Bethea has said the term doesn't apply to "the little old lady on the block" who calls the police about a drug deal. He said snitches are people engaging in and profiting from illegal activities who, after they get arrested, tell on everyone else they know to save themselves.
Bethea's absence disappointed some in attendance who were looking to find out why he continues to produce such videos.
"I'm interested in hearing from the producer," said Melodye Watson, who lives in the Belair-Edison neighborhood. "Because I think it's fear intimidation. I don't think it's positive. It's perpetuating negative stereotypes about crime control. It's being viewed by youth and puts Baltimore City in a negative light."
Without Bethea, last night's discussion quickly shifted to corrupt police behavior. Hite, the police officer, said he cannot defend "rogue cops" but asked the audience to continue to work with officers.
"We have never solved a crime without citizen involvement," Hite said.
Pettit said crimes committed by police have increased significantly in his 35 years practicing law. Pettit said he gets 40 to 50 calls a week from citizens claiming mistreatment by police, from abuse to harassment.
Need `faith' in police
"That ties in with all the difficulties we're having in our community," Pettit said. "The community has to have faith in its police force in order to cooperate and assist."
The city Police Department released its response to the original Stop Snitching in the form of a video called Keep Talking. And city State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy passed out more than 500 copies of Stop Snitching to lawmakers as she urged them to increase penalties for those who intimidate witnesses.
brent.jones@baltsun.com
