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LOCAL News :: Crime & Police
Baltimore Officer Resigns Over Memo (AP)
By JAIME HERNANDEZ
Associated Press Writer
March 6, 2002, 4:34 PM EST
BALTIMORE -- A police commander who wrote a memo telling officers to question all black men at a bus stop where a rape occurred has been forced to retire.
Associated Press Writer
March 6, 2002, 4:34 PM EST
BALTIMORE -- A police commander who wrote a memo telling officers to question all black men at a bus stop where a rape occurred has been forced to retire.
Maj. Donald Healy retired Tuesday after he was confronted by superiors about the Feb. 22 memo.
"Obviously, it's not only offensive to the African-American community, but it's illegal," Police Commissioner Edward Norris said.
Healy, a white, 29-year veteran, released a statement apologizing for causing offense but said the memo "had nothing to do with profiling."
"The memo was written hours after the attack occurred and it was meant to remind all of my officers to be thorough in their search for suspects who fit the description we had been given," Healy said. "Unfortunately, in my haste to catch a violent rapist, my directions were not specific enough."
Healy's memo told officers, "A female was raped last night. ... Every black male around this bus stop is to be stopped until subject is apprehended."
The memo did not give the suspect's approximate height and weight, which police provided Tuesday.
Police spokeswoman Ragina Averella said police have questioned three people in the area of the bus stop, but have not made any arrests.
About a dozen Baltimore lawmakers gathered Tuesday in Annapolis to express their outrage. State Sen. Nathaniel McFadden said he had talked with Norris and Mayor Martin O'Malley.
"It is outrageous, it's totally unacceptable," McFadden said. "It's racial profiling at its worst."
State Sen. Joan Conway, whose district includes the site of the rape, said police should have issued a more specific description, including at least an approximate age for the suspect.
"Those type of blanket statements should not be made as it relates to every black male," Conway said.
* __
On the Net:
Baltimore Police Department: www.baltimorepd.org/
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
"Obviously, it's not only offensive to the African-American community, but it's illegal," Police Commissioner Edward Norris said.
Healy, a white, 29-year veteran, released a statement apologizing for causing offense but said the memo "had nothing to do with profiling."
"The memo was written hours after the attack occurred and it was meant to remind all of my officers to be thorough in their search for suspects who fit the description we had been given," Healy said. "Unfortunately, in my haste to catch a violent rapist, my directions were not specific enough."
Healy's memo told officers, "A female was raped last night. ... Every black male around this bus stop is to be stopped until subject is apprehended."
The memo did not give the suspect's approximate height and weight, which police provided Tuesday.
Police spokeswoman Ragina Averella said police have questioned three people in the area of the bus stop, but have not made any arrests.
About a dozen Baltimore lawmakers gathered Tuesday in Annapolis to express their outrage. State Sen. Nathaniel McFadden said he had talked with Norris and Mayor Martin O'Malley.
"It is outrageous, it's totally unacceptable," McFadden said. "It's racial profiling at its worst."
State Sen. Joan Conway, whose district includes the site of the rape, said police should have issued a more specific description, including at least an approximate age for the suspect.
"Those type of blanket statements should not be made as it relates to every black male," Conway said.
* __
On the Net:
Baltimore Police Department: www.baltimorepd.org/
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
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