Baltimore has the unfortunate distinction of being listed in the
top ten most dangerous cities. However, at number 7 it still ranks less
dangerous than Atlanta. Baltimore has been in the news more frequently following
the death of 25-year old Freddie Gray while in police custody.
A relatively young female prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, made headlines by bringing charges against six officers involved in Gray’s arrest. One week from today, the first of the six trials will begin. For me this is noteworthy – Ferguson, Missouri and New York City grand juries decided not to indict police officers that had been involved in police-related deaths. Ms. Mosby has been in office for almost two years and has been tough on crime, but, it appears, not to the point of “looking the other way” if she feels police officers have conducted themselves in a possible illegal manner. She was able to get an indictment from the grand jury.
A relatively young female prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, made headlines by bringing charges against six officers involved in Gray’s arrest. One week from today, the first of the six trials will begin. For me this is noteworthy – Ferguson, Missouri and New York City grand juries decided not to indict police officers that had been involved in police-related deaths. Ms. Mosby has been in office for almost two years and has been tough on crime, but, it appears, not to the point of “looking the other way” if she feels police officers have conducted themselves in a possible illegal manner. She was able to get an indictment from the grand jury.
Ms. Mosby grew up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in
the Boson area, many members of her family are police officers, and she is
married to a candidate for mayor. She has been accused of not remembering her
police officer roots, “showboating” to raise her own statue, of being amateurish
after some miss-steps in the legal process - to name a few.
A grand jury indictment does not mean that the officers are guilty;
it allows for the case(s) to move through the legal process of determining
guilt by an impartial jury. This is something that did not occur in the
Ferguson or New York City cases. I commend Ms. Mosby for moving the legal
process forward in an effort to determine how culpable are the officers regarding
Freddie Gray’s death.
With multiple similar cases getting dropped for lack of a better term, it is interesting to see that this one will result in some follow up. I know a number of police officers and can not imagine the stress they deal with going to respond on a call. They like anyone else can make a mistake, but if there is an incident where they purposely do something illegal they should be held to the same standard as anyone else.
ReplyDeleteAnna Edmondson- "I think that is the true test of the state official, to be able to turn their efforts towards the entity that they work for, protect and uphold. I can only hope that this instance where a state official is bringing this specific case to court will only help the momentum and shine light to the severity of the issue at hand."
ReplyDeleteRoger, I would have to join you in commending Ms. Mosby for her efforts in moving the legal process forward when it comes to this situation. I think she took the best possible steps toward a solution and is not placing blame on the officers but pointing out that their actions could have or were illegal resulting in the death of the young man.
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of this for me is that Mosby was attacked for not remembering her "police officer roots." To remember her roots, does she have to look the other way sometimes? Is being part of the force make you a member of this elite "members only" club with a perpetual "don't ask" if I beat a man to death, "don't tell" anyone rule? Maybe this is how things are run all over the country. The Boys in Blue seem more interested in looking out for themselves rather than doing the right thing.
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