Bobby Berger: Former Baltimore Police Officer Plans To Raise Funds For Indicted Officers, Guess Why He Can’t Find A Place To Hold It

Bobby Berger, 67 years old, is a retired officer from the Baltimore Police Department. He knows what the six officers in the Freddie Gray case are going through. Berger was fired from the Baltimore Police Department in the 1980s, but he won an appeal that put him back on the force. The reason he was fired has a lot to do with his next project.

Bobby Berger is planning a fundraiser for Caesar R. Goodson Jr., Brian W. Rice, Alicia D. White, William G. Porter, Garrett E. Miller, and Edward M. Nero, the officers that have all been charged in connection with Gray’s death. Berger is planning to perform an Al Jolson routine in blackface. He has sold 610 tickets at $45 so far for the performance that he has scheduled to take place on November 1 at Michael’s Eighth Avenue.

Upon hearing what the routine Berger had planned consisted of, Michael’s promptly canceled his reservation. Michael’s Eighth Avenue posted a note on their website explaining their stance.

“Bobby Berger will not host a fundraiser at Michael’s Eighth Avenue for the six Baltimore police officers charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. No contract was signed with Mr. Berger. Michael’s does not condone blackface performances of any kind. As an event venue, it has not been the practice of Michael’s Eighth Avenue to pre-approve entertainment that is planned as part of a contracted event. This policy will be carefully and thoughtfully reviewed. Michael’s regrets any concerns that the discussions of this event may have caused in the community.”

Bobby Berger performed the routine throughout the 1980s on the side. When the department found out about how he was moonlighting, they fired him. An appeal won him his job back, but he retired. Berger came back in 1996 and did the performance at a white Baltimore Police Officer’s retirement party. Many of the black officers protested the dinner.

In an interview with My Fox DC, Berger stated that he didn’t feel his routine was racist in any way.

“It’s coincidence. There’s no racial overtones to this show. There’s nothing racial to the show.”

The officers in the case had no prior knowledge of the plans Berger has. They have not supported it in any way. The attorney for the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, Michael Davey, stated no money would be accepted by the fundraiser.

What do you think of the bright idea Bobby Berger has? Do you feel he should let the show go on, or will this do more harm than good?

[Photo by Baltimore Police]