NRP Answers Call to Assist Baltimore Law Enforcement Efforts

NRP Officer First Class Greg Harris and son. Taken by NRP

One day, they were looking for illegal hunters and anglers, patrolling state parks and conducting homeland security checks of bridges, power plants and the Port of Baltimore.

The next day, Maryland Natural Resources Police officers were with National Guardsmen and officers from as far away as New Jersey to keep the peace on the streets of Maryland’s largest city.

“We didn’t know what we would be walking into,” said Sgt. James “Junior” Johnson, a 16-year NRP veteran, of the deployment to Baltimore. “We went from, ‘May I see your fishing license,’ to, ‘Get back, get back.’ There’s no way to prepare yourself for that.”

A large contingent of Maryland Natural Resources Police officers and commanders spent six days in Baltimore, working 12- to 18-hour shifts after rioters burned and looted buildings in response to the death of Freddie Gray. In all, NRP put in well over 5,000 man-hours, on patrol and in emergency command centers.

“When your city and state need you and the governor declares a state of emergency, you pull out all stops,” said Col. George F. Johnson IV, NRP superintendent. “The men and women of NRP came from all patrol districts of the state, from Garrett County to Ocean City, to carry out our mission and keep citizens safe.”

NRP, the oldest statewide police force in Maryland and the only law enforcement agency with statewide powers besides State Police, responded the first night of unrest with 19 officers quickly gathered from districts close to Baltimore. Hours later, that number nearly doubled and stayed that way until May 3, when many agencies were told to stand down.

Overnight, there were moments of tension, as officers felt the crowd’s anger and heard the curses from a city in anguish.

“As morning broke in Baltimore and people started to emerge, I was wondering how we, in law enforcement, would be received,” Lt. Brian Albert recalled. “Almost everyone that walked by us thanked us for being there. Some people just said, ‘Good morning,’ some stopped to chat for a bit, but everyone was glad to see a uniformed officer.”

NRP officers posed for photos with residents and welcomed gifts and hugs from children.

Sgt. Johnson, who worked all but one night during the of state emergency, was handed a bottle of water with a school child’s handwritten note on the side: “Thank you for being a part of our community and helping our city be a better place.”

Johnson grinned and said, “You ask why I don’t mind doing my part to help, well you don’t have to ask any longer!”

Water bottle that reads: “Thank you for being a part of our community and helping our city be a better place.”

Officer First Class Greg Harris, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, got to work part of a shift side-by-side with his son, Baltimore City Police Officer Demario Harris.

“When I heard a Baltimore officer was injured that first day, my antenna went up,” Harris said. “I tried calling but didn’t get an answer. Like any parent, you’re concerned. But I know he’s a good officer and well trained. Getting a chance to work with him was one of the best days of my career.”

Lt. Albert said all the comments he received from citizens meant a great deal to him. “But the comment that meant the most to me came from a sergeant from Baltimore City Police Department, who said, ‘Guys, thanks for helping us out.’ The thin blue line runs deep and I am proud to be part of such a great fraternal organization.”