Seven Baltimore police are being accused of taking part in the crime they are supposed to be stopping.
According to the Washington Post, the officers who were part of an elite gun task force were indicted on Wednesday by US Attorney Rod Rosenstein in a racketeering conspiracy. They’re accused of robbing people who they stopped and searched. Some didn’t even commit crimes. From the Post:
The alleged robberies included stealing $1,500 from a maintenance man who planned to use the cash for rent and a theft of about $200,000 from a safe and from bags seized at a search location, authorities said.
The feds allege they also stole from taxpayers by falsifying timesheets and claiming fradulent overtime. One officer claimed overtime while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, SC.
In another case, one of the officers helped a person involved in a drug conspiracy elude tracking by the feds by removing a GPS tracking device.
The indictment comes at a time when police are under federal consent decree as the department looks to reform. As Commissioner Kevin Davis put it, “Reform isn’t always a pretty thing to watch unfold.”
Of course this happened under the previous mayor’s watch. She was too busy partying and tweeting “clap backs” to those who criticized her rather than looking at the systematic corruption throughout her office.
First thing–make the officers publicly apologize and pay back the victims the unearned overtime. Disgusting and disappointed at this police department. Make an example of them. PLEASE.