City Councilwoman Belinda Conaway today called for a "dragnet" comprised of city police and federal law enforcement officers to crack down on street violence, specifically noting the killing of a 72-year-old man last week and the carjacking of a DC police officer.
"We need to multiply the efforts to get the violent offenders off the street who seem determined to terrorize the innocent residents of Baltimore," Conaway, whose district includes Northwest Baltimore, said in a statement. "With the decline in municipal resources we need to bring federal law enforcement into the effort in a greater way. My entire family is joining me in this call."
Asked to elaborate on what she meant by a "dragnet," which conjures up images of police casting a wide net to round up suspicious characters (or the old 50s and 60s TV show), Conaway said she is looking for a targeted effort to "put the heat on."
Police say they've increased patrol and plainclothes efforts in the area, and work on task forces with federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, but Conaway said that she believes police need some additional help.
"I would think that anyone, especially under these circumstances, would welcome assistance and support from various agencies," she said.
Conaway said she had not communicated her ideas to the Police Department or any federal agencies. But she wanted to promote a candlelight vigil that will be held Thursday at 5:30 for Charles Bowman, the 72-year-old man who was killed during a robbery.
"This has to be stop. It could happen to any one of us," she said.