Direct line for the community

Not all police are comfortable handing out their numbers. At a recent community meeting in the Southeast District, Lt. Richard Gibson gave out his personal number without blinking, drawing some mock gasps from a few other officers in attendance.

"We work hard to break down barriers that we have with the public," Gibson, who heads a squad of detectives, said after the meeting. "If we establish trust with the community, they're going to assist us more with investigations and will be more honest with certain crime problems they have. Even if it doesn't directly involve me, I can still take their information and talk to people that can make that impact."

Gibson said he has received phone calls deep into the night, but he says most people are respectful enough not to call at extreme hours.

John E. Gavrilis sees the situation from both sides. A retired Baltimore police officer, he is now a lieutenant colonel with the Maryland Transit Administration Police. But he's also a community leader, serving as chief executive officer of Baltimore's Greektown Community Development Corp.

"I think [access] has always been an extension of your work and how you do your job," said Gavrilis, who remembers handing out his pager number years ago. "Most commanders nowadays have a good connection and a good relationship with the community, and as such, they share those numbers with the community leaders."

"Policing is definitely not a 9-to-5 job," Techentin said. "Maybe that was 40 years ago, but that doesn't exist anymore."

Baltimore Sun reporter Peter Hermann contributed to this article.