quote:

Anthony Batts during the investigation of Gray's death. Batts, who was fired a year ago, publicly called Mosby incompetent and said the officers should not have been charged.

Sounds like the man's thoughts were spot on. Can't get much more accurate than that.

I'll assert that Mosby isn't as much incompetent as she is compromised by corruption. She cannot be trusted to have that kind of power.

quote:

Originally posted by AirmanJeff:

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Anchor:
The mood of the folks from the inner city of Baltimore are for the most part as follows. Most feel that it was the out come from the beginning for the LEOs and that that's the system. Plus the family got paid (6.5 million before the lawyers take theirs) which was a hole lot more Freddie would ever earned on the corner. The rest could care less. The SA here in Baltimore sees herself as a crusader for her people. She has done a great job hasn't she. Their case was so weak the Judge (black which shouldn't matter but this is Baltimore) threw it out. We know that Freddie was very combative and may have injured himself but then somewhere in the custody trail then he went downhill fast, was that going into the wagon, taking the wagon ride, coming out of the wagon, going in to an ambo, coming out of same or being placed on the table at the hospital. That's why the case fell apart where did it happen? no one could answer the question. They are very quick to jump on the LEO in this town long before the truth is found. IMHO Chris

What town is that? Rising Sun?

Here in Baltimore none of the cases were thrown out by Judge Williams. He found three of the officers not guilty on all charges before the SAO dropped the charges against the remaining officers including William Porter, who already had a trial which resulted in a hung jury.

I stand corrected the Judge didn't throw them out. It was as you stated. I'm in Baltimore 5 days a week in northeast area and deal with the folks on a daily basis. Chris

http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...-20160729-story.html

Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 had to almost double their dues to pay the legal fees.

Although the attorneys were working at reduced rates for the officers, the union said, the bills piled up.

The union spent $800,000 on legal fees in 2015, the vast majority of that sum on the Gray case. That represented a 200 percent increase over the previous year, documents show. Officials also saw "no end in sight" for the mounting costs, they said in a letter explaining the situation to members.

Union officials provided no estimate of their legal expenses so far this year.

As is often the case in criminal cases against police officers across the country, he said, the defense of the Baltimore officers largely fell to the local union.

"To their credit, the local FOP up there reached deep, deep, deep into their pockets to cover the phenomenally expensive defense of six officers," Hosko said.

Other outside groups were raising money for the six officers charged, including by selling T-shirts, but Ryan said those funds were used to financially support the officers personally — not the union. The money helped to financially support the four who were not being paid as they awaited trial. The officers charged with felonies were suspended without pay.

The legal fees fell to the union alone, Ryan said. And as the costs mounted, the situation grew more dire.

the FOP's board of directors met in January to discuss their options. At that meeting, the group voted to increase member dues from 1.5 percent of a starting officer's salary to 2.75 percent.

To help sell the idea to the union's members, who would have to approve the change through their own vote, Ryan and Treasurer John Nolan wrote a letter to them.

"To put it very bluntly, the cost to defend our members against the aggressive prosecution that appears to be the current norm, is more than our budget can [bear] despite the fact that all attorneys involved are working at highly reduced rates," they wrote. "Couple this with the fact that each day brings the possibility of similar unwarranted legal prosecution against any of our members and the financial outlook of Lodge #3 is very dim."

In the letter, Ryan and Nolan wrote that they had wrestled with the decision to request an increase, but ultimately determined it was the only course of action available, given "the current climate of hostility projected toward law enforcement."

In response, union members — largely rank-and-file officers — responded with unanimous approval of the rate increase , a move Ryan described as a show of solidarity among police officers.

Couple of bake sales and we will be set.

On a serious note... a contribution to the FOP there (and here) is in order.

quote:

"To put it very bluntly, the cost to defend our members against the aggressive prosecution that appears to be the current norm, is more than our budget can [bear] despite the fact that all attorneys involved are working at highly reduced rates," they wrote. "Couple this with the fact that each day brings the possibility of similar unwarranted legal prosecution against any of our members and the financial outlook of Lodge #3 is very dim."

This is why Mosby and all associated railroading parties need to be punished. Otherwise, eventually there won't be an increase high enough to cover the persecution of officers by malcontents.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...-20160729-story.html

Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 3 had to almost double their dues to pay the legal fees.

Although the attorneys were working at reduced rates for the officers, the union said, the bills piled up.

The union spent $800,000 on legal fees in 2015, the vast majority of that sum on the Gray case. That represented a 200 percent increase over the previous year, documents show. Officials also saw "no end in sight" for the mounting costs, they said in a letter explaining the situation to members.

Union officials provided no estimate of their legal expenses so far this year.

As is often the case in criminal cases against police officers across the country, he said, the defense of the Baltimore officers largely fell to the local union.

"To their credit, the local FOP up there reached deep, deep, deep into their pockets to cover the phenomenally expensive defense of six officers," Hosko said.

Other outside groups were raising money for the six officers charged, including by selling T-shirts, but Ryan said those funds were used to financially support the officers personally — not the union. The money helped to financially support the four who were not being paid as they awaited trial. The officers charged with felonies were suspended without pay.

The legal fees fell to the union alone, Ryan said. And as the costs mounted, the situation grew more dire.

the FOP's board of directors met in January to discuss their options. At that meeting, the group voted to increase member dues from 1.5 percent of a starting officer's salary to 2.75 percent.

To help sell the idea to the union's members, who would have to approve the change through their own vote, Ryan and Treasurer John Nolan wrote a letter to them.

"To put it very bluntly, the cost to defend our members against the aggressive prosecution that appears to be the current norm, is more than our budget can [bear] despite the fact that all attorneys involved are working at highly reduced rates," they wrote. "Couple this with the fact that each day brings the possibility of similar unwarranted legal prosecution against any of our members and the financial outlook of Lodge #3 is very dim."

In the letter, Ryan and Nolan wrote that they had wrestled with the decision to request an increase, but ultimately determined it was the only course of action available, given "the current climate of hostility projected toward law enforcement."

In response, union members — largely rank-and-file officers — responded with unanimous approval of the rate increase , a move Ryan described as a show of solidarity among police officers.

I was told by someone who would be in a particular position to know, not some local yokle, that the FOP bailed due to the high cost, and the tab was picked up by a different police defense organization on the national level.

That person, and an FOP/PBA lawyer, both told me to join the PBA in addition to the FOP. The PBA specifically states they place no limit on police defense. The PBA wasn’t who picked up the tab, that was just their recommendation.

I'm interested in if anyone can confirm the FOP's continued level of involvement.

I find it strange that the FOP there was just digging out of their standard funds and don't have some sort of legal defense insurance type policy (probably not the proper term in the industry).

couple inputs

video at

http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...14-premiumvideo.html

woman rips mosby

and a statement by the lawyers for the Baltimore 6 at:

https://www.facebook.com/CBSBa...s/10153956028263477/


Regarding Freddie Gray,
Baltimore paid police $4.5 million in overtime pay,
bought $2.5 million for supplies such as riot gear,
paid the states attorney office $450,000

and paid $6.4 million to the Gray family

total of that is $14 million

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I find it strange that the FOP there was just digging out of their standard funds and don't have some sort of legal defense insurance type policy (probably not the proper term in the industry).

I don't. One of the things one gives up when the insurance company is picking up the tab is the ability to pick your own counsel. The insurance company invariably selects the lawyer to represent you.

In civil cases, this is not often that terrible of a detriment, especially if you are not accustomed to hiring and supervising lawyers. In criminal cases, it would be intolerable, I think, and hope never to know for sure. Having been on the inside of a insurance operation, well, put it this way, they aren't paying for any Dream Teams!

In civil cases, if you lose, the insurance company is largely, if not completely, liable. They pay. In criminal cases, if you lose, they don't serve your sentence.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I find it strange that the FOP there was just digging out of their standard funds and don't have some sort of legal defense insurance type policy (probably not the proper term in the industry).

I don't. One of the things one gives up when the insurance company is picking up the tab is the ability to pick your own counsel. The insurance company invariably selects the lawyer to represent you.

In civil cases, this is not often that terrible of a detriment, especially if you are not accustomed to hiring and supervising lawyers. In criminal cases, it would be intolerable, I think, and hope never to know for sure. Having been on the inside of a insurance operation, well, put it this way, they aren't paying for any Dream Teams!

In civil cases, if you lose, the insurance company is largely, if not completely, liable. They pay. In criminal cases, if you lose, they don't serve your sentence.

Insurance may not be the proper term that I am looking for. But a set legal defense coverage of some sort.
Our FOP is far smaller that Baltimore so that may play a factor. We have two attorneys that are paid a flat monthly fee and handle our work. I asked specifically what the limit was in legal defense and I was told there is no ceiling we are covered until everything is handled.
I guess I will pose the question about due increases if we were to be hit with something like this, though I don't see our DA pulling a political stunt like this.

Good. I'd like to see the balance returned to justice.

If you want to the scales of justice balanced, that racist bitch is going to have to get off of this planet.

I would think the false charges will be much easier for a judge or jury to enter a guilty ruling. They need to go full bore on this bitch. First criminal trial, then individual civil cases.

I wonder if we'll see the city pay out to the officers the way they did to Gray's famfam. About 2 million per officer seems fair. Then lawyers fees for Mosby's defense... should end up being a pretty penny

I'm not a lawyer, so I'm just asking. Can a civil suit be brought against Mosby by the officers? I don't know about MD, but don't some states have a provision that public officials or agencies can't be sued? Again, just asking.

I think the police should be given safe space to riot.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I think the police should be given safe space to riot.

They already have triggers.

Fox reports the way the grand jury was handled could factor into the lawsuit against Mosby

Fox News has the notes of Detective Taylor (eventually the lead BPD investigator into the injury to Freddie Gray).

Notes from 27 Apr 2015:
“The behavior of Deputy States Attorney Janice Bledsoe is totally unacceptable. It was clear that she did not need to listen to any of the evidence, as she had made up her mind to charge these officers. “

From 29 Apr 2015:
Medical Examiner Allan discusses Gray’s autopsy with the BPD task force. Taylor writes that it was stated on more than one occasion that no human hands caused this injury to Gray. All of the conversation w Allan indicated that this was an accident. Two days later, Mosby announced the death was a homicide.

When Mosby announced the charges on 1 May 2015, Taylor noted that was the first time they heard that ME Allan had ruled the death a homicide.

11 days later, Taylor’s notes say that she met w prosecutors and said the case is one of a civil matter and not criminal. Bledsoe agreed that no officer had used force on Gray. Bledsoe went into a lecture that the case was about medical neglect, not use of force.

The lead investigator (not Taylor at this point) was exhibiting signs of a breakdown. In mid May, Taylor was made the lead investigator. The grand jury was convened 21 May. Taylor testified to the grand jury.

Prior to entering the courtroom, Bledsoe handed Taylor a 4 page narrative to read. Taylor’s notes say the narrative had several things inconsistent w our investigation. Taylor writes “with great conflict” I was sworn in and read the narrative provided. Taylor writes that she realized that Bledsoe did not intend for Taylor to answer any questions, because all of my answers would obviously conflict w what I had just read to them.

Taylor told the grand jury that she was only reading the statement and this was not my investigation. Taylor repeated this. Within hours of Taylor’s “testimony”, the grand jury indicts the officers.

A few days later, Mosby wanted Taylor off of the case because they did not like her demeanor in the grand jury and that Taylor was unwilling to work w the prosecutors.

http://foxbaltimore.com/news/l...e-gray-investigation

Now Fox News says they have leaked text messages between Prosecutor Bledsoe and Detective Taylor. The dated texts appear to back up Taylor’s notes.

http://www.theblaze.com/storie...olitics-not-justice/

*************************

I was on a grand jury quite a while ago. We heard about 100 cases. The prosecutor would come in, introduce the officer, say a few words about the case, and then leave. The officer would discuss the case w/o the prosecutor and answer our questions.

not sure how to interpret this one.

Did a veteran prosecutor have enough of the BS?

Prosecutors Schatzkow and Bledsoe were replaced for the trial of Ofc Miller and the retrial of Ofc Porter.

The new prosecutors were Lisa Phelps and Sarah David.

On the first day of Miller's trial, the prosecutors dropped all charges.

Now Lisa Phelps has quit the prosecutors office.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...-20160801-story.html

Veteran prosecutor in Marilyn Mosby's office quits over Freddie Gray case

A veteran Baltimore prosecutor who objected to continuing the prosecution of a police officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray quit on Friday, two days after her boss dropped all of the charges in the case.

Lisa Phelps, a 15-year veteran prosecutor who led the state's attorney's office's training division, was assigned three months ago to try two of the cases against city police officers.

In recent weeks, she raised concerns over whether the trial of Officer Garrett Miller, which was set begin last week, should go forward, according to sources close to Phelps.

The state's attorney's office declined to comment

Phelps also declined to comment.

With each acquittal of an officer, pressure mounted to drop the charges. Police union officials have slammed Mosby, calling the prosecution malicious and baseless. The union and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis also have defended the work of police detectives on the Gray case, saying they worked tirelessly and objectively.

Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow declined comment last week when asked to address whether Phelps had expressed reservations about the cases.

Phelps had been an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore since 2001, and for years tried homicide cases. She was elevated to chief of the special victims unit in 2012, and was appointed head of training when Mosby took over in 2015.

All three remaining cases were dropped Wednesday before a hearing at which the state's attorney's office would have been required to show Circuit Judge Barry Williams that the "clean team" had not been exposed to any compelled testimony.

Catherine Flynn, one of Miller's defense attorneys, told The Sun last week that she had subpoenaed the prosecutors under the belief that Schatzow may have improperly communicated with Phelps.

With the charges dropped, no such hearing took place.

****************************

Maybe the charges were dropped because there was about to be another very damaging discovery of prosecutorial misconduct