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Mayor wants system for tracking gun crimes
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon is expected to announce today the creation of a new data analysis system called “Gun Stat” to measure the city’s success in combating gun crime, according to a copy of Dixon’s new anti-gun plan obtained by The Examiner.
Modeled off former Mayor Martin O’Malley’s “CitiStat” program — which tracks the efficiency of city services — Gun Stat will keep data on gun arrests, cases, bail status, outcomes of cases and sentences, Dixon’s plan states.
Dixon also is seeking legislation for a gun offender registry, similar to the sex offender registry, according to the plan.
Her announcement comes when the city’s rate of shootings is spiking. As of April 21, 204 shootings occurred in Baltimore, compared with 162 the same time last year.
Additionally, Dixon will call for a new multi-jurisdictional gun task force and “hit list” of known “problem” gun dealers.
Dixon also will ask for better performance from police and courts. She will call for an end to “bundled pleas and suspended sentences in gun cases” and order all officers to appear at trial for gun-related court cases.
lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com
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3:29 PM MST on Sat., May. 5, 2007 re: "Mayor wants system for tracking gun crimes"
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6:30 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
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5:33 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
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5:23 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007
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Examiner Reader said:
Why is it that everyone blames the Police Officers. What I see as the problem in Baltimore City is that we have a Command Staff that is playing nice with the Politicians instead of having the back bone to stand up and tell it like it is now. The Police Department is so under paid compared to surronding jurisdictions that the best officers are leaving to go make better money and work for a command that will back them and not hang them out to dry at the drop of a hat. Until the citizens of this City stand behind there Officers and tell those elected officials to let the Police do there job and stay out of trying to run the department this will always go on and the city will continue to go down the tubes.
98 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So far this year, Maryland politicians have patted themselves on the back for expunging criminal records, giving further sentence reductions via increased time off for 'good behavior', moved to decrease the ability to punish offenders by further attempts to eliminate the death penalty, and increased the ease with which convicted felons can vote. And now those same politicians bumble about scratching their collective heads over increased crime. If only Maryland politicians would be more concerned for the well being of law abiding citizens, and less concerned with winning the vote of the criminal element. Regarding the increased crime stats, the reasonable observer is left with only one comment for Maryland’s so called leaders: Congratulations.
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Jay said:
God help us. Baltimore is going down agaib, fast. Crime now exist comfortabley ion every single city neighborhood, even the normally safe suburban areas. I never see police patrols anymore. Some young people are getting very bold and ignorant, and I feel helpless.. What are we supposed to do, start assaulting teenagers? The police don't do a damn thing!
88 agree | 84 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Please, Dixon is trying to copy O'Malley and it won't work. We've had enough of their phony stats. Shoudn't law enforcement be tracking guns and problem dealers already?
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