AS I SEE IT

There were two legal decisions this past week that will have an impact on Police-minority, specifically African- American relationships.

The most important one was of course the indictment of 6 Baltimore Police in the death of Freddie Gay resulting in charges of second-degree murder against Officer Caesar Goodson and involuntary manslaughter against three of the other officers; the other two officers are charged with aggravated assault.

It must be noted that Goodson and two of the three charged with involuntary manslaughter are black. The conclusion that must be drawn is that although as egregious as that of Ferguson, Missouri; in Baltimore  the atmosphere of "Police Brutality"  is not basically racial but indigenous of Police Departments where there is a large African-American population.

This represents a most exaggerated response to a population that percentage wise to its size has a higher crime rate. The problem becomes an abuse of police power, magnified by fear of police deaths at the hands of criminals.

Since this is a State Criminal action the hearing of charges and pleases will be the first week of July. How long before an actual trials takes place is questionable, the delay may be up to a year. A lawyer can tell us if each will be separate i.e. 6 trials or some bundled because of similar chargers.

My hope that people will accept the fact that “Justice” lies in our legal system and when the results are not what we wish that is not an excuse for riots and destruction of property.

In Freddie Gray’s case the Federal Government can at any time institute action based on deprival of his civil rights.

That most likely will be the next step in Cleveland in the view of the acquittal of Officer Brelo in the shooting deaths of Timothy Russell, 43, and Malissa Williams, 30. Russell and Williams reportedly led officers on a 22-mile car chase on November 29, 2012, over the course of which 137 rounds were fired at their car. Brelo alone fired 49 shots, and the chase concluded when he jumped on the hood of Russell’s car to fire 15. Some of those rounds were lethal.

Not knowing the facts involved at best the number of shots fired at best was overkill. The fact that the two were not armed is not taken into account, nor is why they should have been fleeing at speeds over 100 miles/hour. There is much we have not been informed, however there is no doubt in my mind that the Federal Government will intercede as a result of this astonishing verdict.

Remarkably this case heard only by a Judge not by Jury at the defendant’s choice occurred at a time when Cleveland has reached a settlement with the Justice Department over what federal authorities said was a pattern of unconstitutional policing and excessive use of force. The report on that is supposed to be made available this week.

It is noteworthy that the city awaits a decision from prosecutors on whether to charge the officer who last year shot and killed Tamir Rice, 12, who was playing with a replica gun near a playground, and the officer who restrained Tanisha Anderson, 37. Ms. Anderson, who suffered from bipolar disorder and heart disease, died after she was restrained face down on the pavement.

This is a nationwide problem that is more than “racial motivated” or just that of urban areas with large minority populations. The solution has to be multifocal not only involving the Police but the targeted population. We cannot tolerate law enforcement bodies that would at home in the despotic nations. Nor can we accept assassinations of Police doing their job.

There is a long article about the Feds and Cleveland in today's Times as well as in the WSJ worth reading. Among other cities that the Feds have found the Police Department acting unconstitutionally are Sacramento, Seattle, and Newark. All have been ordered to make changes in training and procedures. (11:30pm)