Leaders seek officers' names from DOJ report
Leaders call for reform, accountability, apology
Days after the release of the Department of Justice report on the Baltimore Police Department, Maryland's African-American lawmakers are not only seeking reforms, they also want to know the names of the officers involved in incidents of misconduct cited in the report.
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and the Baltimore branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are calling for reform, rebuilding community trust, police accountability and an apology.
Outside Baltimore City Hall on Friday, members of the Legislative Black Caucus described efforts they plan to take to bring reform and accountability following the Department of Justice investigation, calling the findings appalling and devastating.
"I had tears coming out of my eyes because, not only have people have been victimized and beaten and their Constitutional rights have been violated, people have been killed," said Delegate Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore City. "Families have been destroyed at the hands of police officers. It's wrong and it has to be addressed."
They will continue focusing on getting civilians on police trial boards across the state, even in areas where union contracts prohibit it.
"The composition of the trial board must include civilians in every jurisdiction. Then, the next collective bargaining agreement can't even address that because state law would supersede it," said Delegate Curt Anderson, D-Baltimore City.
The DOJ report mentions a number of incidents in which officers are accused of poor behavior and misconduct. The lawmakers want to know the names of the officers involved.
"Investigations are conducted, police officers that are the culprits are identified and they are subject to administrative and criminal penalties when warranted," said Delegate Jill Carter, D-Baltimore City. "We want to dismantle racism and implement a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory policing."
One lawmaker said police departments around the state need to take notice of the DOJ report.
"It should give them pause to all jurisdictions to let them know that when things go awry, when the people who are being paid to protect and serve and they're doing something other than, that they should be on notice, and they are going to have to be held to the same law that all the American citizens are held to," said Delegate Benjamin Brooks, D-Baltimore County.
They also are considering what they call restorative justice, paying victims, and they want an apology, which is also something some African-American ministers and community leaders are demanding.
"We deserve an earnest apology for, quite frankly, racially biased policing in Baltimore City," said the Rev. C.D. Witherspoon of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
"What we're asking for is we're asking for indictments. What we're asking for is the people who have done wrong to be told that they've done wrong and be penalized like they penalize a lot of people," said Michael Johnson, with the Paul Robeson Institute for Social Justice.
Baltimore City police said they have made a formal request to the DOJ to get the names of officers accused in the report of bad behavior and misconduct.