(Newswire.net — May 2, 2015) — Baltimore, Ma. – Approximately one half an hour after State’s Attorney J. Mosby announced charges against six Baltimore police officers, an open letter from the Police Union president asking Baltimore chief attorney to step aside was shared on the social networks.
In a letter send Friday morning, addressed to the State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby, the Baltimore police union called on Mosby to appoint a special prosecutor to take over the case against the six officers involved in the arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray.
“In order to avoid any appearance of impropriety or a violation of the Professional Rules of Professional Responsibility, I ask that you appoint a Special Prosecutor to determine whether or not any charges should be filed,” Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Gene Ryan wrote.
Mosby has refused the demand and filed the charges against six Baltimore’s police officers. Besides murder and manslaughter, the charges include assault, misconduct, false imprisonment and failure to render aid.
In her reply to the FOP President’s letter, Mosby said, “I can tell you that the people of Baltimore City elected me, and there’s no accountability with a special prosecutor,” Mosby said. “I can tell you that, from day one, we independently investigated ‒ we’re not just relying solely on what we were given from the police department. Period.”
The Police Union President called into question Mosby’s ability to maintain impartiality in the face potential conflicts of interest, because of her “personal and professional relationship with Gray family attorney, William Murphy and the lead prosecutor’s connections with members of the local media … [who] are likely to be witnesses in any potential litigation regarding this incident,” Ryan wrote in the letter.
“Most importantly, it is clear that your husband’s political future will be directly impacted, for better or worse, by the outcome of your investigation,” Ryan continued.
“I don’t see an appearance of a conflict of interest,” Mosby told reporters. “My husband is a public servant. He works on the legislative; I am a prosecutor, I am also a public servant.”
Mosby’s office also reacted by noticing that Baltimore residents knew of her husband’s political position when she was elected in November. However, the Police union is greatly unsatisfied with the prosecutor’s decision and the volume of charges.
“Let me begin by stating how appalled and frustrated we are this morning at the events and information announced by the state’s attorney,” Ryan told reporters Friday afternoon. “We are disappointed in the apparent rush to judgment given the fact the investigation into this matter has not been concluded.”
By Friday afternoon, all six police officers had turned themselves in. According to court documents, bail was set between $250,000 and $350,000 each.