As Freddie Gray Trial Looms, Officials Work To Prevent Another Riot
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—City leaders lay out plans to control any unrest ahead of important hearings next week in the Freddie Gray case.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren has the details.
With hearings next week on whether to dismiss charges against the "Freddie Gray Six" and their trials scheduled to start in October, Baltimore leaders are trying to reassure the public that they're ready if there's another riot.
They also plan to address the problem of inadequate gear for officers.
"The equipment that now has been afforded to Baltimore City police officers from head to toe, civil disturbance equipment, that's been purchased and that's in place," said Interim Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Police.
But the union representing school police says their officers still don't have proper protection.
"It was very, very bad. It's unlike any other thing I have experienced in my career," said Sgt. Clyde Boatwright, city school police union president. "We don't anticipate that our city would go into unrest, but we didn't anticipate that on April 27th. We've had enough time since then to properly equip our officers."
He does say communication has improved. City police announced a new 'War Room' of sorts, where transportation, police and school leaders will be physically together in the event of trouble.
The city has yet to release a formal report on what went so wrong on April 27th, but part of the problem stemmed from unrest that started among students on social media–calling for a gathering at Mondawmin Mall.
Once violence broke out, MTA buses carrying 5000 students were shut down, leaving many trapped–creating a chaotic, unsafe environment.
This weekend, the head of city Schools, Dr. Gregory Thornton, will hold a youth summit, explaining what's next in the Gray case.
Meetings have also taken place with National Guard leaders and police in neighboring counties
The video from April has been reviewed and used in new police training. The goal: avoiding mistakes from the past as Baltimore gets set for legal proceedings that could ignite more raw emotions in the future.