Justice for Officers

                Freddie Gray was arrested on the morning of April 12, 2015, in Baltimore, Maryland. He apparently was injured while in police custody and later died of the injuries. The medical examiner ruled Gray's death a homicide, and City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby brought charges against six police officers. 

                Officer William Porter, 25 years old and on the police force since 2012, had four charges against him: involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. He faced 10 years in prison for manslaughter and assault charges, and his bail was set at $350,000. His case ended in a mistrial on December 16, 2015, and was awaiting a retrial.

                Officer Caesar R. Goodson, 46 years old and on the police force since 1999, was the driver of the van. He faced seven charges: second-degree depraved-heart murder, involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, manslaughter by vehicle (gross negligence), manslaughter by vehicle (criminal negligence), misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. He faced decades behind bars, and his bail was set at $350,000.

                Officer Garrett E. Miller, 26 years old and on the police force since 2012, was on bicycle patrol and restrained Gray in a “leg lace.” He faced three charges: second-degree assault, misconduct in office (two counts), and reckless endangerment. He faced ten years in prison per count, and his bail was set at $250,000.

                Sgt. Alicia D. White, 30 years old and on the police force since 2010, faced four charges: involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office, and reckless endangerment. She faced 10 years in prison, and her bail was set at $350,000.

                Officer Edward M. Nero, 30 years old and on the police force since 2012, was on bicycle patrol and held Gray down until the transport van arrived. He faced three charges: second-degree assault, misconduct in office (two counts), and reckless endangerment. He faced 10 years per count, and his bail was set at $250,000.

                Lt. Brian W. Rice, 42 years old and on the police force since 1997, was on bicycle patrol and helped cuff and shackle Gray before putting him in the van. He faced four charges: involuntary manslaughter, second-degree assault, misconduct in office (two counts), and reckless endangerment. He faced 10 years in prison on each count, and his bail was set at $350,000.

                Last Wednesday, Mosby dropped all charges against Miller, Porter, and White, the last three officers to be tried. Her decision ended “one of the highest-profile criminal cases in the city’s history with zero convictions.” She acknowledged the improbability of getting a conviction against the three remaining officers, but she “stood by her decision to bring the charges, pointing out that the medical examiner’s office ruled Gray’s death a homicide and that it’s her job as the city’s top prosecutor to seek justice.”

                I am grateful that the officers were acquitted of all charges. I also believe it is only fitting that Marilyn Mosby is now being sued by five of the six officers that she charged. They allege that “she is guilty of defamation, false arrest, false imprisonment and more.” “The complaint filed by Porter and White stated that Mosby `made statements for purposes of quelling the riots rather than prosecuting police officers who had committed a crime,’ and that Mosby `exceeded her authority’ and `brought charges against police officers that were wholly unsupported by evidence and probable cause.’”

                Maybe the charges against Mosby will cause other prosecutors, judges, etc. to consider the consequences of their decisions before charging police officers for doing their jobs. With very few exceptions, police officers are honest and law abiding public servants who are putting their lives on the line every day to protect us. Whenever possible, we should give them the benefit of the doubt instead of treating them like the enemy.