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COLLINS JOINS US. DAVID: COMMISSIONER HARRISON SAYS HIS PLAN IS BATTLE TESTED AND PROVEN BEST ON BEST PRACTICES. IN HIS SCENES LIKE THIS FUELING THE PERCEPTION THAT BALTIMORE IS UNSAFE. >> THAT IS NOT TRUE. DAVID: POINTING OUT MUCH OF THE VIOLENT CRIME TAKES PLACE BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO KNOW EACH OTHER. AND CRIME OVERALL INCLUDING ROBBERY IS TRENDING DOWN. >> IT IS NOT THE CORRECT NARRATIVE THAT WHEN YOU COME INTO BALTIMORE OR LIFE IS IN DANGER OR YOU ARE SOMEHOW NOT A SAFE. THEY WOULD: MAN SUBURBAN COLORS TO THE RADIO PROGRAM ARE DEMANDING THE MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD STEP IN. >> A NATIONAL GUARD IS NOT TRAINED IN URBAN POLICING. WE ARE NOT IN THE STATES WHERE WE ARE HAVING RIOTS, WE ARE NOT IN THE STAGE WHERE WE ARE HAVING MASSIVE LOOTING IN THE CITY WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY ARE GOOD AT. FOR -- FOR RIGHT NOW THE NATIONAL GUARD IS NOT GOOD FOR URBAN POLICING. THIS CONSIDERING THIS IS UNDER A CAN -- I CONSENT DECREE IT IS STRANGE TO HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY DO. DAVID: COMMISSIONER HARRISON HAS A CRIME-FIGHTING REDUCTION STRATEGY AND A BLUEPRINT TO TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT. HE CHARACTERIZES THEM AS BATTLE TESTED AND PROVEN ON BEST PRACTICES. >> WE SEE THEM DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, PEOPLE ARE SAYING. WE HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF OUR PERFORMANCE METRICS TO SEE THAT THEY ARE DOING IT AND HOLDING THEM AND SUPERVISORS AND OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. >> HE IS HIRING A NEW ACADEMY FOR THE ACADEMY AND ACADEMIC DIRECTOR. HE IS LETTING COMMANDERS MAKE THE CALL WHEN IT COMES TO MINOR RULE VIOLATIONS INSTEAD OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THERE IS

Advertisement Harrison on perception Baltimore is unsafe: 'That's not true' Baltimore police commissioner says crime overall, including robbery, is trending down

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Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison is taking aim at the perception that the city is unsafe.In a wide-ranging interview Friday with the 11 News I-Team, Harrison said residents are already seeing more patrols and police interaction because of his crime-fighting plan. He's well aware of the perception the city is unsafe and has a strong message for those who feel that way."First of all, that's not true," Harrison said.Harrison points out much of the violent crime the city is seeing takes place between people who know each other, and crime overall, including robbery, is trending down."It is not the correct narrative that if you come into Baltimore, your life is in danger and you are somehow not safe," Harrison said.Many suburban residents calling the WBAL NewsRadio "C-4 Show" are demanding the Maryland National Guard step in, which Harrison addressed."The National Guard is not trained in urban policing. We are not in the stage where we are having riots. We are not in the stage where we are having massive looting in the city, which is something they are good at, and considering this department is under a federal consent decree, it's strange to hear that people want the National Guard to come in. It's not what they do, " Harrison said.Harrison has two crime-fighting plans -- one is a specific crime-reduction strategy and the other is a blueprint to transform the Baltimore Police Department."People are already saying, 'We are seeing more police. We see they are doing something different.' Now we have to just have to stay on top of our accountability measures and performance metrics to see that they are actually doing it and holding them, their supervisors and ourselves accountable," Harrison said.The commissioner is in the process of hiring a new police academy commander and academic director. On a pilot basis, he's taking minor rule violations out of Internal Affairs and letting commanders make decisions. There's also a new focus on technology and innovative ways to help free up officers' time for more proactive policing.