"It's Baltimore, gentlemen. The gods will not save you"

[Sho]

Wow fuck those dudes. These the type of people you cheer with every "good shoot" victory they have in a major case that involves a minority youth. Trying to play the integrity card to the prosecutor. Fuck that shit.

[Melena]

Devil's advocate type thing, but being that due to her interactions previously with law enforcement, in the idea of transparency would it be better to have a prosecutor from another state handle the case? If she does the trial and the jury ends up finding them not guilty, I could see people complaining that she was biased towards the officers and didn't fight as hard as she should have.

[Tokitoki]

Devil's advocate type thing, but being that due to her interactions previously with law enforcement, in the idea of transparency would it be better to have a prosecutor from another state handle the case? If she does the trial and the jury ends up finding them not guilty, I could see people complaining that she was biased towards the officers and didn't fight as hard as she should have.

It's the opposite. They're asking for her to step down because she has relationships with the media and those in the Freddie Gray camp. They believe she will treat the police unfairly because of this.

Doesn't make sense to me. She should be trying her hardest to get them convicted and it's the defense's job to argue her points. She should be pressing them as hard as she can. They're simply sending this to throw some of the media attention back at her, especially with the line about her husband's political career.

[Tyrath]

I like how the implication is that because of her ties she will try extra hard for the prosecution...whereas normal prosecutors don't try very hard? Dafuq.

[Melena]

Oh I know why the police union does. My concern is even with all that, she tries them, and they lose, what happens. I'm afraid we'd have riots that make the Rodney King riots look like a block party.

[Tokitoki]

Oh I know why the police union does. My concern is even with all that, she tries them, and they lose, what happens. I'm afraid we'd have riots that make the Rodney King riots look like a block party.

I don't think it'd make much difference if she or someone else lost. If the cops are found not guilty shit will hit the fan either way.

[Xajii]

Oh I know why the police union does. My concern is even with all that, she tries them, and they lose, what happens. I'm afraid we'd have riots that make the Rodney King riots look like a block party.

there are plenty of real problems to discuss without fabricating new ones out of thin air

i am interested to see what evidence can be gathered and is permissible and what evidence the police will attempt/succeed in destroying or blocking

GPS tracking of the van, traffic cameras could be the key in this case for sure

[Sho]

I like how the implication is that because of her ties she will try extra hard for the prosecution...whereas normal prosecutors don't try very hard? Dafuq.

That's exactly why it's bullshit and shows yet another facet of a systemic problem within city and state officials who see cases involving police misconduct. Can anyone honestly tell me that the person of this guy's stature in the police force had to address a letter to the states top prosecutor? And within that letter call into question her integrity? He could have just as easily went behind closed doors and petition her directly, face to face, in her office. It was definitely a ploy to try and throw media heat back at her, due to her husband.

She's a god damn prosecutor. Her fucking job is to prosecute.

I don't think it'd make much difference if she or someone else lost. If the cops are found not guilty shit will hit the fan either way.

It's a victory enough that there were charges brought up against these officers, even if they aren't found guilty. It means that this young man's life was worth enough to even bring tangible charges in the first place. It sends a real message to the nation.

[Melena]

there are plenty of real problems to discuss without fabricating new ones out of thin air

i am interested to see what evidence can be gathered and is permissible and what evidence the police will attempt/succeed in destroying or blocking

GPS tracking of the van, traffic cameras could be the key in this case for sure

I wouldn't say fabricating, but i think we all know what's going to happen if it's a verdict of anything but guilty. As is, it's a shitty situation, something screwey happened between arrest and reaching the jail. I also saw the union blast the chief for saying that there was multiple times they should have stopped for an ambulance.

[Tokitoki]

It's a victory enough that there were charges brought up against these officers, even if they aren't found guilty. It means that this young man's life was worth enough to even bring tangible charges in the first place. It sends a real message to the nation.

I agree completely, but I'm willing to bet there are some of the people on the extreme side that won't stop for anything short of convictions for the officers.

[Xajii]

It's a victory enough that there were charges brought up against these officers, even if they aren't found guilty. It means that this young man's life was worth enough to even bring tangible charges in the first place. It sends a real message to the nation.

Is this the society we live in after shit like Garner goes down? Where this is a victory?

This is the bare minimum. This is a no-brainer first step. This is protocol. This isn't a victory.

I'm not going to lower my stanards for the justice system just because this country has.

[zoobernut]

I can't stop thinking about "How I met your Mother" every time I read the prosecutors name. Isn't the main character of the show Ted Mosby?


Also I agree with you Xajii we can't get distracted and think that the bare minimum is a "victory".

[Sho]

Is this the society we live in after shit like Garner goes down? Where this is a victory?

This is the bare minimum. This is a no-brainer first step. This is protocol. This isn't a victory.

I'm not going to lower my stanards for the justice system just because this country has.

You have to see it as a victory in place of constant failed prosecutions to these types of officers. Of course it's bare minimum. However, we are in a world where DAs, ADAs, and state prosecutors are often in bed with the police departments, all the way up to the police chief, you have to take the small victories for what they are. How many times have we gotten to the point where charges against officers who have committed crimes have not been filed or even dropped completely, both publically and not?

You can see it as lowering standards, but when standard have in the past been thrown out completely to appease district and state officials, you will no doubt see an action such as the one taken today to be a victory by the people.

The work is far from over however. Filing charges is one thing, going through court and attempting to convict, another. It's not a distraction by any means to have charges filed, but imperative to show the people that the system CAN work.

[Tokitoki]

However, we are in a world where DAs, ADAs, and state prosecutors are often in bed with the police departments, all the way up to the police chief, you have to take the small victories for what they are.

Of course the DA office has a relationship with the police. Most of the time they are on the same side of the law, working to put someone in jail. Whether that clouds their judgement in a case like this is one thing, but to make it sound like they should always be at odds with each other or have as little contact as possible is pretty ridiculous.

[Melena]

Mother of the year being investigated by CPS for actually being a good mother.

http://www.newslo.com/child-protecti...m-who-hit-son/

blah trolled by facebook......

[Voyage1970]

Might wanna take a look at that "Show Facts/Hide Facts" prompt on that satirical news site. Just saying.

[Melena]

Facebook strikes again. Teach me to read & post while doing work.

[notorious bum]

Despite positivity on the streets, the level of muscle being flexed tonight is as high as it has ever been. Curfew still in effect, media "free speech zones" instituted, and troop levels have actually INCREASED from witnesses on the ground. Let's hope tonight will be just as uneventful as previous nights, with 100's of police just looking dumb trying to herd the media around.

[Valisk]

BPD Officer mugshots:

http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/...ster675-v5.jpg

[Sho]

Of course the DA office has a relationship with the police. Most of the time they are on the same side of the law, working to put someone in jail. Whether that clouds their judgement in a case like this is one thing, but to make it sound like they should always be at odds with each other or have as little contact as possible is pretty ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that the DA office and the police should be at odds with each other on every case. If I came off that way, I apologize.

All I'm trying to say is that the DA should be equally fair with whoever is prosecuted, even if it's a police officer or a city or state official. Like the mayor said in a statement, "no one is above the law." We as people shouldn't feel like every case that pits individuals vs police officers should automatically be in favor of the officers like that. I mean look at how many people were truly shocked that charges were being brought up against the officers this morning. The city and state officials were shocked, as well as the community, the media and the officers themselves. It shouldn't be this way at all.