The city of Baltimore has become the most dangerous in the country.
The city had the highest per-capita murder rate in 2017, making it the deadliest city of America’s top 50 cities, according to statistics reviewed by American media.
The city experienced 52 homicides per 100,000 people, or far higher than around 40 per 100,000 in New Orleans and Detroit.
Baltimore also had more murders per capita last year than the considerably larger cities of New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.
One caveat: According to the media review, the city of St. Louis was left out because, at 315,000, it does not rank in the top 50. If it had, it’s rate of 67 homicides per 100,000 would easily surpass Baltimore. [source]
Analysis: A few years ago Baltimore experienced major unrest after a black suspect died in a controversial manner while in police custody. All six of the officers who were charged in the death have since been acquitted and are back on the job, which did not help matters much. Also, as The Watchfloor previously reported, a new policy change being considered in Baltimore will have a major impact on policing, and not in a good way. A police union memo to members characterized the policy this way: “What this means is that police officers are now required to pay these punitive damage awards, which can amount to thousands of dollars, out of their own pockets. Since punitive damages cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, the successful citizen can file an attachment against your wages taking 25% of your net bi-weekly pay check [sic] until the amount of the punitive judgement [sic] is satisfied.” How many Baltimore Police officers are going to remain on the job if there is any chance whatsoever that they’ll be held financially liable for punitive damages, no matter what the circumstances?
While murders in the city are down so far this year, what happens regarding the policy under consideration could have a major impact on the death rate and associated chaos if Baltimore police officers resign en masse or worse, remain on the job but fail to intervene on behalf of the public out of fear they’ll be sued.
