The controversy over allegations of city police arrest quotas took a new twist on Wednesday, as Baltimore City Council Member Helen Holton said that city police officers have told her quotas do exist.
“I have been told by several officers around the city that the quota is 150 arrests per shift per month, or 450 arrests total per district,” Holton said. “That means over 4,000 arrests citywide, an unconscionable number that is causing pandemonium in our community.”
But Matt Jablow, spokesman for the Police Department, said Wednesday that Holton is incorrect. “I?ve never heard of anything like it. Quotas do not exist in the Police Department, period.”
The city State?s Attorney?s Office said 6,998 people were arrested in May.
Holton ? a Democrat who represents District 8, which includes the southwestern police district ? said the existence of arrest quotas, which she said she confirmed with several police officers, angers her because the policy affects primarily black residents in the city.
“The majority of people being arrested are black, and I?m [angry]. I cannot believe that this is still going on,” she said.
Joining Holton in her criticism of arrest policies, City Council Member Bernard “Jack” Young, D-District 12, said he?s been hearing similar complaints. “Officers have said they?re sick of the pressure to make arrests; they can?t take it anymore,” Young said. “They want to leave the force.”
Paul Blair, president of the police union, said that while he has not been given specific numbers, it?s no secret the pressure is on to make more arrests now. “I?ve been told officers are being asked for quantity, not quality.”
Holton said she is concerned about the effect arrest quotas have on the relationship between police officers and the community. “It is destroying all the efforts we put forth to get citizens to work with the police. Arresting people for sitting on someone?s steps is wrong,” she said. “Enough is enough.”
Council Member Kenneth Harris, who previously revealed arrest quotas in 2005 and recently met with Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm to discuss the topic, said Holton?s allegations are not surprising. “We?ve been asking questions about this for some time now,” he said. “Now it?s time we got some answers.”
