Something at the Baltimore City Police Department smells fishy to mayoral candidate Keiffer Mitchell, who on Sunday called for a federal audit of the city’s crime statistics.

“Murders take place in the context of aggravated assault,” Mitchell said. “Murders take place in the context of robbery. Murders take place in the context of a drug deal gone bad. Most sensible people are scratching their heads trying to figure out: If the murders are up and the shootings are up, how in the world do you expect the citizens of Baltimore to believe that violent crime is down?”

The Baltimore City councilman will deliver a letter today asking for a Federal Bureau of Investigation audit, he said.

Mayoral candidate Del. Jill Carter has called for an independent audit of the city’s crime statistics, which show a 16 percent increase in homicides and a 32 percent increase in shootings, but a 17 percent decrease in violent crime.

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In response, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon’s spokesman Anthony McCarthy said, “If we can find a third party to audit crime statistics, we’re all for it.”

City Police Union President Paul Blair said officers often complain about commanders urging them to reclassify aggravated assaults to avoid increasing the violent crime statistics.

“Do I have documents to prove it’s being done? No,” Blair said. “Do I still get calls complaining about it? Yes.”

Blair, who supports an independent audit, said the union would vote tonight on its endorsement for mayor.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

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