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Baltimore Police Union Rep Criticized for Calling Youths Criminals

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BALTIMORE (AP) - The union representing Baltimore police is drawing criticism after a comment on social media which described some youths as "criminals" following arrests at the Inner Harbor.

The Baltimore Sun reports the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 wrote on Twitter on Saturday that while some officers were responding to a crowd of rowdy young people, officers should "Protect each other and don't fall into the trap they are only kids," adding that "Some are criminals!"

Police said six people were arrested, but no injuries were reported.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland called union president Sgt. Mike Mancuso' statement "unacceptable." Lester Davis, spokesman for Democratic Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young, said the mayor was "disappointed" in Mancuso's comment and would have a conversation with him regarding the post.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.