Baltimore police union gets mocked for 2-page open letter to 'SNL' over 'Thirsty Cops' sketch: 'Don't you have more pressing issues?'

Suzy Byrne
·Editor, Yahoo Entertainment
Ego Nwodim and Leslie Jones portrayed Baltimore police officers who pulled over a man to sexually harass him. Nwodim, who hails from the city, wrote the sketch. (Image: <em>Saturday Night Live</em>)
Ego Nwodim and Leslie Jones portrayed Baltimore police officers who pulled over a man to sexually harass him. Nwodim, who hails from the city, wrote the sketch. (Image: Saturday Night Live)

Saturday Night Live isn’t the only TV show that has depicted corruption in the Baltimore Police Department — you may have heard of The Wire — but a recent sketch has been deemed dangerously unfunny by the head of the city’s local police union.

Lt. Gene S. Ryan, president of Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, sent a formal complaint to SNL honcho Lorne Michaels about Saturday’s sketch “Thirsty Cops,” showing female officers (portrayed by Leslie Jones, Ego Nwodim, and Kate McKinnon) making sexual advances toward a man (host Seth Meyers) they have pulled over. In it, they sexually harass the driver, having him bend over while they catcall him.

In the sketch, written by Baltimore native Nwodim, they are wearing
Baltimore Police Department badges, and Ryan objected to what he called a “distorted representation.” “The Baltimore Police Department is currently a very beleaguered agency in the throes of massive amounts of criticism and disrespect,” Ryan wrote. “Many of our members, especially our young ones, are struggling with their choice of career, and we are losing good and credible members daily. It is a difficult time in Baltimore, and to portray our brave, hard-working members with such an inappropriate manner is very unfortunate.”

The letter also said, “The Baltimore patches that were attached to the shirts of your cast are worn by each and every member of our agency during their careers. They are worn with extreme pride because, to us, they represent the best that law enforcement has to offer.”

After the skit aired, Jones gave a shout-out to Nwodim, a newbie on the show, making it clear she thought the sketch was great.

While a rep for SNL declined to comment for this story, the internet had a lot to say. Most of it was critical of the lengthy letter, at a time when among all major cities in the United States, Baltimore has the highest homicide rate. The department has not been able to find a candidate to become its police commissioner. Freddie Gray’s death also continues to make headlines.

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