Maryland Mayor: Scrutiny may be affecting cops' ability to act

Baltimore mayor believes nationwide protests might cause officers to hesitate in using deadly force — compromising their safety

BALTIMORE — Nationwide protests after the deaths of two unarmed black men by police in Missouri and New York might cause officers to hesitate to use deadly force for fear of becoming the "next Darren Wilson," Baltimore's mayor said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police unions say departments across the country are battling anxiety that could compromise officers' safety. They called upon more police chiefs and elected leaders to vocally back officers, who have felt their public support erode even as they continue to do dangerous jobs protecting communities.

In the latest flash point in Baltimore, a city officer drew a Taser on a man concealing a gun who shot him Sunday night. The investigation into the shooting continues.

During a weekly news briefing Wednesday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said intense public scrutiny and four months of protests against police brutality in Baltimore may be affecting officers' ability to act at critical moments.

"A lot of officers I've heard — not just in Baltimore but nationally when I talk to other mayors — said they want to make sure that they get it right," she said. "It's understandable if they feel at greater risk. We are, for our generation, for many of those who are active on the street, in uncharted territory. There is a lot of unease."

"They don't want to be the next Darren Wilson," she said, referring to the Ferguson, Mo., police officer who shot an unarmed man.

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