Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby
On Friday, the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) sent a letter to State Attorney Mosby's office noting "very deep concerns about the many conflicts of interest" involving her office prosecuting six officers for the death of Freddie Gray. The letter also brought up allegations that the "lead prosecutor's connections with members of the local media", and concerns over Mosby's marriage to a councilman which would represent a conflict of interest.
The president of the FOP asked her to appoint a special prosecutor. You can check out the full letter here, which the FOP satates:
[A]t all times, each of the officers diligently balanaced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray and discharge their duties to protect the public.
The president of the
Baltimore Branch of the NAACP, Tessa Hill-Aston, sent an open letter to the FOP. In it, she tackles each point brought up by the FOP, usually exposing their hypocrisy.
The FOP notes that the attorney of the Gray family, William ‘Billy’ Murphy donated to Mosby's election fund. NAACP reminds the union that they too donated to Mosby's election fund ($250). The FOP also donated $4,000 to the mayor's campaign.
FOP worried Mosby would be inclined to help her husband's political career. The NAACP calls BS on that, saying "when you supported her candidacy last year by way of your financial contribution, and should have had an idea that such a “conflict” could occur in the future; however, you chose to ignore that reality for your own personal convenience."
The NAACP's letter also takes issue with the FOP's request that Department of Justice conduct a "Patterns and Practice" investigation of Baltimore's city government, followed by calling out the FOP's racist and sexist dog whistles.
Your intended goal is clear, to all but subtly threaten these women who are merely doing the job we elected them to do, while making borderline racists statements that you know will provoke negative perceptions in the minds of those in full support of law enforcement in order to tear down the fabric of our elected leadership in Baltimore and only further deepen the racial divide within our city. Well we are letting you know that we will not sit by idly and allow you to do such!
Some responses from local media/reporters about the letters.
WBAL/NBC - NAACP letter criticizes Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police
David Zurawik, Baltimore Sun media critic - He took issue with the FOP's claim certain reporters represent a conflict of interest, but won't say whom.
The FOP declined to provide any clarification of these blind charges Friday in response to phone calls from The Baltimore Sun. Who are these reporters? What are their conflicts? How widespread are the conflicts in the press corps? Can readers and viewers trust anything in the press about this case? Ryan's reckless allegations strike at the heart of press credibility on the case and surely must confuse some of the many readers and viewers looking for the truth.
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The kindest thing I can call what the FOP did Friday is reckless. It reminds me of what U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy did in the 1950s when he said the State Department was filled with Communists but then failed to name names or offer evidence of his allegations.
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I am going to stay on the FOP and its president when they start answering their phones again. They besmirch every media outlet in this town with their allegations, and we need to either nail those allegations down or expose the FOP for innuendo and smear.
So far, it seems State Attorney Mosby and her office are ignoring the FOP's request and responded to
the defense allegations in the Gray case as 'frivolous;' "like a pinball on a machine far past TILT.''