Baltimore officer with 14 pending complaints remained on patrol after shooting

A Baltimore Police officer involved in a shooting that critically wounded a man in Northeast Baltimore on October 22 continued to work patrol duties despite having 14 pending misconduct complaints, WBFF reported.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the officer, Phil Polanco, has a history of department findings that he violated rules, including failing to operate his body-worn camera, making inappropriate comments or gestures, engaging in unbecoming conduct, neglecting his duty, and failing to appear in court.

Police spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge said that 12 of the 14 pending complaints are external, while two are internal. The department has not disclosed further details about the nature of these complaints.

Eldridge also stated that department policy and state law permitted Polanco to remain on patrol. She did not clarify what conditions would require an officer's removal from patrol or whether there was consideration to reassign Polanco after the shooting incident.