Getting Police Cooperation in Baltimore City in Accident Cases
Anybody who has seen the fantastic HBO series The Wire knows that the Baltimore Police have more than enough to do. Even with the recent drop in Baltimore’s murder rate, our police are still very, very busy.
This can cause problems for Baltimore injury lawyers who need police officers to appear in court for trials of injury cases. Because of the crushing workload these officers face, it can be difficult to contact them to serve a subpoena or to arrange for testimony. Over the years, I have come up with a few ways to minimize both the inconvenience to the officer and my own frustration. When serving a subpoena, always include a copy of the officer’s report. These officers handle so many calls that otherwise, you’ll end up with a witness that has no recollection of the particular accident you case is about. I generally include a letter with my office and cell phone numbers. Because officers work shifts, there’s a good chance they won’t be available when your office is open.
If I have trouble getting an officer to return calls or accept service, I call the District’s Administrative Lieutenant. I explain to them or their sergeant the problem I am having, and generally the next day I get a very polite call from a cooperative officer.
Also, remember consideration is a two way street. If your case settles prior to trial, show the officer the courtesy of calling and letting them know. Officers on the midnight shift hate it when they miss sleep because you subpoenaed them for a morning trial, settled the case, and then never bothered to tell them.
