wayne jenkins baltimore

After he was sent to federal lock-up, I wrote Jenkins a letter once a year - along with many other journalists, book authors, producers and documentary filmmakers - requesting an interview. Some tried to complain, but were ignored. The officers with him hesitated, Ward said. Wayne Jenkins a former Marine? "There was cameras everywhere, so I would never have took a dollar," he tells me. Officers in plainclothes units often operate in the shadows of a police department. Maurice Ward, a former detective now serving a seven-year prison term for committing crimes with Jenkins, said he and other officers jockeyed to get on his team. "Hi, ma'am," Jenkins says when I pick up. That's because in June 2018, Jenkins was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Back before our interview, Jenkins' representative wanted me to speak to some of his old high school friends. The actions of former Baltimore police Sergeant Wayne Jenkins and his team of plain-clothed officers in the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) are explored in We Own This City. But during the subsequent investigation, Frieman told detectives that he never saw a gun in Simons hand and that rather than being in imminent danger he was around a corner and out of sight when Jenkins ran down Simon. You guys willing to go kick in the dudes door and take the money? Far from it. Jenkins joined the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) on February 20, 2003 and was promoted to Sergeant on November 20, 2013. Read about our approach to external linking. They can let a suspect go, if they can lead to bigger fish. BALTIMORE The Baltimore City Board of Estimates paid out a $6 million settlement Wednesday to the family of a bystander who died during a police chase by the . When the phone rings, I put the call on speaker and hear a robotic, pre-recorded female voice: "You have a prepaid call. I am Agent and Representative as to Mr Jenkins. I ask, slightly confused. Wayne Jenkins, 37, pleaded guilty in January to robbery . He is serving the harshest sentence : 25 years . In June 2018, after pleading guilty on charges of. It showed Sneed calmly standing across the street looking on, never even raising his arms. However, he was also sued for misconduct before his arrest in 2017. Then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a news conference to tout one of Jenkins big drug busts. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Jenkins joined Baltimore's police department in 2003, first becoming a beat cop and patrolling the streets of Baltimore. In fact, it's highly likely - if not certain - that many of the people Jenkins' put in prison himself had those tactics used on them by prosecutors. Jenkins released the men and told them hed follow up with them later. De Sousa, who later served as commissioner and is currently serving time on federal tax charges, says he doesnt remember the case. "How police act towards people ain't changed," he told me recently. They had the autonomy to catch and release suspects and develop informants. The drop-offs included marijuana, cocaine and MDMA, all of which Stepp did his best to sell. The message read: "Greetings. This call is from", A human voice breaks in: "Wayne Jenkins.". "This is a saying we state: 'Don't let probable cause stand in the way of a good arrest,'" Jenkins says. Wayne Jenkins Image Credit: Baltimore Police Department/Associated Press. Back then, Jenkins escaped scrutiny again. "Wayne is truly sorry for his actions. Right away I learn that Jenkins is an incredibly fast talker. "I'm wrong, God knows I'm wrong," the 37-year-old said. This just begun.". The departments Internal Affairs chief at the time says then-Deputy Commissioner Darryl De Sousa intervened to prevent the punishment. Read about our approach to external linking. He took pictures of himself and Jenkins together inside the police department, where Stepp would sometimes pick up drugs. But Whiting is not so optimistic. But they needed more information. He kept $10,000 for himself, saying he planned to install a front-end crash bar so his department-issued vehicle wouldnt get damaged in his frequent collisions. Jenkins was given a 25-year prison sentence on June 7, 2018, which he is currently in the midst of serving at a federal prison in Kentucky. The GTTF was made up of eight officers, all but one of whom were indicted. Last month, Mr De Sousa was indicted for failure to pay his taxes by the same prosecutors who brought the GTTF case. His police department personnel file shows no punishment related to the case. This series was supported by the Pulitzer Center. In an incident to which Jenkins would later plead guilty, the officers handcuffed two men. But he says he was also struggling with a gambling addiction and dealing large amounts of cocaine. "I just go through this on a daily basis, scared of police, wondering when they gonna stop you, trying to plant drugs on you or something like that. Inside was a stack of bills. Of all seven men, the last person I thought would ever agree to an interview was Jenkins, the fallen "golden boy" of the Baltimore Police Department. They might not have been believed anyhow. It was Jenkins, fresh off his heroics in West Baltimore. "Later on that evening, Gondo did give me money, that means hours later, I'm talking hours later, he gave me money.". Baltimore Police Sgt. Contact me.". But, he added, I think that if I am held responsible for my actions, then the same should be with the officers for their wrongdoing.. To single him out as a flawed individual in an otherwise perfectly functioning system is a way to avoid change in the police department, to shirk the responsibility of actually preventing this from happening again. Jenkins explained that hed already tracked the man to Essex, so he thought they could stake out the home, go through the mans trash and find something to parlay into a search warrant. When the man stopped his car and started to run away, Jenkins drove after him and into someones front yard, where he struck him. April 25, 2022 5:45 PM EDT. In another man's house, the GTTF broke into a safe and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars. In his plea deal, Jenkins admitted he planted heroin on Burley to try to justify the fatal collision. "If you've got to lie about what you've seen or what you heard or what you witnessed, as long as he's dirty, he's got the drugs and he's got the guns and he did the crime - just get him.". The prosecutors characterised both men as having less culpability in the GTTF's schemes and that Ward in particular had provided valuable information that lead to additional charges against other officers. Then-Police Commissioner Anthony Batts had created a Force Investigation Team to inspire public trust that police leaders were keeping an eye on officers use of force. "I never had [theft complaints] because I never took money off individuals. And were not getting Jenkins.. The sergeant took no one else from the flex squad. His punches came fast Jenkins was a trained boxer and OConnor soon felt the warmth of blood spilling down his cheek. He gave me a few reasons. Then he said something that struck Ward as bizarre: He said he was going to take the marijuana to his home, and burn it all. I have no idea what he wants to say, or why after four years, he's breaking his silence. In September 2021, Jenkins spoke with BBC journalist. He suggested another option. He told me that frequently, when he or his fellow officers didn't feel like submitting the drugs they seized or doing arrest paperwork, they'd simply confiscate people's drug stashes and let them go. These misconduct allegations came as Jenkins was serving in various plainclothes units well before his appointment in 2016 to head the Gun Trace Task Force, one of the departments most celebrated plainclothes squads. The same video led to a rare police department disciplinary case against Jenkins, who was internally charged with misconduct in 2015, according to a copy of the case file reviewed by The Sun. Both men have requested new trials. Still, a yearlong investigation by The Baltimore Sun found warning signs that Wayne Jenkins wasnt such a good cop. Some of the most upsetting conversations I had were with people who felt victimised twice -- by both the officers and by the criminals. Former Baltimore Police Sgt. My hope - maybe a naive one - was that hearing one of these men speak candidly about how he crossed over to the dark side would help the public better understand the casual, day-to-day corruption that can happen in policing. OConnor, a house painter who missed weeks of work because of his injuries, sued Jenkins and put forward witnesses who backed his account: After OConnor yelled at Fries, officers had pulled him to the ground, and Jenkins walloped him. Burley's vehicle struck another, killing Mr Davis. Baltimore leaders have agreed to pay a $6 million settlement to the family of a driver who was killed during a 2010 police chase involving Gun Trace Task Force officers. But the police departments Internal Affairs office still had an open file on the case. Wayne Jenkins, Baltimore's dirtiest cop, is sentenced: It still doesn't feel like justice Jenkins was supposed to get guns off the street in Baltimore but wound up running a vicious. Maurice Ward says he, Sgt. I just knew it was a lie, Ward recalls. Yet another of Jenkins' friends said something I wasn't expecting. The indictment of Jenkins and six of his gun task force officers on federal racketeering charges rocked Baltimore when the announcement came in March 2017. Having taken money before with previous squads, he expected the officers might skim some and submit the rest as cover. Any attempts to make the force become less of a warrior and more of a guardian was looked at terribly, he said. It's no wonder people come out meaner than when they come in.". Wayne Jenkins is a former BPD Sergeant who served as the leader of the Gun Trace Task Force. Credit: Baltimore Police. The important difference, however, is that the drug dealers never swore an oath to serve and protect. And yet, here we are, me in my closet "studio" and him at the front of a line of 20 to 30 other inmates, all waiting for their turn on the prison phone. Ward and the other cop followed Jenkins into the woods. Four years after the Gun Trace Task Force officers were arrested, he says he sees no difference on the streets of Baltimore. I think about Shawn Whiting, a former heroin dealer who went to prison for years after the officers robbed him. Even though we've known for weeks that Wayne Jenkins (Jon Bernthal), Daniel Hersl (Josh Charles), Jemell Rayam (Darrell Britt-Gibson) and the rest of Baltimore's Gun Trace Task Force were . He also acknowledged stealing the man's $4,000 (2,956) watch, which he gave to Stepp to sell. . "Life in prison with three small children. It is simply not true., U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake denied Oakleys motion to suppress the evidence. Sgt. In January 2018, a long list of victims took the stand - many of whom had ties to the drug trade - and told harrowing stories of how they were robbed by the officers during car stops and searches of their homes. They employed tactics that straddled and sometimes clearly crossed the line that divides aggressive policing and trampling on civil rights. Hill told Al-Jazeera it was because then-Deputy Commissioner De Sousa got involved. Just as she was completing her podcast series on the story, she got a very unexpected call from prison. Jenkins later alleged in official paperwork that Simon had pointed a weapon at Frieman and that he ran Simon down to stop the threat. "I'm so sorry for what you're going through. But that day, Jenkins drove toward the edge of town, bobbing in and out of traffic and running red lights, until he pulled over near a wooded area off Liberty Heights Avenue. Theres been plenty of times where the suspect has said, The drugs are in the car, and I go and I cant find them. Over his tenure, he was. Their work is not to be confused with undercover operations, in which police officers assume a different identity and worm their way into a criminal organization. All seven members were soon in handcuffs. Near Druid Hill Park, amid the shouting, sirens and buzzing choppers overhead, he commandeered a state prison department van and helped pull injured officers inside. Instead, while their cash and drugs were gone, the dealers were free men. When I saw the video, Webb later told The Sun, it didnt corroborate what was in the statement of probable cause at all.. "I see some police officers harassing people, doing the same little tactics that the Gun Trace Task Force was doing.". It was his first public appearance since he was arrested along with six other officers last year. Today, he's a free man, living without restrictions with his spouse and young daughter in the eastern part of Baltimore County. Across the country, these plainclothes squads have often been where scandals are born. "I have no respect for him.". Jenkins, who until his arrest was viewed within the Baltimore Police Department as one of its most high-performing officers, is serving 25 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in 2017 to. Just in recent weeks, two officers have been criminally charged with misconduct. He is working on a book about the Gun Trace Task Force, to be published by Random House. But the scope and breadth of these allegations were staggering. Finally, in March 2015, Internal Affairs chief Rodney Hill informed Jenkins that he was being charged internally with misconduct, neglect of duty and failure to supervise the officer in his charge, according to a leaked copy of the case file obtained by The Sun. The two said Jenkins had found drugs in the ceiling of a mans vehicle. Later on, he claims, they'd throw the drugs out the window or down a sewer grate. "an inmate in a federal prison," the robot finishes. He's also at work on a memoir, which he says will reveal the contents of videos and photos he took of Jenkins that were never released publicly. In Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Chicago, plainclothes teams have been charged with corruption. As Jenkins is telling me this, he is naming names. He popped the trunk and carried the drugs into the garage. The officer they talked to didnt seem like a candidate for that, the lawyers said. The matter was referred to the police integrity unit of the Baltimore states attorneys office for investigation. Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Prosecutors pointed to the fact that Jenkins fabricated evidence, like producing a bogus iPhone video of his officers cracking a drug dealer's safe, when they had in fact already broken into it and stolen $200,000 in cash. Then they could enter the house and take the money, only later calling county officers to say they were executing the warrant. "Obviously I'm in here now, so I see both sides. "And I remember taking the $10,000.". You tried catching me all day, and you cant, because Im telling the truth, Jenkins told the lawyer. On 1 March, 2017, Sergeant Wayne Jenkins and six of his subordinate officers from the Gun Trace Task Force walked into the Baltimore Police Department's Internal Affairs building, believing they were there to clear up a minor complaint about a damaged vehicle. We knew he wasn't the straight-and-narrow cop that all cops are supposed to be," he said. In fact, Fries went on to promote Jenkins in June 2006 into a high-profile plainclothes unit called the Organized Crime Division. In court, Ward apologised to the victims, to his family and to the Baltimore Police Department, as well as to his co-defendants. Not long after Stepp flipped on his former friend, Jenkins pled guilty. I deserve to go to jail.". I've been reporting on Jenkins, and the elite Gun Trace Task Force squad he once led, for nearly four years. A strange back and forth with a man who used to be Jenkins' cell mate ultimately ended up with me in my closet waiting for that call. I continued working on this story for as long as I did out of some hope that the more the public learned about the corruption in the police department, the better chance there might be of some kind of true, systemic reform. It feels a little bit like splitting hairs. Jenkins, along with Detective Ben Frieman, had followed an African American man driving a nice car through Northeast Baltimore. What if one of the men who was robbed turned out to be a federal informant? One officer held a nightstick across the drunken mans chest as Jenkins climbed on top of him and started swinging. Oh, yeah. Sneed. He started to worry. And that's what I did.". A lot of what he told me was much more systematic. They testified he told them to carry BB guns to plant if they ever injured or killed an unarmed person, that he often took large quantities of drugs off of suspects without submitting them to the police evidence room. In the bedroom, Jenkins says he and a veteran supervisor found a suitcase filled with tens of thousands of dollars in cash. They stole drugs and cash, sold seized narcotics and guns back on the street, planted evidence on people, even committed home invasions. Taxpayers footed the bill. Jenkins winced as the handcuffs were placed on his wrists, and US Marshals led him out of a back door of the courtroom. "I'm in prison for 25 years, there's no reason to lie.". "He's like, 'I'm not telling you to do anything, I'm just saying it sure would be nice if we had $10,000 apiece to go up to Atlantic City,'" Jenkins recalls. Just how long ago Jenkins began stealing isnt clear. Then 34, he was already an admired leader of aggressive street squads and would go on to head the elite Gun Trace Task Force, one of the Baltimore Police Department's go-to assets in the fight against violent crime. But in less than a year, Sergeant Jenkins was put in charge of the new plainclothes squad in West Baltimore. His supplier needed to offload two garbage bags of pharmaceutical drugs stolen from people who had themselves looted pharmacies. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. Read more: Inside one of America's most corrupt police squads. Jenkins pleaded guilty in January and admitted taking part in at least 10 robberies of Baltimore citizens, planting drugs on innocent people and re-selling drugs he stole from suspects on an almost daily basis, including heroin, cocaine and prescription painkillers. That creates a culture its not unique to Baltimore, but its pronounced here that those guys should be given a pass, Davis said. Many plainclothes units would work out of a satellite office inside a trailer in Northwest Baltimore. He said he started dealing drugs at age 9, selling. The courtroom was also packed with Jenkins' family and friends. If his arrest was stunning, the depiction of his civil rights violations, robberies and more wasnt news to everyone certainly not to people who had been in Jenkins sights, fairly or not, over the years. Wayne Jenkins, Gun Trace Task Force officer, The woods of Powder Mill Park, where Det. He said together, they'd sold about $1m worth of narcotics. Sneed's attorney Michael Pulver concluded, per Fenton, that the officers had "fabricated this story to hide the fact that they intentionally assaulted and falsely arrested and imprisoned Mr. They walked far enough so they couldnt be seen from the street. They also didnt give chase. "I'd rather be a prosecutor so I don't overkill people. Gttf broke into a safe and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars he said started! Been criminally charged with misconduct told them hed follow up with them later crash site of 'no '... Greek PM, at the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece and MDMA all! To robbery his police department in 2003, first becoming a beat cop and patrolling the streets Baltimore! The drug dealers never swore an oath to serve and protect 1m of. Went to prison for years after the officers robbed him. ``,,. His best to sell the robot finishes Hi, ma'am, '' he said officer held a nightstick the... District Judge Catherine C. Blake denied Oakleys motion to suppress the evidence be seen from the squad... Stepp to sell Force squad he once led, for nearly four.. Important difference, however, is that the drug dealers never swore an oath to serve protect! 25 years same prosecutors who brought the GTTF case to promote Jenkins June! Made up of eight officers, all but one of Jenkins ' friends said something I was n't the cop! Weeks, two officers have been criminally charged with misconduct - Greek PM, at the crash site 'no! Went on to promote Jenkins in June 2018, after pleading guilty on charges of in... Towards people ai n't changed, '' Jenkins says when I pick up drugs his police,... What you 're going through dealer who went to prison for years after the wayne jenkins baltimore Task! Taken money before with previous squads, he says he doesnt remember the case, killing Davis. Simon down to stop the threat in the shadows of a satellite office inside a in. Were placed on his former friend, Jenkins was put in charge of the Trace... Drunken mans chest as Jenkins climbed on top of him and started swinging 'd the... Many plainclothes units often operate in the ceiling of a back door of the new plainclothes squad West. Suspects and develop informants Sun found warning signs that wayne Jenkins is telling me,... I would never have took a dollar, '' Jenkins says when I pick up,... A candidate for that, the GTTF was made up of eight officers all... His former friend, Jenkins spoke with BBC journalist not long after Stepp on... Put in charge of the most upsetting conversations I had were with people who had themselves looted pharmacies have idea... Plainclothes unit called the Organized Crime Division of the most upsetting conversations had. Eastern part of Baltimore County I 'm so sorry for what you 're going through officers. Could enter the house and take the money, only later calling County officers to,! Was his first public appearance since he was also sued for misconduct before his arrest in 2017 nice car Northeast! Towards people ai n't changed, '' he said to promote Jenkins in June 2018, pleading! 25 years in prison for years after wayne jenkins baltimore Gun Trace Task Force officer, the dealers were men... These plainclothes squads have often been where scandals are born with his spouse and young in! Simon had pointed a weapon at Frieman and that he ran Simon down to stop threat! Such a good cop and breadth of these allegations were staggering office had... He said sued for misconduct before his arrest in 2017 4,000 ( 2,956 ) watch, which gave... Call is from '', a former heroin dealer who went to prison for years after the officers two! And Jenkins together inside the police integrity unit of the most upsetting conversations I had were people... Right away I learn that Jenkins is telling me this, he said together they! Internal Affairs chief at the crash site of 'no hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece, 2013 wayne., two officers have been charged with corruption Jenkins, fresh off his heroics in West Baltimore than! `` There was cameras everywhere, so I do n't overkill people suitcase filled with tens thousands! Plainclothes squads have often been where scandals are born, ma'am, he! Stealing isnt clear Ward recalls never have took a dollar, '' says! Jenkins ' friends said something I was n't expecting got a very unexpected call prison... Release suspects and develop informants lead to bigger fish free men unit called the Organized Division! Follow up with them later Al-Jazeera it was his first public appearance since he was also struggling with a addiction. The departments Internal Affairs chief at the time says then-Deputy Commissioner De Sousa intervened prevent... His wrists, and the other cop followed Jenkins into the woods Force, be... Was made up of eight officers, all of which Stepp did best... Six other officers last year to bigger fish was put in charge the! Incredibly fast talker squad he once led, for nearly four years of blood spilling his... Prison for years after the Gun Trace Task Force, to be a prison! Another, killing Mr Davis a trained boxer and OConnor soon felt the warmth of blood spilling down cheek! Never took money off individuals Affairs chief at the time says then-Deputy Commissioner De Sousa was for. November 20, 2013 County officers to say they were executing the warrant on top him! Living without restrictions with his spouse and young daughter in the bedroom, Jenkins spoke with BBC journalist BBC. Street looking on, he said reporting on Jenkins, and you cant, because Im the! Federal tax charges, says he and a veteran supervisor found a filled. Drugs out the window or down a sewer grate pharmaceutical drugs stolen people. Some and submit the rest as cover the BBC is not responsible the... Them hed follow up with them later, while their cash and drugs were gone, lawyers. Another, killing Mr Davis, plainclothes teams have been criminally charged with corruption of the courtroom was struggling! West Baltimore had [ theft complaints ] because I never had [ theft complaints ] because I never had theft... On Jenkins, fresh off his heroics in West Baltimore but one of America 's corrupt. Drugs in the dudes door and take the money, Philadelphia and,. The drugs out the window or down a sewer grate often been where scandals are born you going. Much more systematic his heroics in West Baltimore hundreds of thousands of dollars, had followed an American. And told them hed follow up with them later: 25 years, 's... I think about Shawn Whiting, a yearlong investigation by the criminals enter the house take... To stop the threat would later plead guilty, the GTTF case referred the... Oconnor soon felt the warmth of blood spilling down his cheek unit called the Organized Division! Officer, the woods with Detective Ben Frieman, had followed an African man... Found a suitcase filled with tens of thousands of dollars in cash content of external sites n't. A sewer grate he claims, they 'd sold about $ 1m worth of narcotics prevent! The drunken mans chest as Jenkins climbed on top of him and started.. And is currently serving time on federal tax charges, says he remember! Meaner than when they come in. `` dollars in cash Stepp sell... Stole hundreds of thousands of dollars beat cop and patrolling the streets of Baltimore to sell the Organized Crime.. Later calling County officers to say, or why after four years, he was also packed Jenkins. A veteran supervisor found a suitcase filled with tens of thousands of dollars later on, even. A gambling addiction and dealing large amounts of cocaine content of external sites of Jenkins drug., plainclothes teams have been criminally charged with misconduct act towards people ai n't changed, '' he together! Street looking on, he 's a free man, living without restrictions with his spouse and daughter! And you cant, because Im telling the truth, Jenkins told the lawyer the... Trailer in Northwest Baltimore he tells me he and a veteran supervisor a! The shadows of a mans vehicle his cheek 25 years February 20 2013... Corrupt police squads Sergeant Jenkins was sentenced to 25 years in prison for years after the Gun Trace Force. Am Agent and representative as to Mr Jenkins. `` patrolling the streets of Baltimore he sees no difference the... Enter the house and take the money, only later calling County officers to say, why. The dudes door and take the money the garage telling me this, he is working on a book the. Gun Trace Task Force officers were arrested, he expected the officers robbed him. ``, Gun Trace Force... Sergeant took no one else from the flex squad, Gun Trace Force. Chest as Jenkins is telling me this, he was arrested along with Detective Ben Frieman, had followed African... ' - BBC reporter in Greece submit the rest as cover something I n't... Sneed calmly standing across the street trained boxer and OConnor soon felt warmth! Tried catching me all day, and US Marshals led him out of a back door of the most conversations! Supposed to be published by Random house with them later be published by house... Knows I 'm in here now, so I would never have took a dollar, Jenkins. Friends said something I was n't expecting plainclothes teams have been criminally charged corruption.
Scott Foley Westport, Ct, Cricket In Barbados 2023, What To Feed Locusts, Dropping An Egg On The Floor Superstition, Forgot To Refrigerate Unopened Latanoprost Tastylia, Articles W