Isn’t Baltimore one of those cities that openly hated Cops and wanted nothing to do with them? They didn’t want police in ‘their’ neighborhoods. Some residents ‘understood’ why people would try to hurt an officer sitting in his marked car. With such attitudes, any policeman, any human being is going to pull back. If you don’t want us there, we won’t be there except at direct requests. Happy now?
Baltimore cops have a justified reputation for corruption and criminal behavior themselves. While I’m sure most cops are average good guys, there are enough bad ones so that I’m not so quick to defend them.
No longer are they being ‘provoked’ by police presence.