Mayor Discusses What's Changed In The Year Since Freddie Gray Died

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Tuesday marks one year since the death of Freddie Gray. It sparked a wave of unrest throughout the city that we will never forget.

In a one-on-one interview, Jessica Kartalija asked Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake what has changed since then---and if it could happen again.

JK: "One year later, in your opinion, have things improved in the city?"

SRB: "I think that's a journey that requires ongoing commitment by everyone in the city to be better and I'm working very, very hard to bridge the wide gap between the police and the community that exists in too many of our neighborhoods because I believe that having sustainable and enforceable reform in the police department will help bridge that gap but again, all of these things are an ongoing journey."

JK: "A lot of people were wondering---where were you that day?"

SRB: "It's silly. I think I was extremely visible but again, it's one of those things if someone says, `Where's the mayor?' 50 times then people are like, `Well, where was she?' They don't really answer the question; they keep asking the question as if that creates a fact. I know the truth and I sleep very comfortably knowing that. Other people's opinions of me, really it doesn't impact me."

JK: "One year later, any concern that something could happen again? You know, these peaceful protests take a negative turn---any concern about that?"

SRB: "There's a part that is concerned; there's a part that prepares and we're prepared. I think everyone saw after the motions hearing and the hung jury in the Porter trial that we were very prepared. We have better trained officers, better equipment and we are ready."

Six officers were charged in Freddie Gray's death. The next officer to go on trial is Edward Nero in early May. The case of the first officer tried in Gray's death, William Porter, ended in a hung jury.