When defending the policy of not revealing the names of police officers involved in shootings, the name Thomas G. Newman arises. Detective Thomas G. Newman was a 12 year veteran of the BPD when he was murdered in November of 2002. It is true that Newman was involved in a shooting the previous year. More precisely, Newman had almost been murdered the previous year. He testified against his assailants and in retaliation their friends and relations murdered him the following year. While tragic, his murder has little to do with the Baltimore Police Department's new policy.
While I may disagree with Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld on some issues, such as the one discussed here, I think its important to state here that he, and the entire department for that matter, perform admirably in the face of an almost impossible task. I also echo Commissioner Bealefeld's repeatedly voiced belief that keeping Baltimore city alive and well is a task too big for any one agency, its a task for all of us.
