A Baltimore County lawmaker and his black constituents alleged racism among county police officers, a charge police officials called unsubstantiated and “distressing.”
About two dozen mostly black residents and community leaders attended Delegate Emmett Burns? hearing Monday night to discuss what they called negative, racially charged experiences with county officers. Burns (D-District 10) said the story of a car crash blamed on a constituent motivated the hearing, which he twice postponed while he advertised on local radio.
Burns, who is black, read police charging documents that indicated Emma Duncan and her two daughters shouted obscenities at an officer after he concluded she was at fault for a late-night August crash at a Woodlawn intersection.
Duncan said she remained calm, even when the officer shoved his flashlight in her face inside an ambulance.
“He said, ?I?m going to make sure you?re responsible for this accident,? ” Duncan said.
Police Chief Terrence Sheridan ? who said he did not attend the hearing because Duncan has threatened lawsuits ? said “all sorts” of witnesses corroborated the officer?s report.
Other attendees said that county officers force black motorists to exit their vehicles during routine traffic stops and that more squad cars respond to incidents involving black people than white people ? claims that police spokesman Bill Toohey said are not supported by statistics.
“Have they done a study?” Toohey asked. “How do we know that?s true?”
Toohey said racial sensitivity coaching is embedded in officer training, and Sheridan said he encourages all concerned residents to attend each precinct?s monthly community relations council meetings.
A lack of empirical data angered at least one community leader: Westview Park Improvement & Civic Association President Steve Whisler, who was one of three white people in attendance. Whisler called the evidence presented “emotionally charged” and “anecdotal.”
“You?re a white American,” Burns angrily responded. “You will never, ever face what we face.”
Burns? comment targets Iraqis
Speaking at a hearing he called to address allegations of racism among Baltimore County police officers, a Democratic lawmaker took aim at immigrant business owners.
District 10 Delegate Emmett Burns said the rising number of immigrant-owned business in his district ? including his own dry-cleaners ? is concerning.
“I?ll tell you why it bothers me,” Burns said. “The next group that comes in will be the Iraqis.”
Burns told about two dozen concerned citizens that society has a problem with “foreigners taking out and not putting back in.”
Burns? comments came when discussion about racially insensitive police officers turned to obstacles black entrepreneurs face. Some citizens suggested other minority business groups are provided better business opportunities with government-sponsored loan programs and contracting goals.
Engel Burns, president of Citizens for Emmett Burns, reminded audience members they were not there to “condone racism.”
But at least one person, Westview Park Improvement & Civic Association Steve Whisler, called Burns? comments “uncalled for.” Whisler, one of three white attendees, asked others if they forgot Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Think about the principles he put forth,” Whisler said. “You look at a man?s character and not the color of his skin.”
? Jaime Malarkey
