Baltimore City To Spend $200K On New Police Van Designs

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Major changes for Baltimore City police vans. Close to a quarter of a million dollars will soon be spent on new designs.

The issue was at the center of the death of Freddie Gray after he suffered a severe spinal injury in the back of a van last April.

Rick Ritter has more on the improvements.

The city has paid out millions of dollars to detainees in the past who were injured in the back of police vans. New designs are aimed at improving safety for both passengers and officers.

For the first time, WJZ gets an inside look at changes to Baltimore's police vans that have been under major scrutiny.

"It was decided we needed to make some changes in our transport vehicles, and for one reason specifically -- safety," said Lt. Jarron Jackson, Baltimore Police Department.

The issue of safety came into light last April when 25-year-old Freddie Gray suffered a severe spinal injury after he was loaded in the back of a police van. Gray died a week later.

His death sparked riots and led to six officers being charged for their role in his arrest and death.

"I think what you're seeing is a change in policing nationwide," said Lt. Jackson.

The Board of Estimates approved the spending for new vans Wednesday.

Center walls that were used as a divider are now gone -- giving police more access to prisoners -- seats were turned to bucket seats to stop prisoners from sliding and a side door was added for an extra entryway.

"We think this works better for passengers as far as improving passenger safety," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Changes will be made to 13 existing vans, while ten new ones are bought. Each will be installed with video cameras.

The city will spend $200,000 on the new designs -- something community leaders feel is a must need after Gray's controversial death.

"I said that was the biggest blessing that could ever come our way," said Rev. Keith Bailey.

Rev. Bailey oversaw Freddie Gray's community service before he died and calls the new vans a boost for a city that's on edge with trust.

"The trust, we need to get the trust back with the police department where they can trust us and we can trust them," he said.

The video cameras could be the most costly part of the vans. They could range anywhere from $40,000 to more than $600,000 depending on some of the bids.

Police say they're hoping the new vans are in place by March.

The mayor says she opted for the changes after they conducted a study on how to make the vans safer.