City Police Commissioner Anthony Batts should eliminate half of the patrol cars in the Baltimore City Police Department ("Police commissioner defends patrol strategy amid violence," June 3).
From an economic standpoint, that alone would save the city tens of thousands of dollars. The usefulness and purpose of police cars in a large cities has become outdated given that they are forbidden to chase suspects for fear of harming innocent people.
If I were Mr. Batts, I would saturate the streets with cops on bikes or on foot patrol. Cops in cars are in their own "comfort zone," and their presence can be seen as intimidating by Baltimore teens.
If that same teen were to come across a cop on foot, the reaction may be much more positive.
If the concept works, then ditch another quarter of the automotive fleet, with the eventual goal of just keeping a handful of cars.
It could be a starting point toward better police-community relations, which within a few months could take a very positive turn.
Commissioner Batts needs to level his officers' playing field, shed their armor — patrol cars — and put the police back on eye level with citizens.
Place police kiosks in the neighborhoods, and, if needed, place more of them in the crime hot spots. Presence is the key, but not in an intimidating fashion.
Foot patrols should be abundant in bridging the ridiculously large chasm that currently exists between cops and citizens in Baltimore.
And there would be fringe benefits. Baltimore City's Police Department would become that nation's fittest men and women in blue.
Patrick R. Lynch, Nottingham