The state’s attorney’s office has taken swift action in charging six officers with the death of Freddie Gray.
At approximately 10 a.m. it was announced that one officer is charged with second-degree murder, while the others are facing manslaughter and assault charges. Some have as many as six different charges against them.
There is already conflict brewing as the Gray family’s attorney, Billy Murphy, donated $4,000 (the maximum individual amount) to State’s Attorney Maryiln Mosby’s campaign. As a result, Baltimore police are asking the states attorney’s office to appoint a special independent prosecutor to the investigation. However, Mosby declined to appoint one.
The Baltimore Police Officers Union says the officers aren’t responsible for Freddie Gray’s death, a bold, and maybe even irresponsible, statement in the face of multiple charges of misconduct filed against each officer.
If the officers are found to be guilty, they might appeal the case or sentence length, based on the connection between Mosby and Murphy.
Regardless of the conflict, the swift action by the state’s attorney’s office is a step in bringing confidence and trust back into the Baltimore community. After the riot, the community joined together with brooms to clean up the broken glass.
This conflict is being handled much more cautiously than the Michael Brown case last fall. Former District Attorney Eric Holder’s resignation did not bring confidence to the Ferguson community. The commitment of Mosby, despite controversy, is a step in the right direction. It may at least divert media attention towards the officers being charged with misconduct and murder.
The statement made by the police union will be especially damaging to the relationship with its community if the officers are found to be guilty. It may very well have looked better for the union to remain neutral in the case instead of choosing a side. Solidarity might be more understandable than an outright claim. To their credit, there is no definitive evidence that has yet been revealed to the public. That definitive evidence might be the findings of Freddie Gray’s autopsy, which currently lies in the hands of Mosby.
