New Move Opens BPD Disciplinary Process Up To The Public

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- New changes to the internal affairs division of the Baltimore Police Department and the disciplinary system officers face when they are accused of wrongdoing.

Derek Valcourt has more on the restructuring and a move that makes the process much more transparent.

In the past, the public has not been allowed any access to those administrative internal hearings for the officers accused of wrongdoing -- but that is about to change.

Commissioner Kevin Davis laid out changes he's made to his internal affairs unit, introducing a team who will lead investigators into alleged officer misconduct.

"My message for the rank and file of this hardworking, dedicated police department is this -- I'm not doing this to you, I'm doing this for you," Comm. Davis said.

Davis says a restructuring will ensure fairness in the disciplinary process and include live-streaming of internal administrative hearings for any officers accused of wrongdoing -- meaning, for the first time, interested citizens can come to the police headquarters to watch the hearings for themselves.

"I would like to see how things are being handled," said Reverend Keith Bailey.

Rev. Bailey is president of the Fulton Heights Neighborhood Association, a community where distrust of the police runs deep.

Valcourt: "Would it bolster the community's faith in the police department to see that kind of interaction, to see those disciplinary hearings?"

Bailey: "Yes, because you can see that it's not being pushed under the rug."

Commissioner Davis agrees.

"Quite often, it's a very serious charge that led to an administrative hearing board, and the community wants to know its police department has their best interest at heart, and I think it's a good thing for the community to observe our inner workings," he said.

The commissioner also tells WJZ they are still ironing out the details and a timeline for when those administrative hearings will begin live-streaming.

We have not been able to reach anyone with the union that represents police officers for their thoughts on the live-streaming of those hearings.