Jun 5, 2009 10:02 pm US/Eastern
Increase In Crime Leads To Police Shakeup
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A rash of random crimes downtown leads to a shakeup at the police department.
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A top Baltimore City police commander is removed from the job, it comes after a rash of random crimes downtown and fear about teenagers out of control.
Suzanne Collins has more on the shake up at police headquarters.
The news came Friday that the major and deputy in the central district have been booted from their jobs after some high profile crimes made people nervous.
There is alarm in the city after a series of attacks downtown. They appear random, senseless, and some are committed by bands of teens.
Days ago the police commissioner Fred Bealefeld insisted that downtown life is safe.
"It's an incredible and wonderful place to visit and bring your family," said Baltimore City Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld
Friday we learned the two top commanders over the district which includes downtown Baltimore have been removed from their jobs after a violent week.
Thursday a student leaving the main library is attacked, a man hit with a brick by youths in Mount Vernon.
One business employing 35 people on St. Paul Street has decided to call it quits and move to the county.
The Baltimore Sun reports tonight the company has sent the Mayor a letter saying address the crime problem before more businesses move.
"If somebody got hurt and we knew the area had issues we would feel responsible," said Louis Citron, New Enterprise Associates.
The lawyer for this international venture capital firm that's been in Mount Vernon for decades says employees are tired of being victimized.
"There have been employees that have been held at gunpoint," he adds.
New Enterprise Associates says the most crimes have been minor, but make life miserable.
Condoms and needles on the steps, the dumpster set on fire, graffiti, and vagrants.
The company says its employees had been victims of crime over the years but recently they felt it became unbearable when a number of them had their cars broken into at this nearby garage.
"To find my car window broken and glass all over the place, it's raining and being 40 degrees," says Sam Cohen, NEA employee.
Tonight the Mayor's office responds, "Mt. Vernon is a safe place to work and live. We take the loss of any business very seriously. We will learn from the relocation of NEA."
The company says it's a member of the Mt. Vernon Belvedere Association and did seek help with the crime problems there, also calling police about each crime.
The company says it will be paying the same rent at an office in Timonium where it's already signed a new lease.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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