Panel To Decide If Officer Loses His Job For Role In Freddie Gray's Death
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Will a Baltimore police officer lose his badge because of his role in Freddie Gray's arrest and subsequent death? It's now up to a panel to decide.
Officer Caesar Goodson is on administrative trial for his role in Freddie Gray's arrest, and now, after six days of arguments, he will soon find out if he keeps his badge.
It's now up to a panel to decide if he'll be fired, but we may never know the outcome, as the hearing was public, but the outcome is not.
So when the panel reaches their decision, the public will not be allowed back into the trial room to hear it.
Six days of arguments inside a University of Baltimore hearing room, including three hours of closing statements.
Now, it's up to a panel of officers to decide if officer Goodson will keep his job, or hand over his badge.
He's accused of violating police policies and procedures for his role in Freddie Gray's arrest.
He drove the van in which Gray suffered deadly neck injuries, and could now lose his job because of it.
During more than a week of arguments, there has been little that both sides agree on, including the number of charges in the case.
Prosecutors say they're leveling 22 charges.
The defense says Goodson is facing firing for as many as 80 violations, including failure to secure seat belt and ensure safety.
Most violations are part of a police rule put in place just days before Gray's arrest, which required officers to seat belt prisoners.
Throughout the case, the defense has argued that the police department failed to properly train officers.
In closing statements, prosecutors said Goodson's attorneys tried to pass the blame, telling the panel of officers overseeing the case that it was "his wagon, his detainee, his responsibility."
As the public was leaving the trial Monday afternoon, the panel told court employees not to plan on being in court on Tuesday, so that may mean a decision has been made.
Goodson is one of three officers to face firing, and the first to go to trial.
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