of the this community someday…..
j d frucks says
Ponder your pandering
Let’s see some justice for Freddy. No one should have their spine severed and killed while handcuffed! Cops without any shred of integrity and a system that protects them will not stand. Riots sometimes are the only way to affect change. There will be retribution coming, white cops are aager to kill black youth.
Ponder This says
j.d.
I thank you for your response, although it is grossly misguided to my original post. I too pray for justice for Freddie Gray, but once again the means and actions currently on display in Baltimore do nothing to achieve that.
Yes I am a public safety and community supporter, and I am old enough, experienced enough, and smart enough to realize there are some poor examples of LE officers everywhere. But there are correct forums to address this problem. Just how many black officers have brutalized white males? How many white officers have shot or brutalized other white males? The problem is officers of all race brutalizing citizens of all races.
One other thing you may consider is the officers have the same rights in the legal system as do you. Everyone needs transparency and allow the system to work. Maybe this entire issue was an arrest where Mr Grey was unintentionally injured at the point of the arrest. In the video he seemed to be walking at some point and refusing to walk at other times. He was screaming about his wrists, all signs he wasn’t in mortal distress. Did something happen in the transport van, perhaps, but we should wait to find the facts before pointing that blame finger. Should the police be criminally responsible, I pray they are held accountable. If it was negligence, they should be held accountable in the fashion the system directs so.
Godspeed to you j.d.
Ponder This says
* complete their mission….and return home safely
Dissenter says
Ponder this….I’m sorry that the 22 legal gang with guns from Hartford co were not beat n tazed to death in baltimore. Everyone knows what to do about pigs killing innocent citizens. Up here in Hartford co the pigs kill an unarmed citizen every couple of months. Course most the time they wait until they gettem in the county jail before killing them. Yea, that way they can put the blame on another innocent person in jail. The cops in Hartford co are a focking joke n now they have a new glorious leader to tell them who n who not to kill. Hear this, we are many and we have guns….PIG!
Open your eyes says
I strongly encourage all readers not to respond to Dissenter or j d frucks. They very possibly could be one in the same attempting to race bait. Thank God that our HCSO Deputies returned home safe. They are all heroes in my book. Sheriff Gahler answered the call for a mutual aid request and acted appropriately. The peril to the officers began when they came under the control of the Mayor of Baltimore City. She proved that she is a poor leader. Hopefully the media picked up on it and this will damage her subsequent political ambitions. She showed everyone that her fraternity to her race trumped her obligation to the welfare of her police department and city. What type of leader would direct her police leaders to stand down while they are being assaulted and would instruct the police to allow those animals to destroy her city and then lie about it during media interviews. She is a disgrace and I pray that her political career is over. It is kind of embarrassing to the see the Mayor of the largest city in Maryland sometimes showing up to formal interviews in a leopard skin top and spandex pants. She is supposed to look like a Mayor not a hooker. What a joke.
hmmm... says
Another well thought out point of view. Why don’t we get rid of all the cops and go back to living with unicorns prancing down the street farting rainbows and butterflies… by the way it’s Harford, not Hartford… where are you really trolling from? Anger much?
Dissenter says
Ooopps…..”Harford” co legal gang with guns…pig!