Top cop, prosecutor lament fate of crime-fighting bills
May 20, 2008
Baltimore’s police commissioner and state’s attorney are still irked at how their crime fighting bills fared in the House Judiciary Committee during the recent legislative session.
As part of his report to the city’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council last week, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III reviewed the failure of proposals to require gun owners to report lost firearms, to decrease diminution credits for gun offenders, and to further limit who can own a gun.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy, whose office supported many of the same bills as the police department, echoed Bealefeld’s doleful tone.
“We were beat up together,” she said, reciting gang-related bills that died in committee.
Bealefeld said lobbying the Baltimore City delegation during the session was like “preaching to the choir,” but that legislators from rural counties were far less receptive, as they falsely perceived such problems as unique to Baltimore.
“Cecil County we cannot forget,” Jessamy quipped.
Jessamy said while having criminal defense attorneys on the Judiciary Committee (including its chairman, Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr.) “is a good thing for the system,” it has meant annual disappointment for her office, legislatively speaking. “What I cannot stomach,” Jessamy said, “is this total disregard for the wishes of the people.”
Baltimore City Solicitor George A. Nilson suggested creating a “criminal profile” of the members of the committee to hold them accountable to their constituents. He said he would consider airing Jessamy’s complaints in an upcoming meeting with House Speaker Michael E. Busch.
Baltimore City Clerk of Court Frank M. Conaway Sr. promised to speak to his son, who is on the Judiciary Committee, and suggested buttonholing Vallario instead of going over his head to Busch.
He also said Jessamy and Bealefeld should be somewhat grateful they don’t have to tangle with Vallario’s predecessor. Former Judiciary Chairman Joseph E. Owens was famous for his opposition to crime-and-justice legislation, Nilson confirmed.
“Killer Joe Owens was much worse,” Conaway said.
BRENDAN KEARNEY, Legal Affairs Writer
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