Bigger Problems Than Just A Bridge: Massive Police Shortages In Baltimore Lead To Rampant Crime

America has understandably been glued to our phone, laptop, and TV screens since early yesterday morning after learning of the terrible crash of a container ship into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Fortunately, the casualty count seems to be relatively low so far, thanks in no small part to the bridge workers who responded to the ship's mayday signal by clearing as much of the bridge as they could. The longer-term impact on Baltimore is yet to be determined but it will be significant, not to mention the impact on the US supply chain, as the Port of Baltimore is the 18th largest in the United States. But amid all of the hubbub about the bridge (including some truly wacky conspiracy theories), there was another story out of Charm City in the past few days that went largely unnoticed. But it is equally dire for the city. Recently, End Wokeness and Zerohedge reported some truly horrifying news about the city's police capability … or, more accurately, the lack thereof.

Baltimore is now facing apocalyptic levels of policing shortages. Last week, THREE police officers patrolled a whole district of 61,000 residents. Police are now UNABLE to respond to calls, including for child assault. The department is now postponing police training in an attempt to solve shortages. -- Baltimore City Implodes: Police Force Collapses, Only Three Officers Patrolled Major District https://www.zerohedge.com/political/baltimore-implodes-police-force-collapses-only-three-officers-patrolled-major-district -- We've seen news of police having to cut back on the services they provide because of staffing shortages (thanks, 'Defund the Police' movement), such as in Pittsburgh where it was recently announced that police not only will stop responding to some calls -- including theft and burglary -- but also that there won't even BE police officers in stations between 3 am and 7 am. But THREE officers in Baltimore to patrol an area of 60,000 people? That is insane. And it not only puts citizens at risk, but it also puts a target on the backs of those officers' lives.

• More at: Twitchy - Bigger Problems Than Just a Bridge: MASSIVE Police Shortages in Baltimore Lead to Rampant Crime
https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2024/03/27/bigger-problems-than-just-a-bridge-massive-police-shortages-in-baltimore-lead-to-rampant-crime-n2394428