Sandy MaloneBaltimore, MD – Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey suggested on Twitter on the 4th of July that the “FOP memorial” should be on the list of monuments to be destroyed by activists and protesters.
Dorsey made the post in response to tweets from an anti-police activist who was live-tweeting the Baltimore police scanner on Independence Day.
“Scanner: Cop says it looks like some protesters want to do one thing and some want to do another; one cop says, ‘That’s where our memorial is,’ referring to FOP-funded memorial on President, which another says they should guard; they’re also sending cops to guard Columbus statue,” @scanthepolice tweeted at 8:37 p.m. on July 4.
“Scanner: Cop says protesters are passing by FOP memorial, continuing down President towards Harbor East,” @scanthepolice tweeted at 8:38 p.m.
Instead of being relieved that a city monument had escaped additional vandalism, Dorsey took the opportunity of the scanner tweets to suggest something different should have happened.
“How is it that with all the attention given to the Columbus monuments, and as consistently awful as the FOP is, how is the FOP memorial not on the list of monuments to remove?” Dorsey replied three minutes later as protesters were likely still passing the law enforcement memorial to fallen officers.
How is it that with all the attention given to the Columbus monuments, and as consistently awful as the FOP is, how is the FOP memorial not on the list of monuments to remove?
— Ryan Dorsey (@ElectRyanDorsey) July 5, 2020
The police memorial, located across the street from the Baltimore Police Headquarters at President and Fayette Streets, was vandalized on June 17, WMAR reported.
The section of the memorial that features a police officer kneeling down next to a little girl was splashed with paint, and the words “I can’t breathe” were spray painted in various locations all over the memorial to fallen heroes.
Dorsey’s suggestion that the police memorial should be on the list of offensive monuments to remove was greeted with outrage on Twitter from police supporters.
“Widows, parents, and children of fallen officers raised money to erect that memorial to honor our loved ones,” a survivor named Carrie Halcomb tweeted. “The 100+ men and women on that wall died in service to this city, my father included. His name was Jimmy Halcomb.”
What the Hell is wrong with you Dorsey? Widows, children and friends of these murdered officers put that monument up not just the FOP. You put that tweet up to encourage people to tear it down. You act like such a privilaged twit how are you still in office
— Zardoz (@Zardoz78433052) July 5, 2020
On June 22, Dorsey introduced legislation before the city council that would change the name of all the Christopher Columbus monuments in the city of Baltimore to “Police Violence Victims Monument,” WBAL reported.
Today I'm introducing a bill to rename the country's oldest Columbus monument – a monument to propaganda and revisionist history that holds up villains as a heroes – to instead be recognized as the Police Violence Victims Monument.
City Council Bill 20-0549 pic.twitter.com/LzWfgMmKLY
— Ryan Dorsey (@ElectRyanDorsey) June 22, 2020
The Baltimore police union has long been critical of the District 3 city councilman and have openly supported his opponent for the November election, the Baltimore Sun reported.
Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 3 President Sergeant Mike Mancuso said union leadership has supported Rain Pryor because Dorsey “has been anti-BPD for years.”
“He attacks us as a rampant corrupt department instead of being responsible and articulating that there has been a very small percentage of officers who have done wrong. He lumps us all into the same basket,” Sgt. Mancuso told the Baltimore Sun.
Wow @ElectRyanDorsey! Sure hope the "movement" doesn't disown you once they find out that you accepted extra protection (special attention) from the BPD after the recent argument with your neighbor. Can't call for disbanding the BPD then use them when you feel unsafe. Hypocrite!
— Baltimore City FOP (@FOP3) July 3, 2020
Although the FOP did not reply to Dorsey’s 4th of July tweet suggesting the police memorial should come down, it did appear that there is a history of online feuding between the councilman and the police union.
On July 3, the FOP posted a snarky tweet that revealed Dorsey may have asked for Baltimore police protection following a dispute with a neighbor.
“Wow @ElectRyanDorsey!” @FOP3 tweeted. “Sure hope the ‘movement’ doesn’t disown you once they find out that you accepted extra protection (special attention) from the BPD after the recent argument with your neighbor. Can’t call for disbanding the BPD then use them when you feel unsafe. Hypocrite!”
The Police Tribune sought comment from Dorsey but had not received a response by publication time.
Holly Matkin
