Calls For Police Reform Grow Louder In Baltimore
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- In the wake of Freddie Gray's death, calls for police reform continue to grow louder. On Friday, activists released six recommendations for the department they want city leaders to consider.
WJZ's Meghan McCorkell has more on the changes they'd like to see.
From improving community policing to getting rid of corrupt cops, activists say they want action from city leaders now.
They've marched through the streets of Baltimore and staged a sit-in at City Hall. Now activists have come together, releasing a report calling for a series of reforms in the Baltimore City Police Department.
"The only way to encourage officers to come forward is to show that those who do the wrong thing will be dealt with," said Ben Jealous, Center for American Progress.
One of the top recommendations: firing police officers who have demonstrated corruption or unnecessary violence.
Getting police body cameras on the streets as soon as possible is another top priority in the report.
Police officials say many of the recommendations outlined in the report are things that they're already working on.
The body camera pilot program will begin at the end of this month in Baltimore.
"That's something we hope to roll out here in 2016 to have officers outfitted here in Baltimore with body cameras," said Baltimore police spokesperson T.J. Smith.
Still, activists say they'd like more input into some of the new initiatives.
"The community should be invited to the table. We should meet together and work on these issues together if public safety really is the goal," said Rev. Heber Brown, Pleasant Hope Baptist Church.
It's something police officials say they'd like, to try and make changes for the better.
"We are certainly open to recommendations and we're happy that we're kind of singing from the same sheet of music on this," Smith said.
The activists at Friday's rally say they hope to share their report with elected leaders across the city.
Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis plans to meet with some of the protesters from the City Hall sit-in over the weekend.
