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News Wrap: Fed Agents Embed in Baltimore Police; Mosby Denies Stalling Homicide Investigation

The City of Baltimore is taking steps to stop the unprecedented violence that has occurred in the city for the last few months. With 42 homicides in May and 45 in July, this is the first year that Baltimore has seen two months with 40 or more homicides.

On Sunday morning, Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis announced BFED, a collaborative effort in which agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshal Service and U.S. Secret Service will work along with Baltimore homicide detectives. Each agency is sending two full time agents to be embedded into the Baltimore homicide unit, effective August 2.

Interim Police Commissioner Davis noted that this move was unusual. Historically, local police units send detectives into federal law enforcement agencies to embed in long-term investigations. In the announcement on Sunday, Davis said this was the “flipping of a script of sorts.” The program was created with the hope that federal techniques will help close more homicide cases.

State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby Denies Stalling Committee Created to Investigate Baltimore Homicides

Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby spoke out today against a Baltimore Sun article claiming that she derailed a program designed to analyze homicide trends and develop targeted responses. The Homicide Review Commission was created earlier this year to bring together elected officials, police leaders, public health officials and academics to investigate the dramatic rise in violence. The city spent nearly $200,000 to launch the program, which was based on a model in Milwaukee that has helped ease crime.  

The collaborative group was studying homicide trends with the ultimate goal of coming up with targeted responses. Yet when members of the committee recently requested information from open trial cases, Mosby said she was not willing to share. Though she had originally promised unprecedented transparency with the Committee, she said that providing information from ongoing cases could compromise investigations or jeopardize the safety of victims and witnesses. She said that the Committee is free to investigate closed cases.

No FEMA Money for Baltimore Protest Recovery

Governor Larry Hogan was furious when the Obama Administration again did not certify the Baltimore protests as an official disaster. That certification would have made the city eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Hogan appealed FEMA’s denial of aid on June 12, only to be denied once again this past week.

Hogan pointed to the 1992 unrest in Los Angeles following the police assault of Rodney King as precedent. Los Angeles received FEMA money after 55 people died, 2,000 were injured, and 1,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged. Despite some similarities, FEMA did not grant Baltimore “disaster” certification.

“300 Men March” Spreads Message of Peace

Baltimore’s “300 Men March” cycled across the city Saturday to spread a message of peace. The group passed out t-shirts and fliers and spoke to young men one-on-one to encourage non-violence. The group’s objectives include mobilizing community residents to engage in violence prevention, train volunteers to be Street Engagement Officers, and create community programs aimed at preventing violence.

Orioles on the West Coast

The Orioles begin a nine-game West Coast road trip tonight with the first of three against the A's at O.co Coliseum.  They will then play the Angels in Anaheim and the Mariners in Seattle. 

Family and Friends Remember Three-Year-Old McKenzie Elliot

Family and Friends are remembering the life of 3-year-old Mckenzie Elliot. One year ago last Saturday the young girl was gunned down in front of her home. A vigil was held on the anniversary of her death to honor her life. An $8,000 reward still stands for information leading to an arrest in the case.

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