Baltimore: Huge, Dangerous Slums Surround Beautiful Downtown

Gene Ryan, president of Baltimore City FOP Lodge #3 says the unrest and riots that occurred in Baltimore were “preventable,” calling the police department’s response, “inadequate in many areas.” The FOP released its After Action report today. Ryan said, “Officers reported direct orders from command staff not to intervene or engage the rioters; being ordered to release arrested suspects...[and] not to wear their issued riot helmets even as bricks and bottles were being thrown at them.” MORE: http

Just three months after I was sworn in, riots erupted in Baltimore City, and very quickly, our largest city was in flames. 400 businesses were destroyed and 170 police officers and firefighters were injured in just the first few hours. We were faced with the worst violence in nearly 50 years, and Baltimore City was overwhelmed. We acted swiftly and decisively: I declared a State of Emergency, and we immediately moved all our key operations to the city, bringing 4,000 members of the National Guar