Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison and other members of Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration addressed a slew of recent shootings in Fells Point at a virtual town hall Thursday night.
“You will see a much enhanced presence, visibility and engagement,” Harrison said, noting that nine additional BPD officers, as well as sheriff’s deputies, will be assigned to the historic waterfront neighborhood, beginning this weekend. He said they will scan crowds for “potential conflicts where we might see individuals and or groups engaging one another, where they could be a conflict that could be a fight which could escalate to further violence.”
Harrison added that BPD will operate a DWI checkpoint around the outskirts of Fells Point, a popular nightlife destination, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and that a police helicopter will fly around the neighborhood for aerial camera footage.
Sunny Schnitzer, the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, said the Law Department and Liquor Board will study changes on pandemic-related executive orders governing alcohol sales. City businesses with liquor licenses are currently permitted to sell takeout drinks.
“Please know this is not a one and done,” she said. “We are absolutely working towards more sustainable solutions for everyone involved for every agency.”
Around 550 people attended the town hall; non-City Hall participants were muted and posted questions to a chat box before it was disabled. Scott did not speak at the event, which he announced after three people were shot in Fells Point early Sunday morning.
Two men, 24- and 26-years-old, were found with gunshot wounds by police on the 1700 block of Thames Street; they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Another man was shot in the head on Aliceanna Street; according to the police, he is in serious but stable condition.
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My neighborhood sure would appreciate a town hall and NINE additional officers, said everyone that lives in a neighborhood that isn’t Fells Point