🌱 BCPD Body Camera Program + 40 For 40 Walk + CHS Student Finalists

Hi all. It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Catonsville Patch newsletter. Follow along for the most important things going on these days in town.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Catonsville Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Catonsville long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, your local weather:

• Tuesday: A shower in the p.m.; breezy. High: 62 Low: 30.
• Wednesday: Cooler; a little p.m. rain. High: 44 Low: 39.

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Here are the top three stories today in Catonsville:

1. Baltimore County's police body camera program started in 2016, but the Criminal Apprehension Support Team has not received any cameras. The team shot and severely injured a 19-year-old driver in Dundalk. Then, one of the same detectives shot and critically injured a 37-year-old in White Marsh. The BCPD would normally release the body camera footage for transparency and for the public to gain insight into the incidents but there is no footage. Departments that implemented cameras saw a drop in police complaints and use-of-force cases, according to a 2021 study from the University of Chicago Crime Lab and the Council on Criminal Justice's Task Force on Policing. About 350 sworn Baltimore County Police officers, or 20 percent of the total number of officers, still do not have body cameras. (Subscription: Baltimore Sun)
2. On Feb. 20, Baltimore pastor Robert Turner led a group of roughly 20 people, including Sheriff of Baltimore County R. Jay Fisher, on a march from his church in Baltimore to the White House, about 40 miles away. The walk, dubbed the "40 for 40 Walk," aimed to bring awareness to the U.S. government's "long history of failure" to grant reparations. It also aimed to show President Biden that he has "the opportunity and an obligation to make right" the "mistreatment of Blacks" since slavery and post-emancipation racially exclusionary policies by granting reparations. (ABC 7 News)
3. Two Catonsville High School students were named Top 20 Finalists for WJZ's 2023 Black History Oratory Competition! Junior Elon Raya's essay, "Free Like the Birds," and sophomore McKenzie Lea's essay, "Dear Mr. Ambiguous Racist Opportunity" can be read at the link. The finalists are invited to perform their essays in person on Feb. 23, Feb. 24, and Feb. 25. The speeches will be recorded and streamed online on CBS News Baltimore. The winners will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:00 p.m. on WJZ-TV, during WJZ's Black History Oratory Competition Special. (CBS Baltimore)

Today and tomorrow in Catonsville:

Tuesday, February 21

• Urban/Soul Line Dance: Beginners Class At Revolve Wellness Studios (6:00 PM)

Wednesday, February 22

• Celtic Music Class & Session At The Clubhouse in Catonsville (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Don't miss "Free Movie Nights" in Catonsville, beginning Apr. 1, every Saturday at 8:00 p.m. at CAA Park! Bring a blanket and chair for some family-friendly fun. (Catonsville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• If you’re looking for a new job or thinking about a career change, the best place to start searching is close to home in the Catonsville area. Check out the latest local job opportunities including Complaints Analyst, Administrative Coordinator, and CDL Class A Local Driver. (Catonsville Patch)
• Congratulations to Catonsville Chamber of Commerce members Ryan and Mike Lockett! Lockett's Auto Care was featured in the February issue of Patapsco Valley Living magazine. (Catonsville Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Divorce and Your Home – Vesta Baltimore, MD Hub (February 23)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with a new update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!