Black Police Group Blasts O'Malley

Glad to see someone upset over O'Malley's poor mayoral record. Mr. Mayor, how bad is your city's crime rate?

Four years and four police commissioners later, the head of a national black police group is sounding off about the way Mayor O'Malley handles Baltimore's brass.

Ronald Hampton, Executive Director of the National Black Police Association, said the number of police commissioners - - and the troubled people who have been in the role - - should say something about the mayor's leadership style.

He said while the police commissioner is nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, the person in that position works mainly for the people.

"Of course the mayor should be involved in that process, but he's the person who oversees the police department like he does every other agency, so the best way to judge whether or not the police department does its work is to allow it to do its work and allow its leader to lead the police department and then you evaluate that person and that agency based on results."