Baltimore Police Seat Belt Policy At The Center Of Freddie Gray Case
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — More key testimony is given in the trial of Officer William Porter. Medical examiners described the injuries Freddie Gray suffered in the back of the police van.
Alex DeMetrick reports on the city police seat belt policy, and its importance to the case.
In the past, WJZ has followed arrests where suspects placed into Baltimore Police vans, were clearly buckled into seat belts.
But according to a retired officer who now does law enforcement consulting...
"I have no doubt that it's a common place that prisoners are transported without being seat belted on a routine basis," said Rob Weinhold, Fallston Group.
This, despite department policy that prisoners must be secured, either with a seat belt or a restraining device.
During transport, the driver has primary custody of the prisoner and must provide medical treatment as needed.
All--regulations at the center of the Freddie Gray case.
"The policies and procedures and every little nuance of the officers' actions are being analyzed with a very, very big microscope, and now, in a criminal court," said Weinhold.
In Officer William Porter's trial, it came out emails had been sent, reminding officers of the seat belt policy prior to Gray's death.
But it was also revealed the department's computer system is old and slow and officers are swamped with emails.
As for experience, Porter is a three-year veteran.
"Years ago, where you didn't have much time under your belt until you had a decade in the job. But now, it's a young police force, and a younger police force requires much more supervision and close supervision to make sure that all the rules and regulations and standards are being adhered to," Weinhold said.
The jury in the Porter case has already had a chance to take a firsthand look inside the police van and at the unused seat belts.
