Porter Case Details Police Policies That Still Need To Be Addressed

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- No new trial date has been set for Officer William Porter, 24 hours after his case was declared a mistrial.

Tracey Leong speaks with the police commissioner about why police policy changes still need to be made.

This trial has increased criticism of Baltimore's police practices that will take major reform to rebuild their reputation.

The Baltimore Police Department--under a microscope. Officer William Porter's trial is highlighting its failures for nearly two decades. Their practices are being doubted and criticized.

Perhaps the most glaring--an order to seat belt prisoners, repeatedly ignored since it was put in place in 1997--cited as contributing to Freddie Gray's death.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, acknowledging these downfalls, is now actively working to reverse the deficiencies and enforcing the seat belt order.

"I just did a surprise inspection, probably two and a half, three weeks ago, and it was 100 percent compliance," said Davis.

The department is working to turn its reputation around.

Other failures pointed out during Officer Porter's trial include a breakdown in communication and technology, little accountability for orders disobeyed and lack of proper training or experience--revealing problems historically plaguing the department long before Davis was appointed top cop.

"Shortcomings that exist right now, they didn't happen overnight. I'm certainly more than aware of them and we're going to work very, very hard to fix them," said Davis.

Issues Davis have made a priority.

"I'm very encouraged what the police department has been doing right now," said Ed Norris, CBS radio host.

Former Baltimore police commissioner Ed Norris says Davis has a difficult job ahead.

"I like what Kevin Davis has done so far. He's in a terrible spot. He's got this going on. At the same time, he's got a rising murder rate, he's got a demoralized police department, people questioning the integrity of the department," said Norris.

A responsibility falling on our top cop's shoulders. Our mayor is confident he'll succeed.

"He is very sincere in his efforts to reform the police department. He has taken a very common sense approach, and it really has the support of the rank and file officers," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

The mayor and police commissioner were planning a public safety forum Thursday night to discuss the reform in the department. That has been postponed. It will be rescheduled very soon.

The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation into the city police department.