Commissioner Davis Calls FOP's Controversial Tweets 'Inappropriate, Insensitive'
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Several posts from Baltimore's police union are raising eyebrows across the city. They come after Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. was found not guilty of all charges in the death of Freddie Gray.
The tweets were quickly deleted, but not before drawing heavy criticism from some of Baltimore's top leaders, WJZ's Rick Ritter reports.
Less than 48 hours after Officer Goodson was acquitted, a post surfaced from the Twitter account of Baltimore's FOP Lodge 3 of a toast, saying: "Here's to the Baltimore 6 defense team, the FOP and Detective Taylor."
On Saturday morning, another post followed from the account, with an image of Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby with the text: "The wolf that lurks."
Shortly after, Police Commissioner Kevin Davis was the first to fire back, calling the tweets inappropriate:
"I've been in contact with the President of FOP3 regarding messages posted on social media overnight and this morning. Inappropriate, insensitive remarks or attacks that serve to detract from our necessary relationships with our community and criminal justice partners have no place in our City."
City Council President Jack Young followed suit, releasing a statement, saying:
"I condemn the highly insensitive and inflammatory tweets issued Friday night by the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police lodge. The tweets, in addition to making light of a tragedy that claimed the life of a young man last April, only serve to further exacerbate distrust between our brave men and women in uniform and the citizens they are sworn to protect and serve. I call on the leadership of the FOP to immediately apologize to the citizens of Baltimore and the members of the Baltimore City Police Department for their irresponsible and harmful postings on social media. Deleting derogatory postings after the fact won't suffice. The FOP's leadership needs to stand up, take responsibility and issue an apology to the citizens of Baltimore."
RELATED: After Goodson Acquittal, Baltimore FOP Calls For Mosby To Back Off Other Officers
"We also suggest that Mrs. Mosby reconsider her malicious prosecution against the remaining four officers," FOP President Lt. Gene Ryan said on Thursday, after Officer Goodson was found not guilty.
"All of the other officers are going to ask for a trial in front of this judge, this judge who has said he doesn't agree with the state's attorney's theory on the case. That's a difficult situation to be in," said Kurt Schmoke, former Baltimore mayor and state's attorney and current president of the University of Baltimore.
RELATED: Pressure Mounting For Mosby To Drop Charges In Remaining Gray Cases
There is growing pressure for the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office -- should Marilyn Mosby move forward with the remaining four trials since Goodson was the third officer to walk away without a conviction?
"If she elects not to proceed further with the prosecution of the other officers, it may look like she and the State's Attorney's Office have been defeated. They really have a tough spot that they put themselves in," said Warren Alperstein, defense attorney.
The State's Attorney's Office only has a few days to decide how to proceed with the trial of the next officer, which is scheduled to begin July 5.
