The resignation of the Baltimore Police Commissioner, charged by federal prosecutors for failing to file federal tax returns, has sparked fierce public debate over how the issue has been handled and the mayor’s credibility.
The 53-year-old commissioner, Darryl De Sousa, left the office after a mere four months into the job. De Sousa was suspended last Friday after a federal investigation revealed that he had willfully failed to file federal tax returns for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Charged with misdemeanors, De Sousa is looking at maximum of up to one year in prison and a $25,000 fine for each of the three years when he didn’t file.
On Tuesday, Baltimore Mayor, Catherine E. Pugh, confirmed the resignation in a statement, where she wanted “to reassure all Baltimoreans that this development in no way alters our strategic efforts to reduce crime by addressing its root causes in our most neglected neighborhoods.” A new interim police commissioner was appointed to cover the position while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
My statement on the resignation of Commissioner De Sousa pic.twitter.com/RwAbO6GUZT
— Mayor Catherine Pugh (@MayorPugh50) May 15, 2018
When the news about De Sousa’s tax affairs broke last week, the former police commissioner issued a statement, where he admitted that there was “no excuse” for failing “to fulfill obligations as a citizen and public official.” He explained the only reason he could give for his unpardonable misdemeanor was failure “to sufficiently prioritize personal affairs”.
My statement: pic.twitter.com/1DCD2v4dFF
— Darryl De Sousa (@Darryl_De_Sousa) May 10, 2018
However, despite the ex-commissioner’s own admission of the wrongdoing, Mayor Catherine E. Pugh initially decided to place him on suspension with pay instead of firing him. In her statement issued on May 11 she praised De Sousa for implementing “innovative crime disruption” and for being an “effective leader of the Police Department”.
Mayor Pugh’s Statement on Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa pic.twitter.com/4zTe7vLWkd
— Mayor Catherine Pugh (@MayorPugh50) May 11, 2018
The day before that the Baltimore Mayor backed De Sousa, claiming that “he made a mistake” in not filing his taxes, while she added that she had “full confidence in him and his capacity as Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department.” Pugh’s stance prompted serious concerns about the city mayor’s credibility and her decision to let the Baltimore’s police force be led by a person under federal prosecution.
After federal charges were unsealed, there was harsh criticism of both De Sousa and Mayor Pugh, who was slammed for her poor judgement calls. “You can also blame the city council. They selected him without properly vetting him,” said one of the users.
How can someone be vetted for a high position without knowing that he didn’t pay taxes??? Seems to do a good job. Now, scrutiny will find little things that they might have missed before. Good Luck!
— Bob Buchanan (@wtsailor) May 12, 2018
Some of the outraged Twitter users suggested that, after this failure, the Mayor should think about quitting as well.
That has to be one of the most nonsensical statements ever made. A response for the betterment of Baltimore would be “The Police Commisioner has resigned due to his poor judgement, and I, lacking good judgement as evidenced by my decisions, also resign.
— Jeff Huddleston (@jeffhudd58) May 15, 2018
https://www.rt.com/usa/426895-us-police-resignation-scandal/
Like DC the corruption flows to all government and its players
Now if only Tax evasion could be (would be)prosecuted on the players in our government
how in the hell do you think they get so wealthy in such a short amount of time on just their wage packages?
its We the People who are getting screwed
Yes, even cops, if not receiving federal benefits, of which then they will owe taxes, fall outside
the realm of owing fed. or state income taxes. http://losthorizons.com/ http://losthorizons.com/
He should have filed correctly to get his money back.
A handful of twits doesn’t amount to “public outrage”, and I’m sure the people of Baltimore (Baltimorons) have a lot more to be angry about than the police chief’s taxes.
“There’s no treason, no subversion of our government, no pedophilia in the White House or congress, no organized effort to undermine your Bill of Rights, no corrupt politicians stuffing their Swiss bank accounts, no wholesale theft of the nation’s resources, and no plot to disarm and slaughter the U.S. population. The chief of police didn’t pay his taxes, and that’s what you’re supposed to be angry about.”
Thanks for the “news”, RT.
Why should Darryl De Sousa resign for failure to file federal income tax’s?
The Internal Revenue Code was enacted into law February 10th, 1939. Section 4 of that Act repelled all the federal tax laws.
Section 7806 of 26 U.S.C. indicates that there is nothing in the Code that has any legal effect.
Section 1.1-1 of the Code of federal regulations states that only United States citizens are liable for an income tax.
If we look at the Constitution we find that the United States is only 10 miles square. It is also known as Washington D.C.
So, for a person to be liable for an income tax they would have to be a United States Citizen. a person who resides or was born in Washington D.C. This may include federal territories as of the 1960’s but not the 50 Union States.
The Internal Revenue Service is a private collection Agency for the Federal Reserve banking system.
The United States is a Corporation (see 28 U.S.C. definitions) that was taken over by the banker in 1933 when it went bankrupt from the depression caused by the bankers in 1929.
Are we dumb or what!
“Baltimore cop”
Enough said.
This son of a bitch has trampled on the Bill of Rights for his entire career, citing an unconstitutional authority to do so. This is an illegal occupation with no power to take anything from any American national and this son of a bitch is an intricate part of that treachery.
Wonder how many homes and properties this low life son of a bitch has assisted the IRS in seizing. F#@k him, he is a traitor.
TA-DAAA!!!! We have a winner! He can’t be charged because there’s no actual law that says he or you or any of us OWE anything!!! But even though he shouldn’t be tried on this tax nonsense, to Henry’s point (below)…the guy’s scum and should be drawn and quartered.
Articles such as this one serve to keep the people angry at other people that do as this cop did, not file, which is NOT the thing to do. They figure, hey, I’m paying my fair share, what’s up with this cop, who is an upholder of the law, which is a crock in itself, we know this, but they don’t.
The cop should resign because he is a violator of our law, not because he didn’t file. His not filing will only forfeit his money, which isn’t a bad thing, he being a traitor and all, the less money in his pocket imo is a good thing.
All in all, he’s an enemy.
Tax…evasion…
Ha..fkng ha…
Hey …I think they got Al Capone on that.
And he died of syphilis in prison.
Not because he didn’t pay taxes.
Look at the bright side…
Now if they caught this guy shaking down a hooker and banging her on the hood of his police car on film and posted on YouTube.
That would be…”Unlawful”.
Tax evasion…on the other hand.
Would be legal.
I suspect this person will be running for judge or a DA position in their criminal career in the future.
Or maybe a cushie job at CPS.