Baltimore Police Chief Criticizes Release of ‘Bad Cop’ List
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison is concerned that a list of 305 Baltimore police officers with credibility and integrity issues that recently became public will further erode the department’s relationship with the community and hurt officer morale.
Landwebs
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison is concerned that a list of 305 Baltimore police officers with credibility and integrity issues that recently became public will further erode the department’s relationship with the community and hurt officer morale, reports the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby released the list to the Baltimore Action Legal Team, a community nonprofit organization that is working to make the legal system more accessible to the public, after a judge ordered her office to do so.
The reason for disclosure is to ensure defense attorneys are aware of any potential misconduct and to make it easier to argue before a judge whether the misconduct should be admissible in court. Mosby has repeatedly said some officers on the latest list may have unsubstantiated complaints, and that being on the list does not bar them from giving testimony. Harrison says that the newly revealed list of potential problem cops may set back efforts to improve the department’s reputation following a sweeping officer corruption scandal and scathing U.S. Department of Justice report in 2016 that found a pattern of unconstitutional policing and resulted in a consent decree.
