The videos were discovered by the Baltimore City Office of the Public Defender during the discovery phase of the cases involving Ms. Collins and Mr. Reed. Ms. Mosby stated that while prosecutors have been diligently poring over video to ensure that no other similar situations have occurred, she seemed to suggest that perhaps user error on the part of the officers, as well as the relative newness of the body camera program by the Baltimore police, may have contributed to these unfortunate outcomes for those falsely arrested and charged.
“This is kind of a learning and a trial period, right?” Ms. Mosby asked somewhat rhetorically. “All of the body-worn cameras haven’t even been implemented, and I think that we’re going to go through growing pains.”
Pastor Jamal Bryant of Empowerment Temple AME Church, who helped former Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake conduct the due diligence on the body cam program for the police, sees the issue as much more than growing pains on the part of police.
“These recent developments involving the Baltimore Police Department isn’t a black eye, it’s a fractured ribcage,” Pastor Bryant told The Final Call. “When I saw the videos, I was disappointed, but not surprised because Black people in Baltimore have known for a long time that the police do these things. It’s just sad that Black people in the 21st century are still having to fight against 19th century ignorance.”
Pastor Bryant also feels that Ms. Mosby may not be well-equipped to effectively deal with the situation because she is the Baltimore State’s Attorney and the police department is her partner to solve crimes.
“It’s hard to protest what you partner with,” Pastor Bryant said. “In order for her to do her job, she has to work with the police department and the FOP (Fraternal Order of Police). I think she’s tried to extend a sort of olive branch to the police, while remaining the people’s champion. So, she has to walk an extremely thin tightrope to do both.”