One year after the Baltimore City state’s attorney rolled out his citation docket, it appears not everyone is on board.
“It’s very difficult to figure out what’s going on,” said Bates in an interview on WBAL-AM on Monday morning.
The citation docket is designed to give low-level offenders citations, instead of criminal records.
However, Bates is struggling to understand why so few citations have been issued.
“I clearly now understand the frustration of residents because when residents want something but the leadership doesn’t want it but makes you think they want it, you get frustrated,” said Bates.
At City Hall last week, City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett, who has long opposed the citation docket, called for quarterly oversight hearings.
“We want to measure the efficiency of the program, and most importantly, the equity in enforcement,” said Burnett, who’s stepping down from his seat in December.
Bates believes politicians are simply playing politics with his attempt at curbing crime.
“If you don’t want the citation docket, just say something, just tell us so we can put resources elsewhere but don’t continue to deceive the residents of Baltimore City,” said Bates.