Baltimore police say a bill backed by several city senators would severely hinder efforts to crack down on problem social clubs and bars that cater to drug dealers and other criminals.
Sen. Joan Carter Conway, a Baltimore Democrat, is lead sponsor of legislation that would prohibit police from conducting investigations "of the type normally conducted by liquor board inspectors."
Conway's husband, Vernon Conway, is deputy chief liquor inspector in Baltimore, and the senator is the recipient of sizable campaign contributions from the liquor industry.
"This would probably more than tie our hands. It would cut our hands off," said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin P. Clark, in an interview. "The law-abiding citizen would be at risk even to walk past these places."
Despite objections from Clark and community groups, Conway's bill was approved by the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee last week, and could receive approval of the Senate today. Conway is vice chairwoman of the committee.
The senator said she introduced the bill because of a recent change in police strategy that steps up oversight of stores, social clubs and other locations with liquor licenses. The new police emphasis, she said, was usurping the authority of the city liquor board. The board employs her husband in a $41,500-a-year supervisor's position.
It was also infringing on the rights of bar owners, she said. "Many people felt harassed. It was on the edge of violating their civil liberties," Conway said, adding that police shouldn't want to get involved in enforcement activities that are best left to liquor inspectors. "Why would you want to waste your time?"
A lawyer representing several store owners has accused police and other inspectors of "Gestapo-like" tactics. Attorney Gary R. Maslan won a court case last June when gun possession charges stemming from a raid against the owner of Kay's Liquors were dismissed.
But Clark, the police commissioner, said neighborhood groups in Baltimore are asking for and deserve tougher enforcement of laws governing problem establishments.
Some stores, bars and halls have become "social clubs for criminals," the commissioner said. Police have teamed with city fire, health and housing inspectors for a joint approach that is clamping down on crime, he said.
The bill would limit the authority of police to enter clubs for inspections, although they would still be able to conduct traditional law-enforcement work.
