Baltimore State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy is blasting back at the city's police commissioner for putting up a campaign sign on the lawn of his house supporting her challenger in the Sept. 14 Democratic primary.
Jessamy, using her campaign office stationary, called Frederick H. Bealefeld III's foray into politics "unprecedented and inappropriate" and she said the "overt actions by a police commissioner to influence the outcome of an election can only led to divisiveness and distrust in the community."
The two top law enforcement officials -- Jessamy is elected, Bealefeld is appointed -- have feuded for years over policing strategies, quality of arrests and investigations and whether prosecutors are aggressive enough in pursing cases and jailing offenders.
Former federal prosecutor and defense attorney Gregg Bernstein is Jessamy's first serious challenger in eight years and its trying to tap into the frustrations of city crime and repeat offenders graduating to more serious offenses before they get serious prison time.
Jessamy took a swipe at Bealefeld in her statement, suggesting the commissioner is not focused on his job. "It is Mrs. Jessamy's hope that Commissioner Bealefeld will refocus his efforts on apprehending the perpetrators of crimes and assembling evidence to be presented in court and that he will leave the politics to others."
Here is Jessamy's statement: