Baltimore police van driver Goodson not guilty on all 21 administrative charges in Freddie Gray…
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-goodson-tuesday-20171107-story.html
Baltimore Police Officer Caesar Goodson Jr. was found not guilty Tuesday of all 21 administrative charges against him in the 2015 arrest and death of Freddie Gray.
The verdict absolves Goodson once and for all in the high-profile case, and allows him to continue his career in the city police force.
Goodson, 48, the driver of the police van in which Gray was found with severe and ultimately fatal spinal cord injuries in April 2015, had faced possible termination if any of the charges against him was sustained. He was charged with neglecting his duty by failing to ensure Gray’s safety, including by not securing a handcuffed and shackled Gray in a seat belt and not calling a medic for Gray after he requested one. He was also charged with making false statements to investigators.
The decision clearing him of all charges was unanimous among the three law enforcement officials who presided over the six-day administrative trial, and follows his acquittal on all criminal charges, including second-degree depraved-heart murder, at a separate trial last year.
“This is a vindication of this officer,” said Sean Malone, one of Goodson’s attorneys, shortly after the verdict was read during a brief reconvening of the panel at the University of Baltimore about 1 p.m. Tuesday. “This is a tragic accident that happened, and we’re sorry for the loss of Mr. Gray, but we’re glad that our client is not going to be the face of this incident.”
The panel’s decision is final and cannot be challenged by the city or the Police Department.
Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, in a statement, said the department “will stay the course” with the upcoming trial boards for two other officers charged administratively in the case.
“Freddie Gray died in police custody. My thoughts and prayers remain with the Gray family,” Davis said. “We will continue to make improvements within our organization to meet the expectations of constitutional policing demanded by our community.”
William H. “Billy” Murphy, the Gray family’s attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment. The city previously reached a $6.4 million civil settlement with Gray’s family.
Malone said Goodson did not want to comment himself, but intends to “take care of his family” by continuing his 18-year career with the department until retirement.
“Officer Goodson is just ready to get on. This is three years. He had a murder charge over his head, he’s had this over his head. He’s a quiet man, he’s a hard-working man, he’s just happy to resume his life,” Malone said. “This has been hard on him and his family, and it’s nice to get his life back.”
In delivering the verdict, Prince George’s County Police Maj. Rosa Guixens, the chair of the panel, read out “not guilty” 21 times in a row before abruptly closing the proceedings.
Goodson was stoic until the last “not guilty” was read out, when he broke into a smile. He then hugged his attorneys, who congratulated each other and slapped one another on the back.
Outside the hearing room, Goodson’s father, Caesar Goodson Sr., who had sat through the entire trial, said “the family is glad it’s over.”
“My son is a good son and a good officer,” he said. “We hope no other officer has to go through that.”
Goodson has always maintained his innocence, saying in a statement to investigators aired for the first time at his administrative trial that he did not believe it was safe for him to climb into the van to secure Gray in a seat belt, and that he did not believe that Gray was injured or needed medical care when he requested it.
Gray, 25, was found unconscious and suffering from severe spinal cord injuries in the back of the van after a ride that included several stops, and died a week later. This death precipitated widespread protests against police brutality, and his funeral was followed by rioting, looting and arson that captured national attention and sent the city into a weeklong nightly curfew as the National Guard was called in to maintain order.
Six officers were charged criminally in the Gray case; none was convicted. Goodson, Lt. Brian Rice and Officer Edward Nero were acquitted at bench trials, and Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby then dropped all remaining charges against the other three officers.
The U.S. Justice Department also investigated Gray’s death but declined to bring any federal charges against the officers.
Five of those officers were subsequently charged administratively in the case after detectives from Montgomery and Howard counties conducted an outside investigation into Gray’s death on behalf of the city and the Police Department.
Goodson is the first officer to face a trial board in the case.
In addition to failures related to Gray’s safety, Goodson also faced charges that he made false statements to the county detectives, and that he failed to properly document his actions on the day of Gray’s arrest.
After the verdict, Malone said Goodson had been “wrongfully charged” from the start, echoing his arguments at trial that Goodson had acted in good faith as any reasonable officer would have under the circumstances.
Malone argued at the trial that the police department had failed to properly train or equip Goodson — and all of its officers — to handle non-compliant detainees, and that Goodson had deferred to his supervisors and other officers who had been more directly involved in loading Gray into the van and deciding not to secure him in a seat belt.
Neil Duke, the attorney for the city, had argued Goodson had failed in his duty to keep Gray safe, and was simply trying to pass blame on to the department and the other officers around him that day.
Duke, who could not be reached for comment after the verdict, said during the trial that Goodson was a veteran officer who had “become perhaps a little hardened or callous or indifferent to the plight of an average citizen.”
After the verdict, the local police union applauded the panel’s decision to clear Goodson.
Lt. Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, said in a statement that while Gray’s death was “an extremely unfortunate incident,” no officers were responsible.
“Officer Goodson can now turn the page on from this chapter in his life and continue his career with the Baltimore Police Department,” Ryan said.
Tuesday’s verdict did not sit well with advocates of police reform.
Monique Dixon, deputy director of policy at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in a statement Tuesday that the decision was “appalling, yet predictable” given the fact that the panel presiding over the trial was comprised entirely of law enforcement officers.
“As long as the city lets law enforcement police themselves in lieu of meaningful civilian oversight, these proceedings will not result in accountability and will fail to strengthen community trust,” Dixon said. “These hearings are hollow unless they are fundamentally altered to incorporate resident input, transparency, and accountability.”
Lawrence Grandpre, of the local grass-roots think tank Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, watched the proceedings and said the verdict did not come as a surprise to him, either.
“It’s nothing unexpected. We’ve been trying to reform these trial boards for three or four years,” he said, noting his organization’s efforts to add citizens to the panels.
Grandpre said he is concerned officers serving on the panels are partial to the officers who they have been tasked with passing judgment on, because “they are thinking, ‘That could be me.’ ”
Both Dixon and Grandpre said their organizations will continue working to change laws in Maryland and in Baltimore to improve civilian oversight of the police and police misconduct trials.
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Guixens declined to comment after the verdict, as did another member, Baltimore Police Detective Ryan Diener, who investigates homicides. The third panel member, Baltimore Police Maj. Steve Hohman, head of the Special Investigations Section that investigates sex crimes, could not be reached.
Of the four other officers charged administratively in the case, two — Nero and Officer Garrett Miller — have accepted “minor” discipline in the case and are back at work with the department, according to a police union attorney. Under Maryland law, punishments officers receive are kept private.
Two other other officers — Rice and Sgt. Alicia White — are fighting charges against them. Rice’s administrative trial is scheduled to begin Monday. White’s is scheduled to begin Dec. 5.
The panel that presided over Goodson’s trial will not preside over Rice’s or White’s trials.
Malone, Goodson’s attorney, said the panel’s decision to clear his client on all charges should make the city reconsider the still-pending administrative charges against Rice and White.
“I think the department has an obligation to take a look at the remaining charges with these officers and determine if they want to go forward based on the evidence that simply has not been put forth,” Malone said.
Mosby, who has lamented her inability to convict Goodson criminally, said Tuesday that the outcome in his administrative case also was “disappointing.” But she said Baltimore residents “must not forget the significant progress our city has made towards criminal justice reform and police accountability” since Gray’s death.
Mosby mentioned changes in police protocols, the introduction of body worn cameras, and the police reform consent decree the city has entered into with the Justice Department.
“Our focus must remain on eliminating the division between the public and law enforcement,” Mosby said, “and my office is committed to rebuilding that trust within the criminal justice system." -
Dog and Pony show! We're on our own out here.
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Dog and Pony show! We're on our own out here.
I read about this this morning. I was mad as hell, but not surprised. They're trying to act like Freddie Gray broke his own spine. SMH -
OGOUN is listening and watching tho. His pinpoint precision is flawless and takes no losses. Let em work. Might take some time but he'll put that work in. He's in other areas now. Look @ what white America ia experiencing right now. They can't handle em.
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not a shocker.
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-rice-trial-board-decision-20171117-story.htmlFreddie Gray case: Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice cleared of all administrative charges
The Baltimore police lieutenant who supervised the arrest of Freddie Gray was acquitted Friday morning of all 10 administrative charges in a ruling that absolves him once and for all.
The decision by a three-member panel of law enforcement officers comes more than two years after Gray’s death and a year after Lt. Brian Rice was cleared of criminal charges including manslaughter.
Rice, 44, showed no emotion as the chairman of the panel read the verdicts.
“Not guilty … not guilty … not guilty,” repeated Maj. Melvin Powell, of the Prince George’s County Police Department.
Rice left immediately, without speaking publicly, from the University of Baltimore hall that served as his courtroom for four days. He went straight to police headquarters to be reinstated, his attorney said.
He plans to take one week off, then return to police work in Baltimore, his attorney, Michael Davey, said.
“He simply wants to go home, hug his kids, kiss his wife, have a good holiday and really, honestly, try to get on with his life,” Davey said.
Rice had been accused of breaking police protocol during Gray’s arrest. He had faced administrative charges including failing to secure Gray with a seat belt in the police van and neglecting critical radio broadcasts.
His acquittal comes one week after the van’s driver, Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., was found not guilty of 21 administrative charges.
Baltimore police brought administrative charges against five officers who were involved in Gray’s arrest and transport in April 2015. Two officers, Edward Miller and Garrett Miller, accepted minor discipline and are back to work. Goodson, Rice and Sgt. Alicia White chose to fight their charges before a police trial board.
White’s trial is scheduled for next month.
“These cases aren’t changing,” Davey said. “The evidence was the same in Officer Goodson’s case. It’s the same in Lt. Rice’s case. It’s going to be the same in Sgt. White’s case.”
Davey urged city officials to think twice about their case against White.
“I would hope they take a look at what they have and reconsider moving forward,” he said.
Baltimore Solicitor Andre Davis said the city will not drop its case against White.
“We have to see the process through,” he said. “It may appear to be unwarranted or ill-advised, but we believe that the process is important. People need to see that the police department really is committed to the process.”
A 20-year veteran of the force, Rice has maintained his innocence.
Rice was the highest ranking officer on duty when Gray was arrested April 12, 2015. He placed the 25-year-old in the back of the police van handcuffed and shackled but not seat-belted, prosecutors said.
After the van ride, Gray was found unconscious with broken vertebrae in his neck. He fell into a coma and died one week later.
The police trial board was tasked with deciding whether Rice acted with reason or neglect. Did he fail to read an email with the new seat-belt policy requiring all detainees be secured? Did he neglect to listen closely to his police radio? Did he fail to treat the van as a crime scene after Gray was hurt?
All were questions Duke presented to the panel during the four-day trial. He urged the board to hold Rice accountable, calling him the “quarterback” on the Sunday morning of Gray’s arrest.
Baltimore police turned to Montgomery County Police to independently investigate the actions of those who arrested Gray. The investigation led to the administrative charges.
Davey, the defense attorney, argued the investigation was superficial, saying the officers interviewed only nine witnesses in nine months. During trial, he sharply questioned Montgomery County Police Capt. Willie Parker-Loan, who conceded to facts that undermined his own conclusions.
A conviction on any of the charges would have sent Rice before Police Commissioner Kevin Davis for punishment, which could have included termination.
But Davey sought to shift the blame from the officers to the police department, saying policies and equipment failed those who arrested Gray and were prosecuted after his death. He argued the department failed to properly notify officers of a new policy requiring detainees be seat-belted in vans. The vans themselves, he argued, were dangerous.
“The Baltimore Police Department had some very inefficient policies and procedures in place. Their practices were lapse. And they clearly had some inherently dangerous equipment,” he said after the verdict.
The administrative trials came more than a year after the officers were either acquitted of criminal charges in Gray’s death or had their charges dropped by Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.
Gray’s death was a tragedy, Davey said, but not a crime.
“No officers intended for Mr. Gray to be injured and pass away,” he said. “It’s a terrible tragedy and, honestly, that’s all it is.”
Only in Amerikkka... -
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-alicia-white-charges-dropped-20171122-story.htmlAdministrative charges dismissed against last officer facing discipline in Freddie Gray case
Charges were dismissed Wednesday against the last officer facing administrative discipline in the Freddie Gray case.
In a statement issued just before 7 p.m., Police Commissioner Kevin Davis said Sgt. Alicia White, who faced termination, would face no further administrative actions.
Noting two previous administrative trials had resulted in acquittals, Davis said “proceeding with this administrative hearing would not be in good faith, and has dismissed the charges.”
White’s attorney, Tony Garcia, said White was “grateful” for the decision.
“She has always maintained her innocence from the very beginning,” Garcia said.
