News & Commentary

Although all eyes are understandably focused on Officer William Porter's guilt or innocence related to Freddie Gray's death, the defense case last week featured disturbing testimony from senior Baltimore Police commanders that should not be overlooked, regardless of the outcome of the trial. Former Baltimore Police Col. Timothy Longo testified that it was reasonable for Porter to be afraid of Freddie Gray, whose legs were shackled, whose hands were cuffed behind his back, and who had not attacked or threatened Porter.  In fact Longo claimed that it was "objectively reasonable" for Porter to be so afraid that he could ignore the Department's General Orders requiring detainees to be put in a seatbelt in the transport van. This is - or should be - unbelievable.  Equally shocking, Justin Reynolds, a current Baltimore Police Captain, took the witness stand and proclaimed that the police department's General Orders are not actually orders that must be followed, but just suggestions that officers can ignore.In every other circumstance, BPD holds out its General Orders as essential policies that govern police conduct and protect both citizenry and police.  In this case, had Freddie Gray been properly belted in according to police protocol, he would not have suffered the catastrophic injury that ended his life.If senior police officials view this fear of Freddie Gray as reasonable, then the standard is completely meaningless, and it is hard to imagine any circumstance in which police officers' fears, however irrational, are not justified.  And if this "reasonable" fear is itself a basis for ignoring the rules that are supposed to govern police behavior, then ... there are no rules for police?  Even when someone dies as a result?No wonder so many people, particularly the Black and Brown people who are far more likely to be regarded by police as inherently suspicious and to be subjected to police misconduct, don't trust police to police themselves when accused of misconduct and excessive force.  And if this is the testimony of BPD officials - a police department governed not by rules, but the whims and implicit bias of officers - then we really shouldn't trust the police to investigate themselves and claim that the system will take care of the "few bad apples."  As a system, police discipline is broken.  Maryland needs real police accountability reform and we need it now.

See more at the national ACLU's "Free Future" blog

Dear Governor-Elect Hogan,The ACLU of Maryland is deeply concerned with your appointment of Thomas E. "Tim" Hut

After a series of police killings in Maryland, and the police killing of unarmed Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, concern about police practices has dramatically increased. The ACLU of Maryland is continuing its long tradition of addressing police misconduct, racial profiling, and militarization, as well as empowering people to know their rights when interacting with police.

Photo from National Law Journal

Maryland Congressman Andy Harris stepped outside of his jurisdiction and ignored the opinion of Washington, D.C. residents when he tried used his power to undermine D.C.'s new marijuana decriminalization law. And he did so even though the public is clearly in favor of reform and despite the fact that decriminalization would help address the large racial disparities in arrests for marijuana possession.