February 11th 2024.
In a recent development, Capt. Alicia White, the Baltimore Police Captain who had been charged in connection with the arrest and death of Freddie Gray in 2015, has been promoted to a new role within the department. Starting on February 11th, she will be heading the Public Integrity Bureau, where she will be responsible for handling allegations of misconduct.
For those unfamiliar with the case, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man, was detained by the Baltimore Police Department on April 12th, 2015 for carrying a knife within legal limits. Unfortunately, during his time in police custody, Gray sustained severe injuries and was taken to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Tragically, he passed away a week later on April 19th, 2015, with the cause of death being attributed to injuries to his cervical spinal cord.
According to reports from the Baltimore Sun, White's appointment was carefully reviewed by an interview committee, who ultimately selected her and one other commander to take on this new level of responsibility. Their decisions were then approved by the city's police commissioner. In her new role, White will be overseeing the Investigative section, where both fellow officers and the general public can submit complaints regarding the conduct of the police.
At the time of Gray's death, White was a lieutenant and a supervisor who had seen him after his arrest, when he was already injured. This was a crucial point in the case, as the city's then-state attorney Marilyn Mosby had launched a case against six officers, including White, for their involvement in Gray's death. Mosby alleged that White had failed to properly investigate the arrest and Gray's injuries. However, White has maintained that when she had asked Gray about any issues, his lack of response led her to believe that he was being uncooperative and didn't require further assistance.
Reflecting on the events of that day, White stated in 2016, "Unfortunately, someone lost their life. But I truly believe that I did everything I was trained to do." Despite Mosby's claims, former commissioner Kevin Davis dropped the charges against White in 2017. And in August 2022, she was promoted to her current role as Captain.
Following the controversial case, the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation in 2016, which found that the Baltimore Police Department had failed to provide proper training and accountability to its officers, leading to them not following guidelines. In light of these findings, changes have been made to the department's processes, and the Public Integrity Bureau will be undergoing a compliance assessment to ensure that systemic improvements are implemented.
This development has sparked reactions from many, with some questioning the decision to promote White and others calling for justice for Freddie Gray. It's a complex and sensitive matter that continues to be a topic of discussion, and we can only hope that the changes being made will lead to better outcomes in the future.
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