The Baltimore Police Consent Decree Monitoring Team has reviewed the video of a violent incident apparently involving Baltimore Police officers in East Baltimore earlier today. The video is disturbing. The incident warrants immediate investigation by the command staff of the Baltimore Police Department. Earlier this evening, Consent Decree Monitor Kenneth L. Thompson expressed that view directly to Acting Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle.
At its core, the Consent Decree requires that police activity be conducted in accordance with the United States Constitution. Operating as an arm of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the Monitoring Team will be watching closely in the coming days to see how he Department responds to and investigates this incident. This is an important moment for the Baltimore Police Department. It is an opportunity for the Department to show the Moniroting team, the Court, and the community that when its officers are involved in an incident that raises serious questions about compliance with Department policies regarding the use of force (not to mention the U.S. Constitution) it will move swiftly to conduct a thorough, transparent, and fair investigation.
Baltimore Police Consent Decree Monitoring Team