Reaction is pouring in following the death of the 53-year-old Anthony Barksdale, the deputy mayor for public safety in Baltimore.

Former Baltimore police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld spoke on the T.J. Smith Show Friday afternoon. Bealefeld shared his thoughts on the passing of Barksdale, saying that he was dedicated to fighting crime in Baltimore.

“He meant a lot to me, personally and professionally,” Bealefeld said. “But, you know, in terms of his contribution to the department, Tony Barksdale was the engine that made things go.”

Barksdale was a graduate of Baltimore Polytechnic Institute who first joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1993. He was named deputy mayor of public safety in July 2022.

Bealefeld acknowledged the close bond the two formed over the years, adding that Bark

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