Baltimore police have shot seven people -- two fatally -- so far in 1995. But in a sign of the violent times, the use of such deadly force is getting more support -- even from longtime critics of the department.
"We're not overly concerned at this point. If the public is clamoring for that kind of [tougher] police enforcement, the end result is going to be more violence. And that's what we're seeing," said George N. Buntin Jr., executive director of the Baltimore NAACP branch.
Typically, city police have averaged two to three shootings involving officers each month -- and typically, they are followed by public outcry. But not this year, at least not yet.
Mr. Buntin said the National Association for the Advancement ofColored People, which investigates citizen complaints against the police, has received none about the year's first seven shootings.
"We recognize that some of the aggressive actions that the police are engaged in open the likelihood for the shootings to occur. They're trying to clean out the street corners, and they're going to encounter resistance," said Mr. Buntin.
Rodney Orange, Baltimore NAACP president, said he hasn't received any complaints either.
"We certainly understand police officers doing what they can to protect themselves," Mr. Orange said. "We have some real violent individuals in our community that have total disrespect. We, as well as just about everyone else, are concerned about the availability of guns in our community."
Mr. Orange's own family was once the victim of gun violence: His22-year-old son was killed in a February 1988 burglary.
Police administrators say this year's shootings -- which included a man wanted for two counts of murder who charged at officers, and another man who allegedly shot his girlfriend before pointing a handgun at an officer -- underscore a growing lack of respect for police.
In all of 1994, 20 people were shot by city police officers, including eight fatally. In 1993, 24 people were shot, nine fatally; and in 1992, 36 people were shot, including nine fatally. Figures before 1992 were not available.
"The criminals used to have a little respect for law enforcement. Now they don't have any respect," said Officer Gary McLhinney, the head of the city police union. "Thank God we're on the winning side. We could just as easily be attending funerals for the police officers."
In 1994, five officers were shot, none fatally; in 1993, one officer was killed and two others injured by gunfire; and in 1992, 14 officers were shot, one fatally.
Just yesterday, several men in a U-Haul truck -- some of them armed -- ran over a city police officer in Southeast Baltimore. In the pursuit that followed, one man holed up in a rowhouse held police at bay for nearly four hours. He was captured unharmed by squads of heavily armed tactical officers.
And on Wednesday, two armed men were shot by city police officers in separate incidents. Both remained hospitalized yesterday.
Oscar Paul Dulaney III, 29, of the 900 block of Kinwat Ave., was shot in the head by Officer Timothy Brietenback, 30, after Mr. Dulaney allegedly flew into a rage when officers arrived to arrest him for a probation violation at the National Tax Preparation Center in the 3400 block of Eastern Ave.
Mr. Dulaney is alleged to have pointed a .38-caliber handgun at Officer Brietenback and another officer. He was in critical condition at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center last night.
Later the same day, Officer Adam Kirhagis, 22, shot Leon Nathaniel Stevenson, 55, of the 200 block of N. Spring Court seven times moments after Mr. Stevenson allegedly pointed a gun at him. Minutes earlier, police said, Mr. Stevenson had shot his girlfriend in the arm during a domestic dispute, police said.
Mr. Stevenson was in critical condition at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center last night.
Police officials said they believe all seven shootings were justified.
"We didn't see any problems with any of them. It's just a bit unusual [to have seven so quickly]," said Col. Ronald L. Daniel, head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. "We've gone over the facts carefully. We are lucky that police officers were not hurt."
He said that many times, officers would be justified in shooting armed citizens, but they show restraint -- especially when disarming people with guns or knives.
"Even though there are quite a number of shootings going on, there could be more that are justified. There are a lot of guns out there," Colonel Daniel said.
The city police policy on deadly force is a terse one-line statement: "Police officers may only use deadly force to protect themselves or others from the imminent threat of serious injury or death."
Lt. Charles J. Key, the head of firearms training for city police, explained that numbers often increase or decrease in spurts and that no one should put too much significance in one month's tally.
Lieutenant Key said among the reasons for increased victims in police shootings is the fact that officers are becoming better shots.
"It's important to measure the effectiveness of our shooting. We have to assess our training somehow," Lieutenant Key said. "If the training isn't doing what it's supposed to, then the officers aren't protecting themselves, and there are bullets out there that could be hurting innocent people."
According to one assessment, city police have been hitting their targets an average of about 48 percent of the time, in comparison to the national police officer average of about 20 percent.
1995 SHOOTINGS BY POLICE
Feb. 1: Oscar Paul Dulaney III, 29, of the 900 block of Kinwat Ave. was shot in the head by Officer Timothy Brietenback, 30, of the Southeastern District after allegedly pointing a .38-caliber handgun at two plainclothes officers. The incident happened at the National Tax Preparation Center in the 3400 block of Eastern Ave., where Mr. Dulaney was being interviewed by IRS officials. Police had gone to the scene to arrest him on a warrant charging him with a probation violation. Mr. Dulaney was in critical condition at the Bayview Medical Center. He was in critical condition last night.
Feb. 1: Leon Nathaniel Stevenson, 55, of the 200 block of N. Spring Court, who is alleged to have shot his girlfriend in the arm during a domestic dispute, was shot seven times by Officer Adam Kirhagis, 22, of the Southeastern District. The officer went to Mr. Stevenson's home for a disturbance call and saw the girlfriend run bleeding from the home with Mr. Stevenson, armed with a handgun, in pursuit. Police said the officer fired repeatedly after Mr. Stevenson would not surrender the weapon. Mr. Stevenson was in critical condition at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
Jan. 28: James White, 26, of the 1700 block of E. 28th St. was grazed in the back of the head by a bullet fired accidentally by Officer Chris Blackistone, 24. The officer had pulled over a car in the 600 block of N. Fulton Ave. to question the occupants about a recent armed robbery when he bumped his arm against the car door and the weapon discharged, hitting Mr. White, police said. Mr. White was treated and released from the hospital, and was arrested on armed robbery and handgun charges.
Jan. 25: Maurice Witherspoon, 29, of the 5100 block of Chalgrove Ave. was shot in the leg and chest after charging toward two officers who attempted to arrest him on a warrant charging him with the murder of two men. Police said Officer Jonathan Brickus fired after Mr. Witherspoon, having been sprayed with pepper mace, charged him, yelling, "You're going to have to do me." Mr. Witherspoon was described as stable at Sinai Hospital.
Jan. 24: John L. Gettier III, 31, of the 3200 block of Violet Ave. was shot and killed by Officer Scott G. Serio, 25. Mr. Gettier had sped off in his car during a traffic stop in the 2600 block of Harman Ave., dragging Officer Serio several feet before the officer opened fire, police said.
Jan. 3: Earl M. Love, 32, of the 900 block of Mount Holly St., was shot in the left side during an alleged struggle with Officer James Moore, 23, in the 1800 block of N. Fulton Ave. Police said Officer Moore, a three-year veteran, had pulled over a suspected stolen car in which Mr. Love was riding and that Mr. Love tried to grab the officer's weapon, causing it to discharge. Mr. Love was later charged with battery, felony theft and drug distribution.
Jan. 3: James Marvin Miller, 24, of the 700 block of N. Payson St., was fatally shot by Officer David Shields of the Western District after an alleged struggle in an alley near the 1800 block of W. Fayette St. Police said Officer Shields suspected Mr. Miller of dealing drugs and had chased him into the alley, where Mr. Miller lunged at him with a knife.