BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The state’s NAACP is calling on Attorney General Doug Gansler to create a task force on police-involved shootings in Maryland.

Gerald Stansbury, president of the Maryland State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said Tuesday that recent police-involved shootings in Baltimore City and Howard County highlight the need for “independent” analysis of the shootings.

“Just as Attorney General Gansler appointed a task force to look at Voting Irregularities we need a task force that will look at recent police shootings and make recommendations on how to reduce these shootings,” Stansbury said in a statement.

Stansbury said further review is needed for the shootings of veteran Baltimore City Police Officer Norman Stamp, 65, and Howard County resident Pearl Wardell Harris, 62, who lived at a senior citizens’ complex.

Stamp was shot to death during a fight outside the Haven Place club on North Haven Street in Southeast Baltimore by a fellow police officer.

Police say Stamp was wearing brass knuckles and pulled out his gun before he was shot, though his supporters question that version of events.

Harris physically lunged with a knife at police, causing one officer to fire a non-fatal shot at Harris’ lower torso, police said.

Stansbury said he hoped Gansler would create a panel made up of representatives from civil rights and law-enforcement agencies from around the state.

“Our intent is not to have this task force look at these cases individually but rather to determine whether or not we have a systemic problem with police shootings in Maryland,” he said.

Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for Gansler, said Carl Snowden, the office’s director for civil rights, would be glad to meet with the NAACP to discuss the issue.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:42 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Task force urged for police-involved shootings"

Examiner Reader said:
I say we should have a task force to get the NAACP out of Maryland. The NAACP is a joke and they only care about keeping the races apart. DO MARYLAND A FAVOR AND LEAVE.

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6:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Task force urged for police-involved shootings"

Examiner Reader said:
Why dont we have a task force for the one on one shootings of blacks on blacks in the City? These organizations are blind and only want your money. You never hear from them about the murder rate. They have a screw loose in there heads and should be told to get lost.

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10:04 AM MST on Fri., May. 2, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
The NAACP is a joke. The only reason it exists is because it makes certain blacks very wealthy.

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5:54 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
If you don't break the law maybe you will not get shot. I managed to live 35 years and not get shot by the police or get arrested. The NAACP is a joke and I think they should be kicked out of Maryland.

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12:34 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
Maybe these thugs should stop running from the police.

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12:25 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
Good old "Croc" Cheat'em. You can count on him to find a dopey issue.

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9:56 AM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
The NAACP is suppose to be an organization for the advancement of minorities. Well show me where the advancement is. Every action and any time this organization speaks out its a step back for minorities. Minorities have not had any significant improvements since MLK was alive. It's a great organization when it comes to pointing the finger of blame at whatever, but as far as advancement I think not. And as far as Reverend Wright, he is only dragging them down even further. Somebody better put a muzzle over his mouthpiece before he is silenced permanently.

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5:00 AM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "NAACP calls for statewide rally to protest killings by police"

Examiner Reader said:
Marv Cheat'em should be more worried about the murder rate in Baltimore, rather than police shootings. This is just another photo op for cheat'em. The NAACP is all but insolvent, and is pulling these stunts in an effort to hang on. I predict NAACP will be gone in less than 3 years. If Obama wins, the NAACP will be gone in 18 months.

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8:21 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
North and South Carolina are also a fovorite targets, 'Mega Dumps, Prisons and Sludge dumps' are all located in mostly poor minority areas. Using fossil fuel to move this mess across state lines should be against State Laws. We will take care of our trash, you take care of yours. New York State Gov. boast " no trash is buried in New York State" The fact is,It is all sent to the back yards of poor minorities families in the South. The poor cannot pay for lawyers to fight 'Waste Management' type corporations and they know it!!!

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7:34 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
Better in there yards than mine.

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3:24 PM MST on Mon., Apr. 21, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Divalicious said:
PPL are deluded to believe that the NAACP wants to help poor Blacks....they have become just as elitist as those that they feel "oppress"...... I cannot afford to attend any of their functions but make too much money to receive a dang scholarship!!!! It's a crying shame!

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1:26 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

Examiner Reader said:
Of course many White people, Republican conservative types, self haters, and the like would like to see the NAACP go under. Where's the surprize? And while the organization could use a bit more discretion choosing battles don't think for a moment that they aren't needed. Whatever gain is made by ANY minority group profits all minority groups. Also, if you don't believe a target is still on the backs of Black people in this country then you've been living your life with your head in the sand. We are hated, and in the majority of instances not respected. We are still well behind in education, and much of it is because money goes to monied school districts. An 'A' student in a poorer black neighborhood is a 'C-' student when they get to schools that have a White majority student body. Hell Yes the NAACP is still needed and I hope the membership realize this.

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9:01 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
Dear still committed, I wouldn't send them 35 cents. And the reader to states that they only help blacks is crazy too. The NAACP only helps people who they feel have a chance of winning a huge lawsuit. It's not what it used to be. Don't be fooled.

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5:57 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 17, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
The NAACP will not tell you what they are!

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1:23 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader Rick said:
With all the manure the NAACP spreads around, they are certainly experts on fertilizer.

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10:25 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
Hey NAACP, this so called sludge that is a direct attempt of the man to poison the black community, is probably the best medium for growing crops, flowers etc. It is completely harmless,Good try, you idiots!

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10:18 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
The NAACP is made up of a bunch of unintelligent, uninformed conclusion jumping morons

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9:36 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

avid reader said:
Sludge that is produced in washington DC is used in all of Virginia in fields that grow food. it is very safe and a very good fertilizer.

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9:07 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Gardener said:
About 12 years ago, I purchased 8 cubic yards of the sludge-based product to use as topsoil for my yard. Ever since using the product, I've had the greenest lawn in the neighborhood and I hardly ever have to fertilize. My entire family is still alive and healthy. This is not a joke.

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8:42 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
Hey NAACP how about crying about all of the assaults in the schools, or maybe all of the assaults on the city buses, or maybe the largest drop out rate in the country, or hey maybe about the largest single parent family data in the country as well as the largest AIDS population or heroine addicts or maybe about the teen pregnancy rate in the city. The sludge was treated for pathogens and deemed safe, what more do you want? reparations?. Why don't you cry about the large quantity of human sewage and sludge in the poor poor black community. Please, where does it end? How about stop cryinmg all of the time and start helping the black community like it was set up to do, instead they waste time and money whipping up frenzies about mute issues!

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7:49 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
keep asking questions examiner.

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7:29 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Riddle Me This said:
Why is it that when organic material is passing through the decomposition stage of excreta or sludge, our indoctrinated, hysterical psyches will not allow it to progress beyond that stage? It seems, our socialized minds disallow for the continuum of the cycle of life. Before the compost in this instance was used to remediate the dangerous soil and after the time it was waste, it passed through two additional biological decomposition processes. It was microbially decomposed at the waste water treatment plant and then amended with a carbon source (saw dust) before being biologically reduced again in the composting process. A hamburger, salad, etc. only goes through one biological process before it becomes human waste. The compost used in this study was less closely related to sludge than sludge is related to a salad. Let's face it, we live in a closed system and the system has been cycling like this for millennia. There truly is nothing new on the face of the earth.

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7:27 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Examiner Reader said:
The recycled sludge that they are talking about can be purchased at Home Depot, Lowes and really any Garden center. I've put it on my lawn for years. This is a lot to do about nothing. But I can see why people would be concerned when they hear that "sludge" is being put on their lawns. If they want volunteers, I'll sign up for about a ton of the stuff on my lawn. By the way Mikulski and Dixon, don't be a butt heads and make this political, just get the facts out.

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5:45 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

Chicken Little said:
I thought that these neighborhoods were already filled with human sludge. If the NAACP wants an investigation into the spreading of fertilizer in some neighborhoods, let them pay for it. The government was trying to figure out a way to reduce the amount of lead that these inner city kids ingest, and now it is a racial issue. Nice.

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4:43 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "NAACP seeks probe into sludge spreading in black communities"

reader said:
I would like to know who are the N.A.A.C.P.And where are they located?

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5:39 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 9, 2007 re: "Family of dead teen calls for investigation"

Examiner Reader said:
Here we go again ! Why dont we also look at the reason that this young man is dead. Maybe his actions were also a major cause in this. Maybe someone should be responsible for his behavior. The illegal behavior that put him in a group home to begin with. The undertones of discrimination are really getting old. I do know that discrimination occurs each and every day and it is a horrible thing. I dont believe that race was an issue.

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3:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 30, 2007 re: "NAACP criticizes school board appointments"

To the uninformed said:
The NAACP offices in California have presidents who are Hispanic, Asian, and White. Bet you didn't know that.

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2:25 AM MST on Wed., May. 30, 2007 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

Naacp said:
Show me one article where they helped the asians in Baltimore?

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12:27 PM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

sounds personal said:
sounds personal to me. The NAACP doesn't just help Blacks, but Whites, Asians, Indians, Hispanics, etc. You sound like a violator of someone's human/civil rights. Helping ex-convicts, of which they come in all shapes, sizes and COLORS, illegal immigrants, daycare workers is not race-based!

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11:14 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

Examiner Reader said:
"this organization is needed and everyone, no matter what the race (it is after all the national association for the advancement of 'colored' people, and everyone has color)" Are you serious? It should be the NAABP. This organization was a good idea many years ago. All they do now is witchhunt any employer, etc that doesn't treat a black person right. If a white person is treated the same way you won't heard a peep from them. Please...it time for the NAACP to close for good.

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8:35 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

still committed said:
Now, more than ever, this organization is needed and everyone, no matter what the race (it is after all the national association for the advancement of 'colored' people, and everyone has color) needs to mail them a check for $35 to support their work. Don't wait until you need them to call on them.

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8:05 AM MST on Tue., May. 29, 2007 re: "Is the NAACP still a driving force?"

To the idiot below said:
Well I see your not well educated or read the newspapers often. When Ed Norris style was used it kept homicides down for the first time in 15 YEARS! 15 Years! This place has been a shooting gallery for 20 years and nothing works here like community policing??? are u joking? So genius....why don t u come up with a crime fighting plan and Ill read how u solve the CRAZY drug and Homicide problem here!

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10:11 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 26, 2007 re: "NAACP, city police reach accord"

Examiner Reader said:
The universal "policing template" script that police departments follow in Baltimore City and other parts of the country needs serious revolutionary revamping. The "police" in my opinion are a "legal privately funded corporation." A business, therefore, like any other legal business that deals wrongly with the public (consumers/customers), they should be barred from doing business with the customer. dissatisfied customers who pay for police business, should hit this business where all businesses know it hurts the most, the "bottomline," there finances. Wrongful policing problem will then be immediately corrected, when funding is cut off, sounds familiar? The Iraq/Afganistan war funding that is currently being considered by our nations leaders of being cut off to bring an end to the ineffectiveness of both wars.... Police across the nations are Gang-bangers, Supremist, Racist, Crooks, etc... and yet, customers put their faith in the hands of this evil ran business. GOD

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