Baltimore Police: 'We are part of the problem' - CNNPolitics (CNN)Baltimore's police commissioner says he didn't know that six of his officers would face charges -- some including second degree murder and manslaughter -- in the death of Freddie Gray until 10 minutes before State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced it on national television. In his first interview after Gray's death, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts told CNN's Evan Perez that the community lacks trust in law enforcement, and police must acknowledge that "we are part of the problem." "The community needs to hear that," he said. "The community needs to hear from us that we haven't been part of the solution, and now we have to evolve. Now we have to change." JUST WATCHEDHealing the rift between communities and policeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHealing the rift between communities and police 02:46PLAY VIDEORELATED: Unrest in Baltimore as Obama pushes mentoringIn a subtle shot at Mosby, Batts compared the thoroughness of his investigation into Gray's death -- he said he assigned 45 to 50 officers to the case, pulling some off other homicides and robberies -- to the state attorney's much-smaller group. Batts said Mosby had sought to limit leaks and avoid the perception that the state's attorney was too close to police as she determined what charges to press against the officers who are accused of playing a role in Gray's death. "She didn't want to be seen connected to the police organization, so the communication was limited as compared to what I'm used to," he said.Batts acknowledged a series of tactical mistakes as protests erupted last week that stemmed from a core problem: Baltimore police were not prepared for such massive demonstrations -- particularly once they turned violent. He said his officers sometimes lacked the shields, helmets and other gear they needed. At one point a group of officers advanced uphill against a rowdy group of protesters, at a disadvantage, Batts said. And his department hadn't prepared for moving platoons of 200 to 300 officers at a time. Batts said he was "probably surprised" to learn that six of his officers would be charged in the death of Gray,
nfl wholesale jersey, who was in police custody and had been refused medical attention. EXPAND IMAGE"And then my mind started going to, what is going to be the response in community? ... My officers, how do I keep them engaged, how do I keep them focused on getting their job done as a whole?" he said. He wouldn't discuss the details of Gray's death, saying that while he'd like to make as much information public as possible to "take some of the steam out" of the community's anger, the state's attorney's case might be harmed if too much is released. More broadly,
cheap jerseys on sale, Batts said, Baltimore police -- and law enforcement nationwide -- must build trust with the urban communities they serve. He also echoed comments from leaders like President Barack Obama who have asserted that a lack of strong educational opportunities has harmed African-American communities. He said if children can't read by third grade,
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nfl jerseys wholesale, they stand little chance of finishing school. "It's not going to be an overnight thing," said Batts, who is African-American. He pointed to efforts already in place that include a program in which inner-city children receive meals and play sports with police officers. He said some officers are coaches and mentors already, and that he'd like to launch a program modeled after one in Los Angeles to have police officers working inside housing complexes. "It's going to be a long journey," he said. "This isn't going to be a short journey. You can see the distrust that's out there,
cheap nba jerseys china, and we have to find inroads to sit down with people -- to show care, to show empathy." Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who visited Baltimore on Tuesday, also sought to reassure law enforcement and the community the Justice Department who continue to help build ties long after the news cameras leave.Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople hold hands during a rally at Baltimore City Hall on Sunday, May 3. The death of Freddie Gray, who died in police custody,
nfl jerseys wholesale, sparked rioting in Baltimore last week and protests across the country. Hide Caption 1 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosMembers of the National Guard board a truck at an armory staging area on May 3 in Baltimore. After a night of relatively peaceful protests, the city lifted a curfew, the National Guard is preparing its exit and a mall that had been a flashpoint in last week's riots has been reopened. Hide Caption 2 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosMedics take a man away after police pepper-sprayed him on Saturday, May 2, in Baltimore's Sandtown neighborhood where Freddie Gray was arrested in April.Hide Caption 3 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice detain a man on May 2 in Baltimore's Sandtown neighborhood.Hide Caption 4 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters hold signs on May 2 in the Sandtown neighborhood.Hide Caption 5 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters march from the Gilmor Homes housing community, where Freddie Gray was arrested, to City Hall on Saturday, May 2, in Baltimore. Hide Caption 6 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice in riot gear enforce a 10 p.m. curfew and clear Baltimore streets of protesters and media on Friday, May 1.Hide Caption 7 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosU.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, helps clear Baltimore streets of protesters on May 1. Hide Caption 8 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosDemonstrators celebrate the announcement that six officers were charged May 1 in Gray's death. Hide Caption 9 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosDemonstrators march through the streets of Baltimore after the charges against the officers were announced May 1. Hide Caption 10 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice on horseback block a Baltimore street on May 1.Hide Caption 11 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA demonstrator celebrates in Baltimore the charges were announced on May 1.Hide Caption 12 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA member of the National Guard stands outside Baltimore City Hall as protesters gather on Wednesday, April 29.Hide Caption 13 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosHigh school and college students march from Baltimore's Penn Station to City Hall on April 29.Hide Caption 14 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA community organizer later identified as Joseph Kent paces in front of riot police with his hands up during a curfew in Baltimore on Tuesday, April 28. Moments later, he was seen being arrested by police live on CNN. Kent's lawyer said on April 30 that his client had been released from jail. While some protesters defied the curfew and faced off with police, demonstrations Tuesday were largely peaceful. Hide Caption 15 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosState Sen. Catherine E. Pugh embraces a protester while urging the crowd to disperse ahead of the 10 p.m. curfew.Hide Caption 16 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople attempt to stop protesters from approaching a police line on April 28.Hide Caption 17 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA Baltimore police captain tries to calm a protester on April 28.Hide Caption 18 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosTwo women sweep up the streets in Baltimore -- reflected in the broken window of a storefront on April 28. See more photos of the cleanup efforts.Hide Caption 19 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA band plays music during protests on April 28 in Baltimore. Hide Caption 20 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA boy in Baltimore offers water to a police officer on April 28. Hide Caption 21 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosJerrie Mckenny, left,
nfl nike jerseys, and her sister Tia Sexton embrace as demonstrators hold hands and sing the hymn "Amazing Grace" in Baltimore on April 28. Hide Caption 22 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosDemonstrators stand in front of a police line and call for peace after a bottle was thrown on April 28.Hide Caption 23 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosMaryland National Guardsmen patrol the streets on April 28.Hide Caption 24 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosThe remains of a senior center smolder on April 28. Riots broke out Monday,
wholesale nfl jerseys, April 27, after Freddie Gray's funeral.Hide Caption 25 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice retreat from burned-out cars in an intersection on Monday, April 27.Hide Caption 26 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosFirefighters respond to a burning building during the riots late April 27.Hide Caption 27 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer walks by a burning building on April 27.Hide Caption 28 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice stand guard on April 27.Hide Caption 29 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues on April 27.Hide Caption 30 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA mixture of milk and water rolls down a man's chest after he was pepper sprayed by the Baltimore Police April 27.Hide Caption 31 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA man rides a bicycle through heavy smoke emitting from a nearby store on fire April 27.Hide Caption 32 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA man shouts for calm as protesters clash with police April 27.Hide Caption 33 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice carry an injured officer from the streets near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27.Hide Caption 34 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople carrying goods leave a CVS pharmacy near Pennsylvania and North avenues on April 27.Hide Caption 35 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA demonstrator raises his fist as police stand in formation on April 27.Hide Caption 36 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosArmored cars drive down Pennsylvania Avenue as looters break into shops on April 27.Hide Caption 37 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople lock arms and form a line opposing police at the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues on April 27.Hide Caption 38 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice form a barrier between protesters and a burning CVS being attended to by firefighters on April 27.Hide Caption 39 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople carry goods out of a CVS pharmacy on April 27.Hide Caption 40 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police vehicle burns April 27.Hide Caption 41 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer throws an object at protesters on April 27. Hide Caption 42 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA man carries items from a store as police vehicles burn on April 27.Hide Caption 43 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer checks on a man who was injured on April 27.Hide Caption 44 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer is carried to safety after being hit in the head with a rock during the riot on April 27. Hide Caption 45 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer uses pepper spray on rioters on April 27.Hide Caption 46 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice officers push back a protester on April 27.Hide Caption 47 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice react during the riot on April 27.Hide Caption 48 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosBaltimore police officers in riot gear look toward protesters near Mondawmin Mall on April 27.Hide Caption 49 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosBaltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts chases away protesters in a parking lot on April 27.Hide Caption 50 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA woman abandons her car in the middle of an intersection as Baltimore Police officers clash with protesters outside the Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27.Hide Caption 51 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPolice handle the protesters during a riot on April 27.Hide Caption 52 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA demonstrator taunts police on April 27.Hide Caption 53 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters stand off with police during a march in honor of Gray in Baltimore on Saturday, April 25. Hide Caption 54 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA protester throws a barricade at a bar near Oriole Park at Camden Yards after a rally on April 25.Hide Caption 55 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters chase after a car as it drives in reverse after the rally on April 25.Hide Caption 56 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA protester breaks a store window after the rally in Baltimore on April 25.Hide Caption 57 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters get into a shoving match with police during a march downtown on April 25.Hide Caption 58 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters and police square off April 25. Hide Caption 59 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosProtesters drive through the Camden Yards area on April 25. Hide Caption 60 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosMembers of the Baltimore Police Department stand guard Thursday, April 23, outside the department's Western District station during a protest.Hide Caption 61 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA police officer films protesters from the steps of the Western District station on April 23.Hide Caption 62 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosEmpowerment Temple Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant speaks in front of City Hall in Baltimore on April 23.Hide Caption 63 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosDemonstrators put their fists in the air during a protest outside the Baltimore police's Western District station on Wednesday,
wholesale mlb jerseys, April 22.Hide Caption 64 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosHundreds of demonstrators march toward the Western District station on April 22.Hide Caption 65 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosPeople march through the streets of Baltimore on April 22.Hide Caption 66 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosDemonstrators argue with Baltimore officers during the protest on April 22.Hide Caption 67 of 68Baltimore protests 68 photosA woman is comforted during the protest on April 22.Hide Caption 68 of 68Follow @CNNpolitics
