One of the key speakers was new Baltimore City Police Commissioner, Kevin Davis.  Commissioner Davis was raised in College Park, Maryland and he is a fourth generation public safety professional.  His great-grandfather and grandfather were firefighters and his father was a beat policeman in his neighborhood in College Park.  He saw the value of police officers living in the community where they work, and he encourages all his officers to move into Baltimore City.  He also stated that he thought body cameras were a very good idea for the Baltimore City police and welcomes this change. 

Chaim Harris, a patrol member and cyber security expert, announced that the NWCP would be initiating a cyber security awareness program.  Community members on NWCP’s e-mail list will be seeing reminders and practical tips how to combat this growing problem.  To be added to the NWCP’s e-mail list, e-mail nwcp-alerts+subscribe@nwcp.info .

The Patrol also honored Ras Sharma, Desmond Cole and Williams Johnson of the Baltimore City Department of Public Transportation for their work in adjusting the traffic lights in key intersections in the Community.  Rabbi Yisrael Roll, in presenting the award noted that the intervals were not long enough to permit community members to safely cross certain streets on Shabbos.  He complimented the fine and cooperative efforts of the Department of Transportation for adjusting the traffic lights so they would meet the community needs and the participation of the awardees in making this happen. Also, Officers Oris Custis and Detective Phil Crumbacker were recognized for their efforts to successfully address two community crime problems. 

Jennifer Lake and Tzvi Blankchtein were recognized for teaching self-defense classes.  In accepting her award, Ms. Lake told of a clever and effective defense by an older woman facing an attacker in an isolated area.  She looked at the attacker directly and declared, “Don’t I know your mother?!!”

The Patrol recognized Officer Ken Dickstein for his 33 years of service to the Baltimore City Police.  Officer Dickstein is retiring soon, but in his brief address to the dinner participants, he gave a rather poignant reason why he chose to be a policeman.  As many of us are only too painfully aware, a Bais Yaakov girl was brutally murdered in 1969.  Officer Dickstein’s sister was a good friend of the victim and that incident inspired Officer Dickstein to become a policeman.  The Patrol was involved a few years ago successfully preventing the murderer from having his conviction overturned due to a technicality. 

The Patrol gave awards to Moshe Leibes for his dedication in volunteering for the patrol whenever needed and Rocky White for his many years of providing technical support to the Patrol.   The Patrol also recognized the decades of service provided by Ron Mitnick who is making aliyah soon with his wife.

In attendance were some of the leading Rabbonim in the Baltimore community:  Rabbi Yaakov Hopfer, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, Rabbi Dovid Heber, Rabbi Yosef Berger, Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger, Rabbi Rouben Arieh, Rabbi Binyamin Marwick, Rabbi Mordechai Shuchatowitz, Rabbi Jonathan Seidemann, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Eichenstein, Rabbi Mordechai Frankel, Rabbi Menachem Goldberger, Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz, Rabbi Moshe Hauer and Rabbi Pinchus Gross.  Some of the leading government/law enforcement officials who were in attendance were Sheriff of Baltimore City John Anderson, States Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Captain Holly Barret of the Maryland State Police, David Blumberg Commissioner of Parole, and State Senator Lisa Gladden of the 41^st District. In addition, with the mayoral race wide open this coming election, the six major candidates for mayor attended: former Mayor Sheila Dixon, Councilman Nick J. Mosby, State Senator Catherine Pugh, Councilman Carl Stokes, businessman David Warnock and Elizabeth Embry, Chief of the Criminal Division for the Maryland office of the attorney general.   

The reception, catered by Yaffa featured a well-received buffet menu featuring a large selection of delicious fish, soups, salads and delicacies.  The quick moving program lasted less than two hours and featured an interesting video narrated by Stanley Fishkind, who just retired from 10 years as Chairman of the Board but who will be continuing in his role as a watch commander for the patrol.  Mr. Fishkind received an award for his many years of devoted service to the Patrol.

If you would like to join the patrol or wish in some other way to assist the patrol, please call the NWCP at 410. 664.6927.

Jonathan Libber has lived in Baltimore City for the past 27 years and has been a member of NWCP for the past 26 years.