Robert Curran, a Baltimore city councilman, is advocating his constituents break the law. That’s right, when making a 911 emergency call, Curran told people at a recent community meeting to claim “there’s a gun involved.” Even when there isn’t. But only when they feel threatened…
To say Curran’s comment got the councilman some attention is like saying the Orioles haven’t done well in recent decades. Like saying Ray Lewis hits hard. Given the chance to revise or amend what he said, Curran refused, standing by his advice. “No way do I want to imply the public should lie to the police department…my intent is not to mislead the police in any way.” Perish the thought.
Response time from the BPD has been an issue in Curran’s northeast Baltimore district. “I’ve been getting letters from community folks. They say they call 911, and the police don’t show or show sometimes the next day.”
As you’d expect, Charm City’s boys in blue aren’t amused. Calling Curran irresponsible, police union president Robert Cherry cautions, if the call is for a person armed with a gun… “multiple officers are going to be racing to that scene Code One, going at full speed with their sirens going. What if the officers think that person is armed, come guns drawn and the person only has a cellphone?” Cherry said. “The next thing you know, there is a shooting.”