Baltimore’s homicide numbers are trending in the right direction, according to the deputy mayor of public safety, despite the data indicating the city will surpass 300 homicides for the eighth straight year.
Anthony Barksdale, the deputy mayor for public safety, re-joined city government in July after he left following a stint as acting Baltimore Police Commissioner. In his role as deputy mayor, Barksdale is responsible for oversight of policies and operations at the police department, the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the implementation of the City’s Consent Decree.
As of the morning of Sept. 29, there have been 254 homicides in 2022, compared to 255 at this time last year. Non-fatal shootings, however, remain up compared to 2021; 560 people have been shot this year compared to 525 at this time last year. Since Sept. 25, 17 people have been shot in Baltimore City.
“Today Baltimore is one homicide under last year. We started the month at I believe 52 shootings and today we are at 38 maybe. So, there’s a reduction,” Barksdale told FOX45 News. “I base how I view things on the data, and that data says we are going in the right direction.”
When pressed if one fewer homicide is something to praise, Barksdale said it indicates things “are going in the right way.”
“Imagine if I was saying we are plus 22, or 20-whatever it was. We are trending in the right direction,” he added. “Of course, there’s room for progress, I’m not arguing with you on that point. But minus one is a start.”
During the news conference announcing his new role in July, Barksdale was quick to apologize for previous criticisms of Police Commissioner Michael Harrison and the city’s crime-fighting strategies.
“While I’m here, while I’m speaking, I owe someone an apology for pasts statements -- and I’m man enough to say I am sorry Commissioner Harrison if I said anything in the past that is offensive to you,” Barksdale said in July. “I want to work with you. I know we’re gonna work great together and I wanna move forward, Sir.”
In a February 2020 interview with FOX45 News, he was critical of city and police leadership and crime levels.
“I firmly believe [Mayor Jack Young] and the police commissioner are letting the citizens of Baltimore down and we need a change,” Barksdale said at the time. “And hopefully that change comes with the election.”
FOX45 News then asked Barksdale if he had faith in Harrison.
“I have no faith in the current commissioner,” he said. “None.