I was born and raised in Baltimore, living there for 32 of my 53 years. It upsets me to watch the recent events in Charm City on CNN. The first important factor to consider is Freddie Gray's background. He got lead poisoning as a child and suffered from related problems including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He was no stranger to police, having been arrested previously. Why did he make eye contact with police and then run? The knife he carried was legal. Innocent people have no need to run. It didn't look good for him at that point. He was already involved in the criminal justice system.
The following investigation unfolded too quickly under intense political pressure. I am alarmed at how quickly the investigation was done. The investigation was not very thorough. I am pretty shocked. It appears to be a rush to charge the police officers in an attempt to appease the protesters. Charges were brought against police officers just to calm things down ("A step toward justice for Freddie Gray," May 1). The police are being prosecuted because of the pressure in the city.
What precisely did the officers do to cause Mr. Gray's death? That seems a bit unclear. Rage turned to relief last Friday when the city's top prosecutor charged six police officers with felonies ranging from assault to murder. The swiftness of her announcement, less than a day after receiving the police department's criminal investigation and official autopsy results, took me and the city by surprise. So too did her detailed description of the evidence supporting probable cause to charge all six officers with felonies based, in part, on her office's independent investigation. This triggered celebrations across the same West Baltimore streets that were smoldering just four days earlier.
Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby rejected a police union request to step aside and appoint a special prosecutor to handle the case. She should have removed herself from the case. I am concerned about the fairness and integrity of the prosecution of the six officers. Something tells me that this is a political stunt. A bigger problem than whether people are going to be found guilty or not guilty will be the effect on police officers and their ability to maintain order within the city. The police officer must react instinctively as he has been trained. If a police officer first thinks about what liabilities he will be facing, it's too late. The police officer will not properly perform his duties. It puts him at risk, it puts other officers around him at risk and it puts the public at risk. My prayer is that the case won't stick, that none of these officers will be convicted in court, especially of the most serious charges.
Ilene D. Kochel, New Holland, Pa.