We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption
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- Create Date：2022-03-17 19:21:35
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：Justin Fenton
- ISBN：0593133684
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Summary
The astonishing true story of "one of the most startling police corruption scandals in a generation" （The New York Times）， from the Pulitzer Prize-nominated reporter who exposed a gang of criminal cops and their yearslong plunder of an American city
COMING SOON AS AN HBO SERIES FROM THE WIRE CREATOR DAVID SIMON AND GEORGE PELECANOS
Baltimore， 2015。 Riots are erupting across the city as citizens demand justice for Freddie Gray， a twenty-five-year-old Black man who has died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody。 Drug and violent crime are surging， and Baltimore will reach its highest murder count in more than two decades: 342 homicides in a single year， in a city of just 600，000 people。 Facing pressure from the mayor's office--as well as a federal investigation of the department over Gray's death--Baltimore police commanders turn to a rank-and-file hero， Sergeant Wayne Jenkins， and his elite plainclothes unit， the Gun Trace Task Force， to help get guns and drugs off the street。
But behind these new efforts， a criminal conspiracy of unprecedented scale was unfolding within the police department。 Entrusted with fixing the city's drug and gun crisis， Jenkins chose to exploit it instead。 With other members of the empowered Gun Trace Task Force， Jenkins stole from Baltimore's citizens--skimming from drug busts， pocketing thousands in cash found in private homes， and planting fake evidence to throw Internal Affairs off their scent。 Their brazen crime spree would go unchecked for years。 The results were countless wrongful convictions， the death of an innocent civilian， and the mysterious death of one cop who was shot in the head， killed just a day before he was scheduled to testify against the unit。
In this urgent book， award-winning investigative journalist Justin Fenton distills hundreds of interviews， thousands of court documents， and countless hours of video footage to present the definitive account of the entire scandal。 The result is an astounding， riveting feat of reportage about a rogue police unit， the city they held hostage， and the ongoing struggle between American law enforcement and the communities they are charged to serve。
COMING SOON AS AN HBO SERIES FROM THE WIRE CREATOR DAVID SIMON AND GEORGE PELECANOS
Baltimore， 2015。 Riots are erupting across the city as citizens demand justice for Freddie Gray， a twenty-five-year-old Black man who has died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody。 Drug and violent crime are surging， and Baltimore will reach its highest murder count in more than two decades: 342 homicides in a single year， in a city of just 600，000 people。 Facing pressure from the mayor's office--as well as a federal investigation of the department over Gray's death--Baltimore police commanders turn to a rank-and-file hero， Sergeant Wayne Jenkins， and his elite plainclothes unit， the Gun Trace Task Force， to help get guns and drugs off the street。
But behind these new efforts， a criminal conspiracy of unprecedented scale was unfolding within the police department。 Entrusted with fixing the city's drug and gun crisis， Jenkins chose to exploit it instead。 With other members of the empowered Gun Trace Task Force， Jenkins stole from Baltimore's citizens--skimming from drug busts， pocketing thousands in cash found in private homes， and planting fake evidence to throw Internal Affairs off their scent。 Their brazen crime spree would go unchecked for years。 The results were countless wrongful convictions， the death of an innocent civilian， and the mysterious death of one cop who was shot in the head， killed just a day before he was scheduled to testify against the unit。
In this urgent book， award-winning investigative journalist Justin Fenton distills hundreds of interviews， thousands of court documents， and countless hours of video footage to present the definitive account of the entire scandal。 The result is an astounding， riveting feat of reportage about a rogue police unit， the city they held hostage， and the ongoing struggle between American law enforcement and the communities they are charged to serve。
Reviews
Sean Morrissey Carroll
，
Truly a gashing， garish look at abusive power。 Extremely well structured by the author。
Rebecca
，
I’ve followed the story of the GTTF and Sean Suiter but this longer format fleshed it out。
James Idsardi
，
Reads like a full-length version of a Baltimore Sun article， which is unsurprising given the author's background。 Provides very thorough documentation of the crimes committed by the Gun Trace Task Force， the eventual investigation into them， and how they fit into the wider history and community of Baltimore。 While I might have liked a few more digressions， Fenton's instincts of keeping everything focused around the central story were probably the correct ones， as it allows for a very straightfor Reads like a full-length version of a Baltimore Sun article， which is unsurprising given the author's background。 Provides very thorough documentation of the crimes committed by the Gun Trace Task Force， the eventual investigation into them， and how they fit into the wider history and community of Baltimore。 While I might have liked a few more digressions， Fenton's instincts of keeping everything focused around the central story were probably the correct ones， as it allows for a very straightforward read of a situation that could easily be rendered in a confusing manner。 However， the strongest part of the book was the epilogue， which managed to put the community aspect of the story into full focus。 Definitely a good read for anybody interested in police operations or Baltimore at large。 。。。more
Ryan Stetz
，
a shocking story of corruption… so well written and did a great job at reminding you of characters and narratives throughout。 ALTHOUGH… i was shocked when this book ended。 i feel like it should have simply kept going？ it ended right at the climax… what about the aftermath of all the trials， etc？
Joe Harrison
，
Fantastic book， can't wait to see the TV show Fantastic book， can't wait to see the TV show 。。。more
Emmanuel
，
so impressed with the meticulous reporting。 so disgusted by the BPD。 karma has been sleeping on the job and collecting overtime。
Jessica
，
This is a journalist view; straightforward and well-organized。
Aloysius
，
A true crime story of corruption， brutality， accountability， and activism in one of the most troubled cities in the United States。 It's sobering to see how messed up the actions of those who are supposed to "protect and serve" can truly be。 A true crime story of corruption， brutality， accountability， and activism in one of the most troubled cities in the United States。 It's sobering to see how messed up the actions of those who are supposed to "protect and serve" can truly be。 。。。more
Beth
，
Definitely the better on the two books that I’ve listened to about the GTTF。 Wide-ranging in scope and well-written。
Toya Mobley
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If you are from Baltimore it seems surreal， like an out of body experience。 How could this have happened right in my beloved Baltimore。 Its like being in a dream sequence。 Justin does an excellent job of outlining the details and history。 Its intriguing， real and heartbreaking journalism at its finest。 This Baltimorean is heartbroken over her city consistent and continued decline。 Literally he could write a 6 part series。 Next book is Systemic Poverty it grips this city :（
Chad
，
Thoroughly enjoyed the way the Author presented the information。 The amount of time he must've spent researching in order to present this story had to be exhausting。I am absolutely disgusted and horrified by the actions of these gang members with badges。 I am even more horrified that it was cultivated and even encouraged by uppers who should be held just as accountable。 Thoroughly enjoyed the way the Author presented the information。 The amount of time he must've spent researching in order to present this story had to be exhausting。I am absolutely disgusted and horrified by the actions of these gang members with badges。 I am even more horrified that it was cultivated and even encouraged by uppers who should be held just as accountable。 。。。more
Amandas33
，
For anyone who cares about Baltimore， or seeks to better understand community distrust of law enforcement， this is a great read。 Justin Fenton has excellently reported on crime for the Baltimore Sun for years， and his book peels back even more layers of the Gun Trace Task Force scandal。
Kelly Drury
，
5 stars for the story itself
James Queally
，
Expertly reported and well paced， Fenton adds just the slightest bits of novelistic flair to make a complicated but utterly irresistible read engaging for those not steeped in the world of police and prosecutors。 And for those who are， Fenton makes clear he's a master observer of the halls of power， getting all the details right。 Expertly reported and well paced， Fenton adds just the slightest bits of novelistic flair to make a complicated but utterly irresistible read engaging for those not steeped in the world of police and prosecutors。 And for those who are， Fenton makes clear he's a master observer of the halls of power， getting all the details right。 。。。more
Jon Higgins
，
Journalism at its finest。 Outstanding。
Max
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Fenton， A Baltimore Sun reporter， gives us an account of corruption in the Baltimore Police Department。 He follows the career of Wayne Jenkins who rises through the ranks to lead a special plain clothes unit。 He builds a stellar record of arrests and drug busts， but he learns to bend the rules to get the job done: arresting without probable cause， searching without a warrant， planting evidence， lying and more。 Most of the action takes place between 2013 and 2018 in a city in turmoil。 Responding Fenton， A Baltimore Sun reporter， gives us an account of corruption in the Baltimore Police Department。 He follows the career of Wayne Jenkins who rises through the ranks to lead a special plain clothes unit。 He builds a stellar record of arrests and drug busts， but he learns to bend the rules to get the job done: arresting without probable cause， searching without a warrant， planting evidence， lying and more。 Most of the action takes place between 2013 and 2018 in a city in turmoil。 Responding to rising crime rates， get-tough commissioners were selected。 They told the force to do whatever it took to bring down the murder rate and flow of drugs。 When police tactics went over the top and people reacted， a new commissioner would be selected to reign in the police。 Then when the police stood down and drugs and murders erupted again the cycle would repeat。 Mayors and states attorneys shifted their rhetoric as the public mood dictated。 Sgt Jenkins knew how to work the politics of the police department and make friends at the top。 He was a hero to his peers and superiors who just wanted results。 Jenkins learns he can do more than just make arrests; he can profit from it too。 He soon is stealing drugs and money from those he stops。 He delivers the drugs to a friend to sell them。 He shares the money with his accomplices， the other policemen that he personally selects to be in his unit。 Jenkins gives the orders， when to strike， when to lay low。 Jenkins determines whether all or part of the money and drugs are taken。 He might let a small dealer go if the dealer leads him to a bigger dealer。 Jenkins and his crew patrol areas of heavy drug trafficking stopping anybody who looks like they might have large amounts of money or drugs。 He would also confiscate guns and turn them in， a priority for his supervisors from whom he earned consistent praise for his record of gun seizures。 But only small amounts of the drugs and cash he found were turned in。 Supervisors considered him a role model for other police officers。 They dismissed concerns that his tactics often meant cases were dismissed and led to internal reviews。 On the street， the dealers knew Jenkins was a dirty cop as did their lawyers。 And so did the feds。 When Jenkins began robbing the homes of dealers outside the city， drug police in neighboring counties became aware of Jenkins。 They had gone to the FBI about another city cop who they suspected of stealing。 A wiretap was set up。 Then that cop went to Jenkins unit and Jenkin’s crimes were revealed。 The county cops worked with the FBI but the city police were excluded to prevent leaks。 The task force discovered Jenkins shaking down dealers and going to their homes and ransacking them， using a battering ram to break open a safe if needed。 Even the FBI was shocked at the scale of Jenkins crimes。Jenkins and his cohorts were arrested， some flipped trying to save themselves。 All went to Jail， Jenkins for 25 years。 More police were found to have been doing the same things， although not to Jenkins' scale。 One commits suicide。 Fenton reports on their stories too as well as the drama of the investigation and trial。 He quotes a police authority who notes that these police had to learn their ways from former police。 But there are honest cops on the Baltimore police force and that comes out too。 It is hard to know just how widespread the corruption is in the department。 Regular cops would not have had the freedom that Jenkins’ special plain clothes unit had to do whatever they wanted， whenever they wanted， wherever they wanted。Fenton intersperses reporting of the Freddie Gray murder and resulting riots into his reporting of Jenkins。 We see the city’s unrest as a backdrop to the Jenkin’s story。 We also see the constant hiring and firing of new police commissioners with essentially no change as the cycle of hard enforcement to light enforcement and back again repeats。 Strict enforcement lowers the murder rate， but brings out citizen complaints about police tactics。 Light enforcement raises the murder rate which doesn’t make people happy either。 Fenton doesn’t offer an answer。 I am not sure given the power of drug money over both private citizens and police that there is one， save just decriminalizing drugs。 Fenton gives us a well-researched and an informative book that makes clear how difficult it is to both control crime and control police in big city America。 。。。more
Kellen
，
Compelling story， although the writing is somewhat dry。
Zak
，
True story of police corruption。 Engaging enough。
Cevri Civelek
，
Stunning account of crime and corruption committed by Baltimore City Police officers， absent proper oversight and accountability。 Well-detailed reporting that is an important contribution to the conversation on policing in America。Looking forward to the upcoming HBO series based off of this book， which hopefully will stay close to the facts。
Ron Willoughby
，
Started one day。 Finished the next。 And I’m a slow reader。 I know we’re talking about my city， so I was already motivated to read it。 But， this thing was gripping and intense。
Esme
，
I've been following police and police corruption in Baltimore， since all the way back to Homicide by David Simon。 It makes me wonder if Baltimore is just more corrupt that other cities or if it has better whistleblowers who can ferret out the corruption。 This book just underscored， if I were a person of color living in Baltimore， I would move。I'm really looking forward to seeing the miniseries that David Simon makes out of this book。 I thought it was well researched but it was hard to keep every I've been following police and police corruption in Baltimore， since all the way back to Homicide by David Simon。 It makes me wonder if Baltimore is just more corrupt that other cities or if it has better whistleblowers who can ferret out the corruption。 This book just underscored， if I were a person of color living in Baltimore， I would move。I'm really looking forward to seeing the miniseries that David Simon makes out of this book。 I thought it was well researched but it was hard to keep everyone straight since I didn't know what anyone looked like。 。。。more
Margaret Barillaro
，
I thought I knew！ I lived it！ Had no idea the corruption ran so deep。 Amazed about those involved who appeared to have walked away unscathed。 This book supports do you ever really know someone。 Very sad time for the citizens of Baltimore， honest officers and the Baltimore Police Department。
Michael Heffron
，
A chilling insight into the corruption that has plagued the beleaguered city and can hopefully be addressed by current and future leaders。
James Langan
，
Thoroughly researched and well written。 I see this journalistic work as existing on the same Baltimore canvas originally painted by David Simon， of which this book is an addendum。 Good to see the luminary Simon has provided a recommendation also。 If you like The Corner or Homicide， you’ll like this book。
Lisa
，
This is a must-read for anyone who lives in Baltimore。 It is an unbelievable story of corruption in the Baltimore police department。 Even after following the news media accounts of the story when it first broke， I had no idea of the level of corruption。 My one complaint about the book itself is that I had difficulty following the chronology。 It read more like a series of newspaper articles rather than a coherent story that could be followed from beginning to end。 That said， it is still a fascina This is a must-read for anyone who lives in Baltimore。 It is an unbelievable story of corruption in the Baltimore police department。 Even after following the news media accounts of the story when it first broke， I had no idea of the level of corruption。 My one complaint about the book itself is that I had difficulty following the chronology。 It read more like a series of newspaper articles rather than a coherent story that could be followed from beginning to end。 That said， it is still a fascinating read。 。。。more
Jack Sinclair
，
4。75
Terri Floccare
，
A well researched telling of the corruption and crimes committed by the Gun Trace Task Force unit of the Baltimore City Police Department。 It's sad and scary。 I'm glad the worst offenders were caught， but the damage they did can never truly be atoned for。 HBO Max is making a limited series using this book as it's reference。 I will watch it。 A well researched telling of the corruption and crimes committed by the Gun Trace Task Force unit of the Baltimore City Police Department。 It's sad and scary。 I'm glad the worst offenders were caught， but the damage they did can never truly be atoned for。 HBO Max is making a limited series using this book as it's reference。 I will watch it。 。。。more
Jim Garrett
，
It is simply amazing with how much these officers were able to get away with。 Luckily as this book shows there are plenty of good cops and great Internal Affairs detectives。 I believe this book is a must read for those who are solidly entrenched in either the Back the Blue or ACAB camps to realize there is both good and bad in policing just like any industry or other group of people。
Karen Healey
，
Hard to believe this is non-fiction
Dstrom21
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