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Where Does Baltimore Go from Here? by Andrew R

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Where Does Baltimore Go from Here? by Andrew R SEPTEMBER 2016 THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1933 Where does Baltimore go from here? By Andrew R. Koch Business Manager On July 27, Baltimore City Circuit an ethics complaint against Mosby later on found that the evidence improve the police department and MEET AARON ARNOLD Court Judge Barry Williams found with the Maryland Attorney Griev- didn’t meet the standard of ‘beyond improve police community relations,” Lieutenant Brian Rice not guilty of ance Commission. Banzhaf alleges a reasonable doubt.’ However, the Schmoke said. He added that in- He’s a UB student all charges against him in the death that Mosby violated several of the decision that a prosecutor has to cludes the Fraternal Order of Police and an avid volunteer. of Freddie Gray in April 2015. Rice, Maryland Lawyer’s Rules of Profes- make at that time is whether there is Lodge Three, which is the union for Read about him here! 4 the highest-ranked officer of the six sional Conduct for Attorneys in her probable cause to move ahead, and I the Baltimore Police Department. charged in connection with Gray’s prosecution of the cases against the think that at the time, she believed “I was actually very surprised to death, was the third officer to be ac- officers. He wrote in his complaint quite faithfully that she had met that see the response of the President of quitted by Judge Williams in as many that some of Mosby’s remarks in probable cause standard.” the Fraternal Order of Police (Gene bench trials this year. That afternoon, announcing the charges on May 1, A petition has been posted on Ryan), who noted some of the rec- following Rice’s acquittal, Baltimore 2015 also constituted a violation for Change.org by a group called “Cit- ommendations in the Justice De- City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby making “extrajudicial statements.” izens Against Domestic Terrorism” partment report were similar to the held a press conference at the cor- Banzhaf even went so far as to call on to support Mosby and stop the calls recommendations that the F.O.P. had ner of Presbury and North Mount the Attorney Grievance Commission for her disbarment. Meanwhile, all made four years ago about improving Streets, the intersection where Gray to discipline Mosby as a “runaway of the officers charged in the Gray policing,” Schmoke said. However, was arrested after running from prosecutor” in the conclusion to his case, except for Goodson, have filed Schmoke said that screening and police in West Baltimore. At that complaint. Banzhaf also filed the a lawsuit against Mosby and Major training of officers in the city has to press conference, Mosby announced ethics complaint that ultimately led Samuel Cogen of the Baltimore City improve, and the recommendations that she had decided to drop charges that are being made and implement against the two officers who hadn’t won’t start working overnight. As yet gone to trial – Officer Garrett “I also know that professors here at the University of an anchor institution in the city, Miller and Sergeant Alicia White – Baltimore, in our Criminal Justice program, will be the university will be involved in along with the first officer who was helping improve the relationship tried, William Porter, whose trial submitting ideas for improvement in policing, and between the police department and ended with a hung jury in December they have a good, solid track record of making the community. 2015. Porter’s retrial was scheduled recommendations in other instances, other cities, “I also know that professors here O AN S KY for September. Officer Edward Nero that have led to improvements” ―Kurt Schmoke at the University of Baltimore, in N M ’ S and the driver of the transport van, our Criminal Justice program, will In this anticipated Caesar Goodson, were acquitted by be submitting ideas for improvement exploration simulator, Judge Williams in their bench trials. in policing, and they have a good, the emptiness of space is Mosby was highly critical of people to the disbarment of Wake County Sheriff’s Office, alleging false arrest, solid track record of making recom- 8 in the police department whom she (N.C.) District Attorney Mike Ni- false imprisonment and defamation mendations in other instances, other brought front and center. felt sabotaged her office’s investiga- fong in 2006 following the Duke of character. cities, that have led to improvements,” tion into Gray’s death, which was lacrosse rape scandal. In the wake of Gray’s death, the Schmoke said. followed by several days of protests Just days after Banzhaf filed his City Council and Police Depart- The university will be part of the throughout the city, and then riots on complaint with the Attorney Griev- ment have worked on implementing University System of Maryland’s the day of his funeral. University of ance Commission, Martin Brhel, Jr. a a number of reforms to improve rela- “B-Power” initiative, along with Baltimore President Kurt Schmoke, retired prosecutor and defense attor- tions between officers and minority Coppin State University, Baltimore a former Mayor and State’s Attorney ney in California, also filed a griev- residents. Among the reforms are City Community College and Junior for Baltimore City, agreed with Mos- ance against Mosby. In an interview body cameras for patrol officers, and Achievement of Central Maryland by’s decision to drop the charges in with WBAL 1090-AM, Brhel said cameras in the transport vans. The among other organizations, to in- the remaining cases. that he was “…highly offended at the U.S. Department of Justice, in its crease educational opportunities for “Judge Williams demonstrated, in way Ms. Mosby…is persecuting six report released on August 10 on its students in the city. acquitting these other officers, that innocent police officers.” Both Brhel investigation into the practices of Photo courtesy of Chris Hart he didn’t agree with the State’s At- and Banzhaf state in their complaints the police department, also made torney’s theory of the case that is that that they believe Mosby did not have a number of recommendations for there was criminal activity. He said enough evidence to show probable reforms, in addition to being highly over and over that there was negli- cause in indicting the officers. How- critical of the department for ille- gence, which agreed with the city in ever, President Schmoke said flatly, gally and unconstitutionally arrest- the city’s decision to settle the civil “They’re wrong.” ing and stopping African-American case,” Schmoke said. In September “The information that she had at residents. President Schmoke says 2015, the city Board of Estimates ap- the time of the decision to prosecute he’s optimistic that the reforms will Kurt Schmoke, President of UB, proved a $6.4 million settlement to met the threshold of probable cause, improve relations between police and speaks about the Freddie Gray trials. ESOURCES Gray’s family. and that’s what the prosecutor has to minority residents. UB R In late June, John Banzhaf III, make a decision on, as to whether or “I believe that there are a number Get a quick overview a public interest law professor at not to pursue a criminal case. Clear, of people throughout the community of the great campus George Washington University, filed both the jury and then the judge who want to work in good faith to resources available to 3 UB students. 2 | The UB Post | September 2016 Student Newspaper of the LETTER FROM THE EDITOR University of Baltimore since 1933 STAFF EDITORIAL “A little flattery will support a man through EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kyle Fierstien great fatigue.” - James Monroe MANAGING EDITOR Montez Jennings STAFF WRITERS Open Kyle Fierstien PRODUCTION Editor-in-Chief PRODUCTION MANAGER Nicole Hovermale PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS This is always an exciting time of year when those of us only just arriving of all I’ve earned? Why do these children have better phones than me? I feel Brandon Parker face all of the offerings and prospects of university life for the first time, and that as an adult I shouldn’t have to be subjected to humiliation by these groups Dawn Hubbs the rest of us begin to feel the summertime pangs for the busy schedules of of kids with stronger Pokémon than someone who has to work for a living PHOTOGRAPHERS the semester shift into the familiar embrace of anxiety – that’s how it is for could possibly have time to catch. Lawrence Welk famously argued against Open me anyway. I can’t begin to imagine what it must feel like to stay on for the child labor laws in his autobiography, an argument I find myself siding with summer. More of the same, I guess. now because if those ten-year-olds went to work like the rest of us I could This is exactly the kind of distraction most of us need at this point in a pres- take back what is rightfully mine while they were busy punching the clock. BUSINESS idential election cycle, when the population has separated into the emotionally I’m exhausted, definitely in the emotionally drained camp, and ready to BUSINESS MANAGER drained and the tirelessly angry. This election has been especially fascinating, feel the sweet burden of homework that might prevent me from paying much Andrew Koch dipping into surreal horror as expertly as a David Lynch film. Being able to attention to the news or leaving my apartment. Hopefully the excitement of see the mechanisms of a modern cult of personality at work has been educating, this new semester doesn’t turn as quickly as my excitement for the summer did.
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