Baltimore May Restrict Off-Duty Carry During Alcohol Consumption

Baltimore Police officers may be prohibited from carrying a firearm while consuming alcohol off duty, agency spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tells POLICE Magazine.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III is considering revising the department's General Order governing officer conduct to prohibit officers from carrying a firearm if they consume alcohol off duty.

The change has been brought about as a result of an incident involving Officer Gahiji Tshamba , who fatally shot ex-Marine Tyrone Brown, 20, in June while off duty.

If approved, the change would only apply to alcohol consumption, according to Guglielmi.

"We expect officers to use good judgement," Guglielmi said. "The Tshamba incident was extremely tragic and horrific for this agency. No question. We don't want to limit the ability for off-duty police officers to put themselves on duty to save lives."

The Associated Press first reported the story.