San Francisco, Oakland Officers Riding In Pairs Following Baltimore Violence, Blue Alert
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Violence on the streets of Baltimore prompted a recommendation for a Blue Alert for police departments across the country, and officers in San Francisco and Oakland are riding in pairs due to the alert.
The Baltimore Police Department issued an advisory to every police department in the country as angry crowds rioted in Baltimore, throwing rocks and bricks at police officers and looting stores hours after thousands attended the funeral of a man who died after being severely injured in police custody.
At least seven officers have been hurt in the violence, and at least one was described by a police captain as 'unresponsive.'
The rioting began after the funeral for Freddie Gray, who suffered a severe spinal injury and died a week after his arrest. Rioters were spread out across several parts of the city, damaging police patrol cars and setting other vehicles on fire.