Mr. Batts has defended his agency’s response, saying officers were told to stand shoulder to shoulder in “skirmish” lines for their safety and that of bystanders, but he has also pointed out that many lawbreakers were arrested. Overall they criticize police leadership for causing “chaos and lawlessness” by holding cops back, giving orders not to engage protesters, and providing cops with inadequate equipment, among other things.
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You can read the whole review here. “The question begs now, is the Baltimore Police Department prepared for the next potential unrest?”
They lacked equipment, training and leadership during the riots, he said.
The firing comes 2 1/2 months after the city broke out into riots following the death of Freddie Gray, who died in April of injuries he received in police custody.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has fired Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, the mayor’s office said on Wednesday.
The city was largely calm the next day, but tensions ramped up again on April 27, as thousands packed a West Baltimore church for Mr. Gray’s funeral.
Stokes is not the only one calling for Batts’ resignation. Unlike the FOP, our reviews will offer the citizens and officers more than a rehash of exhausted political rhetoric.
A city review of the protests will be “extensive, independent and consist of all the facts”, Harris said in a statement.
Batts was expected to address reporters on his own investigation into the riots.
The report also said that the National Guard should have been called in sooner.
“Decisions implemented by top commanders of the Baltimore Police Department left officers in harm’s way, making them vulnerable and susceptible to attack”, the report concluded. “Additionally, the community who relies on the Baltimore Police Department for their safety and security was placed in jeopardy”.
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He said Baltimore had already taken steps to improve areas of weakness, including assessing riot gear and putting monitoring cameras in police transport vans. “The Mayor remains committed to working with the officers of the city to seek solutions and push for the safer city we all believe is possible”.
