Council President Brandon Scott’s Statement on Announcement of Investigation into Gun Trace Task Force

Council President Brandon Scott’s Statement on Announcement of Investigation into Gun Trace Task Force

City Council Will Provide Oversight on the Investigation Process

BALTIMORE, MD (October 23, 2019) — Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott issued the following statement on today’s announcement by the Baltimore Police Department regarding an independent review of the Gun Trace Task Force.

The Council President’s bill, “Gun Trace Task Force - Getting to the Bottom of the Corruption” (19-0171R), was introduced and adopted during the October 7, 2019 City Council meeting.

“I commend Police Commissioner Michael Harrison for announcing the details of an independent investigation into the Gun Trace Task Force today. It is critical that this independent, top-to-bottom investigation happens and that it is done with integrity.

The City Council unanimously supported a resolution I introduced earlier this month calling for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the Gun Trace Task Force. As a body, we know it is important that this investigation be independent because we do not know how deeply embedded these practices and procedures are within BPD’s culture. 

The Council will provide oversight during this process. Per my legislation, the Baltimore Police Department and investigators will come before the City Council to discuss their findings.

Until we know how the Violent Crime Impact Section and Gun Trace Task Force were able to operate in such a flagrantly corrupt manner for so long, we will never be able to rebuild trust between the Baltimore Police Department and our communities.”