In the first episode of “The Wire” ? based on life in Baltimore City ? a witness to murder initially identifies a shooter, then reneges on the identification in court. The city loses the case.
While the show maybe fiction, plenty of real witnesses don?t talk ? and not just in the city. This past weekend police could not find one witness to a shooting leaving two dead and three injured at the Arbutus Social Club. One hundred to 200 people were there.
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Crime analysts say witness intimidation is a main reason why 1,065 murder cases since 1998 remain open in Baltimore City. Those unsolved cases represent 43 percent of all murder cases over the time period, according to an Examiner report published Tuesday.
Forty-three percent. What kind of deterrent to would-be murderers is that statistic? Former Baltimore City police officer turned John Jay criminal justice professor Peter Moskos said, “Even the victims don?t want the cases solved. …The first case I handled there, the victim knew who shot him and he wouldn?t give me his own name. It?s so hard to win cases if you don?t have anyone who wants to get involved in it.”
No wonder. There are no guarantees that those who do speak will be safe. In 2002 the entire Dawson family ? Carnell and Angela and their five children ? were murdered in their city home for standing up to drug dealers in their neighborhood. And the state?s highest court ruled earlier this month that relatives could not sue the city for failing to protect the family, who placed 109 calls to 911 or 311 between Jan. 1, 2000, and Oct. 16, 2002, about illegal activity in their neighborhood.
While the crime was horrible, police must not be held criminally liable for failing to prevent murders. But government at all levels must do a better job of protecting those who could help to remove murderers from the streets.
U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings introduced legislation in Congress this year to allow the U.S. Marshals Service ? which does an excellent job protecting witnesses in federal cases ? to safeguard state witnesses. Passing the Witness Security and Protection Act would be a good step toward making witnesses feelthat their lives won?t be in danger if they cooperate with police. It has the support of Baltimore City State?s Attorney Patricia Jessamy and other law enforcement officials around the country.
The federal EXILE program is another. EXILE combines local, state and national law enforcement to use existing powerful anti-gun laws to put those who commit the violent crimes in prison for long terms.
But the city must play a role too. Mayor Sheila Dixon?s “Gun Stat” proposal to focus on the criminals who use firearms and create a registry of them similar to that for sex offenders is a great idea.
Yes, she did say, “Strengthening the relationship between police and the community to the point that more people will come forward with information about homicides and other crimes is a key part of our crime strategy.” That sounds good, but words won?t work unless she gives specifics and takes decisive, visible action. The other key component is the community whose members must shed the culture of “no snitching.” Not reporting a crime only fosters more of it, bares all of us to the violence of the lawless and strips police of any potential to help.
