As Johns Hopkins Asks for Its Own Police, Residents React With Suspicion

University leaders have bent every effort to gain support for what they call a necessary step. Baltimore's mayor, who recently received campaign contributions from top officials at Hopkins, and the police chief have vocally supported the idea even before the current proposal. Baltimore has a crime problem, they say, and a new police force would help keep students safe on the three city campuses. But local residents are wary of the university's intentions. They cite instances of Johns Hopkins swinging its weight around to get what it wants — often at their expense, they say.