HOGAN.
HE IS ABOUT TO COME OUT AND
ADDRESS THE UNREST WE HAVE BEEN
SEEING IN BALTIMORE CITY.
GOVERNOR HOGAN: GOOD EVENING,
EVERYBODY.
I WILL TAKE THE REST OF -- A
MOMENT TO GET THE REST OF OUR
TEAM IN HERE.
JUST RECENTLY, I SPOKE WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I HAVE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION
WITH THE MAYOR OF BALTIMORE,
WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE
MARYLAND SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE.
WE ARE HERE IN OUR EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS COMMAND CENTER, WHICH
HAS NOW BEEN ACTIVATED.
ALL STATE AGENCIES ARE ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN THIS SITUATION.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH BALTIMORE
CITY AND ALL OTHER AGENCIES IN
MARYLAND, AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING
STATES
.
THIS EVENING, AS A RESULT OF THE
SERIOUS VIOLENCE AND LOOTING
WHICH HAS LED TO THE DESTRUCTION
OF PROPERTY AND PUT INNOCENT
MARYLANDERS AT SIGNIFICANT RISK,
I HAVE DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY AT THE REQUEST OF
BALTIMORE CITY.
THIS ORDER DEPLOYS THE MARYLAND
NATIONAL GUARD IN ORDER TO HELP
RESTORE ORDER AND TO END THE
UNREST WE HAVE WITNESSED TODAY
AND TONIGHT.
I HAVE NOT MADE THIS DECISION
LIGHTLY.
THE NATIONAL GUARD REPRESENTS
THE LAST RESORT IN ORDER TO
RESTORE ORDER.
LOOK -- PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO
PROTEST AND EXPRESS THEIR
FRUSTRATION.
BUT BALTIMORE CITY FAMILIES
DESERVE PEACE AND SAFETY IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
THESE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND
DISTRACTION OF PROPERTY CANNOT
AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
I STRONGLY CONDEMN THE ACTIONS
OF THOSE WHO ENGAGED IN DIRECT
ATTACKS AGAINST INNOCENT
CIVILIANS, BUSINESSES, AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
THE RESOURCES OF THE STATE
POLICE AND THE NATIONAL GUARD
HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEPLOYED IN
SUPPORT OF ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT
IN THE CITY.
THEY WILL EXERCISE DISCIPLINE,
RESTRAINT, AND PROVIDE THE
SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ENSURE
SAFETY AND TO BRING LAW AND
ORDER TO BALTIMORE CITY.
WE HAVE GOT OUR ENTIRE TEAM
HERE
.
I'M GOING TO TURN THE PODIUM
OVER TO COLONEL WILLIAM PALAZZI
,
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE
POLICE.
THEN, WE WILL HEAR FROM GENERAL
LINDA SAYING -- SINGH,
AT
CHI-TOWN GENERAL OF THE MARYLAND
NATIONAL GUARD.
AND CLAY STAMP, DIRECTOR OF THE
MARYLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY.
I WILL START NOW WITH COLONEL
PALAZZI.
THEN WE WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE
YOUR QUESTIONS AFTER EVERYBODY
HAS SPOKEN.
THANK YOU.
COLONEL POLICY: I AM COLONEL
WILLIAM PALAZZI, SUPERINTENDENT
OF STATE POLICE.
THE GOVERNORS ACTIONS TODAY ARE
HUGE.
WE HAVE BEEN HERE, WITH MANY
ALLIED LAW ENFORCEMENT, OVER 500
STRONG SINCE WEDNESDAY WORKING
WITH THE CITY OF BALTIMORE IN
VARIOUS CAPACITIES, HELPING TO
MAINTAIN AS MUCH ORDER AS
POSSIBLE.
AS YOU SEE, MANY GROUPS ARE
CONTINUING TO SPLINTER AND MOVE
AROUND THE CITY OF BALTIMORE,
LOOTING, COMMITTING CRIMES IN
CERTAIN AREAS, SETTING PLACES ON
FIRE.
OUR MISSION HAS BEEN, AND WILL
CONTINUE TO BE, THE PRESERVATION
OF LIFE AND THE PRESERVATION OF
PROPERTY.
I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH
COMMISSIONER BATTS.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE SCOPE OF WHAT
HAS HAPPENED, AND WE ARE COMING
IN WITH ADDITIONAL FORCES TO
ASSIST THE GOVERNOR
'S
DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY ORDER.
IT ALLOWS US TO BREAK OUT EVEN
FURTHER.
WE HAVE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR UP
TO 500 ADDITIONAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT FROM THE STATE OF
MARYLAND.
REGIONALLY, TO COME OUT AND
PROVIDE ASSISTANCE.
WE PUT OUT A REQUEST
FOR UP TO
5000 LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM THE
REGIONAL AREA IN THE
MID-ATLANTIC, TO ASSIST US AS
WELL.
WE ARE ASKING
THEM TO HAVE THE
NECESSARY EQUIPPING FOR THEIR
OWN PERSONAL SAFETY, AND TO
ASSIST US IN DEPLOYING.
IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS, THE PLAN
IS TO WORK WITH OTHER LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT LEADERS AND DID --
DIVIDE THE CITY INTO CERTAIN
SECTORS, WHICH WE WILL GO SECTOR
TO SECTOR TRYING TO PROTECT,
STARTING WITH THE HOTTEST AREAS
FIRST.
WE WILL BE WORKING IN CONCERT
WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD AS THEY
COME ON BOARD TO MAINTAIN
SECURITY OF THESE AREAS.
AT THAT TIME -- AT THIS TIME,
THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
GOVERNOR HOGAN: WE WILL TURN THE
FLOOR TO CLAY STAMP, DIRECTOR OF
THE MARYLAND EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY.
MR. STAMP: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE
GOVERNOR HAS BEEN CLEAR FROM DAY
ONE.
WE ACTIVATED THIS PAST
SATURDAY,
INTEGRATING OUR ACTIONS WITH THE
CITY OF BALTIMORE AS THEY DEALT
WITH THE SITUATION.
WE HAD OVER 400 STATE POLICING
AGENCIES IN THE CITY, WORKING
WITH THEM.
TODAY TURNED ANOTHER CHAPTER.
THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
THIS WAS DONE AFTER THE MAYOR OF
BALTIMORE DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY.
THAT MEANS THEY HAVE EXCEEDED
THEIR CAPABILITY AND THEY NEED
HELP FROM THE STATE TO MOVE IN
AND SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO
CURB THE SITUATION.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS A
FULL-COURT PRESS.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE
STATE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS BRINGING
THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE STATE
GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER RESOURCES
TO ACHIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S GOALS.
WE WILL BE WORKING DILIGENTLY IN
OUR DIFFERENT SECTIONS.
TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, HEALTH AND MEDICAL,
HUMAN SERVICES, AND PLANNING,
LOGISTICS, AND OPERATIONS.
WE WILL ACHIEVE THE NECESSARY
RESULTS WE NEED TO ACHIEVE THE
GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO GOVERNOR
HOGAN AGAIN.
GOVERNOR HOGAN: BEFORE WE TAKE
QUESTIONS, WE WILL TURN THE
PODIUM OVER TO GENERAL LINDA
SINGH.
IS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED,
THE MARYLAND GUARD IS GOING TO
BE IN ACTIVATION THIS EVENING.
WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS
THAT HE HAS ACCESS TO THE FULL
COMMENT OF THE STATE, MEANING UP
TO 5000 TROOPS THAT CAN BE PUT
ONTO THE STREETS TO PROTECT
PROPERTY AND PEOPLE.
I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE
GO IN AND TAKE COVER FOR THE
NIGHT, AND ACTUALLY GO TO SLEEP
AND GET SOME REST, AND LET
THINGS SETTLE DOWN SO THAT WE
CAN RESTORE ORDER TO THE CITY.
WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT IN
MASSIVE FORCE, AND THAT MEANS WE
ARE GOING TO BE PATROLLING THE
STREETS AND OUT TO ENSURE THAT
WE ARE PROTECTING PROPERTY.
WE ARE IN A SUPPORTING MODE.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT
MARTIAL LAW, THIS IS NOT MARTIAL
LAW.
MARTIAL LAW MEANS THAT THE
MILITARY FULLY TAKES OVER.
WE ARE NOT AT THAT POINT.
OUR PEACE, NOT AT THAT POINT.
WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL TAKE
DIRECTION FROM THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN WHERE WE GO OUT
AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
GOVERNOR HOGAN: WE WOULD BE
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS?
[INDISCERNIBLE]
GOVERNOR
HOGAN: I HEARD ABOUT
SOME OFFICERS BEING INJURED.
I HAVE NOT HEARD THE EXACT
MEDICAL STATUS.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE MORE
UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION THAN WE
DO.
THE LAST REPORT I HAD WAS SEVEN
POLICE OFFICERS INJURED.
IT IS SOMETHING, AS I SAID
EARLIER, THAT WILL NOT BE
TOLERATED.
IT WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS IN US
DECIDING WE HAD TO GET IN AND
PROVIDE SUPPORT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
WE WILL LET YOU KNOW.
ANYONE HAVE UPDATED INFORMATION
ON THAT, WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU
THE ANSWER.
WHO
WAS ACTUALLY IN CHARGE,
DIRECTING WHERE THE RESOURCES
ARE GOING?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: THE CITY HAS
ASKED FOR US TO TAKE OVER.
CURRENTLY, THE STATE POLICE
SUPERINTENDENT IS IN CHARGE.
HE WILL BE IN DIRECT MEDICATION
WITH THE CITY, THE MAYOR, CITY
POLICE, AND GENERAL SINGH
WILL
PROVIDE BACKUP ASSISTANCE TO THE
STATE POLICE.
WE WILL BE COORDINATING WITH
OTHER POLICE FROM AROUND THE
STATE AND OTHER STATES IN THE
REGION.
YOU DECLARED
THE STATE OF
EMERGENCY -- FINALLY, WHAT TOOK
SO LONG TO DECLARE IT?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: WE DECLARED A
STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND I ISSUED
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LESS THAN 30
SECONDS AFTER REQUESTED BY THE
CITY OF BALTIMORE.
HE DID NOT TAKE US VERY LONG AT
ALL.
I SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, THEN CALLED
THE PRESIDENT.
THERE WAS NO DELAY WHATSOEVER.
WE HAD THE EMERGENCY OPERATION
CENTER ACTIVE SINCE SATURDAY.
WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF STATE
POLICE ON THE GROUND.
EVERY SINGLE STATE AGENCY AND
LOCAL AGENCY COORDINATED ALREADY
FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.
I HAVE BEEN IN DAILY
COMMUNICATION WITH THE MAYOR AND
OTHERS IN THE CITY, AND OUR
ENTIRE TEAM HAS BEEN INVOLVED
FROM DAY ONE.
FRANKLY, THIS IS A BALTIMORE
CITY SITUATION.
BALTIMORE CITY WAS IN CHARGE.
WHEN THE MAYOR CALLED ME, WHICH
QUITE FRANKLY WE WERE GLAD SHE
FINALLY DID, WE INSTANTLY SIGNED
THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.
WE ALREADY HAD OUR ENTIRE TEAM
PREPARED.
IN FACT, OUR DICK CLARK -- IN
FACT, I ALREADY CALLED GENERAL
SINGH AND ASKED HER TO BE READY.
WE WERE IN CONSTANT MUNICATION,
AND WE WERE TRYING TO GET IN
TOUCH WITH THE MAYOR FOR QUITE
SOME TIME.
SHE FINALLY MADE THE CALL, AND
WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION.
WOULD YOU HAVE
LIKED TO HAVE
IT ACTIVE EARLIER?
GOVERNOR HOGAN: I KNOW THE CITY
HAS DONE EVERYTHING TO GET THIS
UNDER THEIR CONTROL.
I DON'T WANT TO QUESTION WHAT
THEY ARE DOING.
WE ARE ALL ON ONE TEAM.
I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR FOR
ALL HER INVOLVEMENT.
WE ARE JUST HAPPY WE ARE ALL ON
THE SAME PAGE CALL ABLE TO HELP
EACH OTHER AT THIS POINT.
[INAUDIBLE]
GOVERNOR HOGAN: I WILL LET
GENERAL SING
H TALK ABOUT WHAT
SHE CAN.
THEY ARE WORKING AS A BACKUP TO
POLICE AGENCIES.
WE HAVE NOT TAKEN OVER.
IT IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE THEY
WILL BE IN CHARGE.
BUT WE WILL BRING ASSETS INTO
THE CITY, A QUIP AND MANPOWER
THAT WOULD HELP US GET THE CITY
UNDER CONTROL.
KEEP IN
MIND, SOME ASSETS WILL
BE READILY AVAILABLE AND THEY
WILL GET DOWN THERE TONIGHT.
SOME TAKE A WHILE TO GET IN.
WE WILL BE GROWING AS WE BRING
IN FOLKS FROM AROUND VARIOUS