DOJ To Conduct 18-Month Review Of Baltimore Police Dept.
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Is misconduct within the Baltimore City Police out of control? That's what the feds are in town to review.
Justice Department officials met with community members last night as part of a comprehensive analysis of city police and they got an earful.
Meghan McCorkell has more on the changes that could be implemented.
That federal review was requested by the both the mayor and police commissioner after a string of brutality cases.
Both on the streets and in a meeting with the feds distrust in the Baltimore City Police runs deep.
"Here in this neighborhood we're already guilty before they get out their cars," said Darren Pack, of west Baltimore.
A Baltimore Sun investigation found since 2011 more than $6-million has been paid out in more than a hundred lawsuits alleging police brutality.
The latest case under review, the Sunday arrest of a west Baltimore man who's now in critical condition.
"I hope justice happens. I hope they be held accountable for what they did," said Anthony Melvin.
Police accountability-- one of the things being looked at by officials with the Department of Justice who are now conducting a review of city police.
"I fought so hard to get them here because they've been successful in other cities and I want to see that happen in Baltimore," said Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
The DOJ has previously reviewed officers in Las Vegas after a string of police shootings in 2011.
Today, shootings are down after most federal recommendations were implemented.
Police assessment reports have also been released in Philadelphia and Spokane.
"Again we're on the ground with those agencies making sure they can successfully implement the recommendations," said Rob Chapman, Dept. of Justice.
"This takes work. The problems that we have in Baltimore. The pain didn't build up overnight. We're fighting against a lot of history," Mayor Rawlings-Blake said.
And city leaders say they are dedicated to healing some of those wounds.
Some of the recommendations the DOJ made in Las Vegas include changes to the use of force policy and police body cameras.
The federal investigators will be in Baltimore for 18 months before making recommendations.
