The class action lawsuit filed by the NAACP and the ACLU against Baltimore City over illegal arrests became a statewide political issue on Friday, as Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan accused the ?O?Malley administration of using to police department to bolster his campaign for governor.
“As he campaigns for governor, he wants arrest figures up, and it?s hurting the citizens of this city,” said Duncan who is running against Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley in the race.
Duncan, who was joined by his running mate, former city state?s attorney Stu Simms, and Del. Jill Carter, said that the arrest procedures of the police department highlighted by the ACLU lawsuit are the result mismanagement of the police department.
“This approach does not work, it does not serve the citizens of Baltimore.” he said.
Duncan, who was asked at the press conference if his criticism was politically motivated, said that his only concern was policy change.
“This is a matter of talking about my record, and his,” he said, referring to the mayor.
Stu Simms, who joined Duncan in laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the O?Malley administration, said that the crisis is affecting both the people of the city and the police officers.
“It destroys the lives of individuals and their families, and breaks the trust between officers and the community,” he said.
Before the press conference, Carter said that she would soon be announcing her own lawsuit against the city questioning the legality of it?s arrest policy.
“We have police officers begging for relief, who just wanted to do their jobs,”
The mayor?s campaign did not respond to questions about Duncan?s statements.
The press conferences comes a day after the ACLU and the NAACP announced a class action lawsuit against the city over illegal arrests. Court documents charge that thousands of Baltimore City Police Department arrests are “unconstitutional” and “illegal,” and that the city “rewards officers with more arrests and punishes officers with fewer arrests.”
Carter also announced that she been contacted by the U.S. Department of Justice about the city?s arrest policies. “There has been interest from the justice department,” she said. “I?ve received a letter requesting more information,” she said.
