Crime

With respect to the use of surveillance cameras, both state and local governments have their priorities set for monetary gain rather than public safety. Red-light and speed-camera surveillance using high resolution cameras leave no doubt about the identity of the offending vehicle. The offender receives a citation stating that if the fine is paid, no points will be added to his driving record, and no increase will be made to his insurance rates. In other words, pay the fine and everyone forgets about it. What does this have to do with public safety?

In less than a generation, mobile communications have evolved from a luxury item to an essential element of everyday life. With nearly 7 billion devices in use, mobile communications are nearly ubiquitous, impacting the way we work and live throughout the world every day. As the use of mobile cellular communications continues to expand rapidly, the federal government and Maryland must continue to keep pace with emerging technologies and enact policies...

The most deadly terrorist attack on America since Sept. 11, 2011 was by Nadal Hassan, who killed 13 people. Unbelievably, this attack took place at an Army base where for safety reasons no one was allowed to protect themselves. The military police were supposed to do all the protecting. Shamefully, that's not quite how it worked out. It happened that the only one with a gun was a female police officer who responded to a 911 call. Anyone with a gun could have stopped Mr. Hassan in Texas or Jared Lee Loughner in Arizona.

John Richard "Dick" Irwin, a tough, accurate veteran police reporter with a heart of gold whose signature Police Blotter became required reading for both crime aficionados and the just plain curious, died Wednesday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center of complications from diabetes. Mr. Irwin, whose career at the News-Post, News American, The Evening Sun and The Baltimore Sun spanned more than 40 years, was 76. "He had the mutual respect of the police. He was an honest man, and he didn't like when people tried to fudge things with him. He believed that the police had to be as transparent as possible, and he was right," said Bill Toohey, former Baltimore County police spokesman.

It was the talk of Roland Park. A couple was held up at gunpoint on a street in the middle of the day. The man brandished a silver handgun and covered his face with a ski mask. He stole a wallet, credit cards and a purse with the woman's diamond engagement ring, then sped away in a minivan. It occurred Tuesday afternoon. Steve Elkins picked up his morning newspaper the next day and saw no mention of the crime. "For other parts of the city, the incident might not be newsworthy, but for low-crime and ostensibly 'safe' Roland Park it is surprising, and as a resident of the area, something I find disturbing," Elkins wrote me in an e-mail.

Neither the Constitution nor the wisest of laws will secure the liberty or happiness of a people whose manners are corrupt. Passing new restrictions on guns will not reduce crime. Patrick Henry Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

The Monday morning quarterbacks have been criticizing Judge John Addison Howard incessantly for being overly lenient and failing to jail John Wagner for violating his probation ("Plea deal puts robber back on street," Aug. 8). Mr. Wagner has subsequently been charged with the death of Stephen Pitcairn. While I can not discuss the specifics of the Wagner case, as the lawyer who supervises the Violation of Probation Unit of the Office of the Public Defender for Baltimore City, I can speak to what kind of jurist Judge Howard is when it comes to the people he places on probation.

Regarding your report of the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Baltimore: As a 16-year-old girl myself, I feel the city is not getting much better dealing with crime ("DNA links man to rape of girl, 13, in October," Nov. 29). Day after day, I see headlines about some young girl or boy being kidnapped or raped and it makes me feel that nowhere is safe. The girl that was raped was just coming from a friend's house and going to the store, minding her own business, and then some disgusting man comes and decides to push her into a vacant dwelling and rape her. I just do not understand why men can't leave little kids alone and stop instilling fear and emotional pain on their lives.

In regards to Peter Hermann's column on "You think there's too much crime reporting?" (Aug. 29), I might say, "You think there's nothing else going on besides crime?" Yes, it sells papers. But so do the human interest stories about the many positive things going on in our region. Which is why I'm saddened that, even though there is a separate column devoted just to crime reporting, the "Around the Region" section is at least 80 percent about crime. Come on, let's talk about the many interesting, informative things that are happening in our area.

I have never commented on any article in your paper before, but this article ("Nothing new about fear-of-crime complaints," Aug. 4) upset me so much that I had to say something. In what way do these stats "counter" city residents' fears about crime? I cannot imagine how hard a policeman's job in Baltimore must be, but the scrutiny that the department receives for the continued state of crime in this city is in no way unfair. I live in Mount Vernon and generally feel very safe in my neighborhood.

I went to the Harford County  Sheriff's Office town hall meeting last Saturday at North Harford High School. I was disappointed at the low attendance. There were less than 20 people from the North Harford area that bothered to come to the meeting. With this attendance, I have to think that the people of Whiteford, Pylesville and Street do not care about the crime in our area. The community meetings that the Sheriff's Office have are for our benefit and for information about crime throughout the county and in our area.

Laurel police report felonies, arrests and property crimes. Prince George's County police report violent crimes and property crimes. Anne Arundel County Police report major crimes. Howard County police report major crimes, break-ins and car thefts. City of Laurel Dorset Road, 15600 block, May 9. Unforced burglary. Seventh Street, 600 block, May 9. Robbery with firearm. Main Street, 500 block, May 8. Theft from motor vehicle. Irving Street, 100 block, May 8. Theft from building.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Fifth Avenue, 800 block, between 1:05 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., May 18. Man was pushed to ground and robbed of wallet and iPhone by two men. Hollins Ferry Road, 3800 block, 5:20 p.m. May 16. Two men asked to use man's cellphone.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Old Frederick Road, 5600 block, 4 a.m. May 17. Car radio and TV monitors stolen from unlocked cars at Varsity Auto. Mountain Ridge Road, 6300 block, 1:09 a.m. May 17. Four men entered house through unlocked basement door then attacked residents and demanded money and marijuana and stole an xBox 360. Edmondson Avenue, 5500 block, 4:35 a.m. May 16. Van ran into Family Dollar, two men got out then drove away.

The following is compiled from police reports. It is the Baltimore Messenger's policy to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Baltimore City Police Department's Northern District at 410-396-2455. Amberly Way 100 block, between 3 and 4:15 p.m. May 14. Handbag, ID, credit cards stolen from vehicle. Art Museum Drive Unit block, between 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. May 14. Toshiba laptop stolen from vehicle.

The following is compiled from police reports. It is the Baltimore Messenger's policy to include descriptions only when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Baltimore City Police Department's Northern District at 410-396-2455. North Calvert Street 2500 block at 3:50 p.m. May 9. Pedestrian knocked down and robbed of back pack, two rings, passport, iPad, clothing, medications. Cedarcroft Road 700 block at 4 p.m. May 5. White iPod stolen from vehicle.

Peter Hermann's column ("Nothing new about fear-of-crime complaints," Aug. 4) should come as no surprise to anyone with a modicum of discernment who watches local TV news (which I do not). Fear is their stock in trade. None of the local outlets believe their role is to inform and educate. Their sole purpose is to sell eyeballs to advertisers and they have all embraced the adage "if it bleeds, it leads." This is also why they go to full coverage at the threat of two snowflakes. Unfortunately, TV is where the majority of Marylanders get their news and they rarely question it. I live in Baltimore County and know many people who will not venture into the city for any reason.

Your editorial about Maryland's concealed carry gun law supports the state's policy of requiring "good and substantial reason" for issuing a permit ("Guns and safety," Aug. 5). While I agree that our civil rights may not be absolute (e.g. yelling "fire" in a crowded theater), no one should have to have a "good and substantial reason" for exercising them. I suspect that even your editorialist would object to needing a "good and substantial reason" in order to exercise his right to express an opinion.

The recent study estimating that there may have been 26,000 cases of sexual assault in the military last year stirred a lot of tough talk from the Pentagon and the White House over the past 24 hours. But the question is whether that outrage will translate into much-needed reforms within the armed forces. On that front, we have our doubts. The U.S. military's failure to adequately address sex crimes within its ranks is hardly a new problem, but the rise of such incidents - up from 19,000 in 2010 - is shocking.