Baltimore Police Respond To Accusations Of Brutality Exposed By Ex-Officer’s Disturbing Tweets
Ex-Baltimore Police Officer Michael Wood has taken to Twitter to expose incidents of corruption, including police brutality, following the leaked reports that the recent autopsy conducted on 25-year-old Freddie Gray ruled his death, while in police custody, a homicide. The news of the leaked autopsy comes as a bittersweet message to the black community of Baltimore, as it spurs further action to tackle the seemingly widespread issue of police brutality in the city. Now, the Baltimore Police Department has responded to the allegations, stating Woods had a responsibility to report the offenses as and when they occurred.
Michael Wood’s string of tweets detailed a long list of alleged incidents he experienced and participated in during his time on the Baltimore police force. Following the recent riots that saw the city shaken to its core, citizens across the United States have begun lashing out against allegations of racially-motivated brutality and systemic corruption that have ultimately lead to the deaths of hundreds of men, women, and children in the black community.
Wood’s unconfirmed allegations ranged from thousands of illegal stop and searches, up to Baltimore officers urinating and defecating in homes, including on beds and clothes, of suspects during police raids. For many, the tweets confirmed beliefs held by those in the city, particularly the men and women of the black community, that have suffered discrimination at the hands of institutionalised racism and corruption in the force.
For Wood, the reception to his allegations has been a surprise, although the ex-Baltimore officer does not intend to receive any recognition for his revelations but encourages an open dialogue surrounding the issues.
Baltimore Police Department responded to Wood’s allegations in a formal statement delivered through WBAL Radio in Baltimore, stating the following.
“The recent allegations made by Mr. Michael Wood are serious and very troubling. The police commissioner has made clear that the Baltimore Police Department will never tolerate malicious conduct. We hope that during his time as both a sworn member and as a sergeant with supervisory obligations, that Mr. Wood reported these disturbing allegations at the time of their occurrence. If he did not, we strongly encourage him to do so now, so that our Internal Affairs Division can begin an immediate investigation. In a recently published letter to the Baltimore Sun, the police commissioner made clear that his reform efforts remain focused on rooting out the type of conduct that is alleged. We implore Mr. Wood or anyone else with knowledge of such acts to contact our Internal Affairs Division at 410-396-2300.”
The tone of the response emphasised Wood’s responsibility to report such incidents immediately. However, Wood’s statements indicate how the extent to which these acts were carried out blurred the line between right and wrong for many on the force. Michael Wood is far from the first ex-cop to suggest this to be the case, with many others describing similar feelings during their time on the force, including the case of Robert Davis, who described his descent into corruption with the New Orleans Police Department to NPR’s Snap Judgement.
[Image credit: Alex Wong / Getty Images]
