In light of the killing of Freddie Gray and charges brought against six Baltimore police, the president of the Baltimore police union released a statement that police are now more fearful about being jailed “for doing their jobs properly” than getting shot. Most police officers in Baltimore and elsewhere never get charged for killing any unarmed individuals and those that do rarely ever get convicted. So there is little to no reason for a police officer to fear being arrested. Police probably have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than being charged for killing an unarmed black man. And if they fear that they cannot do their job as police without killing unarmed blacks, then maybe they should not be police officers. Doing their job properly should not mean a young man dies of a broken spine while riding in the custody of police. Quite frankly, I am tired of police in Baltimore and elsewhere turning the tables upside down when it comes to killings involving … [Read more...] about Why Can’t Police do Their Jobs Without Killing Unarmed Blacks?
Archives for May 2015
Is the Death Penalty Coming to an End in America?
As the jury in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Bomber, deliberated and ultimately recommended the death penalty, more states are slowly leaning away from the death penalty. Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1984. However, Tsarnaev’s trial was a federal one which allows for the death penalty. Nebraska is close to becoming the next state to abolish the death penalty. A final vote was taken to abolish it on May 20. All indication is that there are enough votes to ward off any possible veto by Republican Governor Pete Ricks. What is unusual is that Nebraska is a conservative state headed by a Tea Party Republican Governor who supports the death penalty. Other recent states that moved to abolish the death penalty included Maryland in 2013, Connecticut in 2012, Illinois in 2011 and New Jersey in 2007. In all, eighteen states have abolished the death penalty with a third of those states’ banning it since 2007. Connecticut and New Hampshire round out the six … [Read more...] about Is the Death Penalty Coming to an End in America?
Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty
The jury started deliberations on the death penalty phase on Wednesday in the case of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the now infamous Boston Bomber who was convicted of all 30 counts involved in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, including 17 eligible for the death penalty. His actions took the lives of three persons, including seven year old Martin Richard and severely injured 264 others. Some victims have undergone at least 60 surgeries due to their injuries. It’s difficult to imagine a more heinous crime deserving of the death penalty, Yet despite the heinous acts, Tsarnaev may receive life in prison without the possibility of parole. The prosecutor must convince all twelve jurors to sentence Dzhokhar Tsarnaevto death on a single count. If twelve agree to death on a single count, he will receive the death penalty. And that may be more of an uphill climb than most would imagine. The defense on the other hand has only to convince one person on each of the eligible counts that he … [Read more...] about Why the Boston Bomber May Avoid the Death Penalty
What the Media Got Wrong About Marilyn Mosby
Once Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that her office was bringing charges against the six police officers allegedly involved in the death of Freddie Gray, all media piercing eyes were focused on her with extreme scrutiny. There was very little praise for Mosby conducting her own individual investigation instead of relying on the police to police and investigate themselves. There was little discussion of her investigation except to say that it was swift. Yet, the police concluded their investigation in the same time period and no one questioned their swiftness. The media mostly focused on her age, her lack of experience with homicides, potential conflicts of interests with the Gray family attorney, bias against the police, conflicts due to her husband’s position and a host of other things. Almost nothing good has been said about Mosby in the media. At 35 years old, she is the youngest chief prosecutor in a major city. Ms. Mosby worked at the Baltimore … [Read more...] about What the Media Got Wrong About Marilyn Mosby
Baltimore’s Best Kept Prosecution Secret on Freddie Gray Case
As Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby delivered a stunning and surprising press conference on May 1, announcing charges of the six police officers allegedly involved in Freddie Gray’s death, she held a secret close to her chest. Her office investigated the police officers and the death of Freddie Gray since the incident began. When she received the police investigation of the police on Thursday, April 30, she had already done her own due diligence. All that was left was the Medical Examiner’s report declaring Gray’s death a homicide. She received the autopsy report on May 1 stating that Mr. Gray’s death was a homicide. She had the best kept secret ever in terms of homicide investigations involving police. There were no leaks from her office, her investigators or the Baltimore City Sheriffs who assisted her office in the investigation. In the age of social media, where even leaks occurred to the media about the police investigation to the Washington Post and … [Read more...] about Baltimore’s Best Kept Prosecution Secret on Freddie Gray Case