There are nearly fifty percent less arrests in Baltimore because of crowds recording the actions of police. The Baltimore police asked for it. They have not had the confidence of the community that are under Big Brother surveillance. There is a lot more wrong with the policing relationship other than the death of Freddie Gray.
If the community is showing up at arrests, there is probably surveillance of the police band radio. These people are terrified of their police. There is no clear communication or advocacy for the people with the police. The communication between the police and community has to improve.
If there are fifty percent less arrests in Baltimore, maybe there should be. There are still arrests, but, less of them. The arrests that are happening might be the ones the community recognizes as necessary and important. There needs to be a Citizen-Police Board where complaints are brought to end the tensions with the community.
The Freddie Gray murder was the spark that lit the flame. Not every action by police or the community is linked to the death of Freddie Gray. Those dynamics are now facing the court. He died in the custody of police in a heinous manner. That is a fact. How many other infractions exist in the community not caught on camera yet. The death of Freddie Gray was not a freak incident. There are others that have died in police vans. There is a lot wrong in Baltimore and until there are clear understandings and not an 'US and Them' relationship there will be problems.
If the community is showing up at arrests, there is probably surveillance of the police band radio. These people are terrified of their police. There is no clear communication or advocacy for the people with the police. The communication between the police and community has to improve.
If there are fifty percent less arrests in Baltimore, maybe there should be. There are still arrests, but, less of them. The arrests that are happening might be the ones the community recognizes as necessary and important. There needs to be a Citizen-Police Board where complaints are brought to end the tensions with the community.
The Freddie Gray murder was the spark that lit the flame. Not every action by police or the community is linked to the death of Freddie Gray. Those dynamics are now facing the court. He died in the custody of police in a heinous manner. That is a fact. How many other infractions exist in the community not caught on camera yet. The death of Freddie Gray was not a freak incident. There are others that have died in police vans. There is a lot wrong in Baltimore and until there are clear understandings and not an 'US and Them' relationship there will be problems.
