The death of Freddie Gray has left many unanswered questions for the people of Baltimore as well as the nation. The uprisings in Baltimore also sparked the public, as well as government officials, to question the practices of the police in Baltimore City. The Attorney General and the Justice Department will conduct an investigation on Baltimore City police to see if there has been a pattern of excessive force.
After picking up some heavy controversy during the Baltimore Uprisings for “encouraging” citizens to riot, Baltimore’s mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, requested that the Justice Department conduct an investigation of the Baltimore Police. This is definitely a sure way to win some brownie points with the people of Baltimore as well as those that criticized her comments on the Baltimore Uprisings.
Surprisingly though, the Baltimore Police Commissioner is backing the investigation as well. Commissioner Anthony W. Batts agrees that the investigation will help see the good in Baltimore police, “we could use the extra weight. Lawsuits are down. Citizen complaints are down. Officer involved shootings are down. But the community doesn’t feel it.” The police department’s backing of the investigation comes somewhat as a surprise and this is mainly because they were so defensive once the controversy surrounding Gray’s death was made public.
At times, the Fraternal Order of Police were insisting on no wrong doing by the police–even when a man ended up dying while in police custody–and that the Baltimore State Attorney was being too critical of the situation and passed judgment way too quickly. The best option for the police in the situation has to be transparency, though. If the people feel like they are hiding something, then they are already proven guilty in the eye of the public.
Lynch commented on the investigations launch saying it is definitely necessary, ” When there are allegations of wrong doing made against individual officers and police department, the Department of Justice has a responsibility to examine the evidence and, if necessary, implement change.” Lynch is just a few weeks into her new position and is already making good, progressive moves.
Source: Washington Post
