WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski together with Representatives Elijah Cummings, John Delaney, Donna F. Edwards, Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Chris Van Hollen (all D-Md.) have sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch supporting the request made this week by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to have the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division open a federal “pattern or practice” investigation of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
“By using your authority under 42 U.S.C. § 14141, you have the ability to help repair the public’s trust in the BPD and ensure the protection of our citizens’ constitutional rights. Such an investigation could address issues such as allegations of persistent patterns of police misconduct, use of excessive force, discriminatory policing or use of profiling, and improper stops, searches, or arrests. We would welcome a detailed report on the BPD along with recommendations to reform this critical agency in a timely manner,” the Members wrote.
“We ask the Justice Department to continue its Collaborative Reform Initiative through the COPS Office that is providing technical assistance to the BPD. We also ask the Justice Department continue its criminal and civil rights investigation into the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray.”
The letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch follows:
May 7, 2015
The Honorable Loretta Lynch
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Attorney General Lynch:
We thank you for visiting Baltimore, Maryland, earlier this week during your first official trip since being sworn into office last week. We appreciated the meetings you held with members of the Congressional delegation, local officials, community leaders, and the family of Freddie Gray. We welcome the active engagement in Baltimore of officials from the Civil Rights Division, COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Office, and Community Relations Service.
We write to strongly support the request made earlier today of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake of Baltimore to have the Civil Rights Division open a federal “pattern or practice” investigation of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). By using your authority under 42 U.S.C. § 14141, you have the ability to help repair the public’s trust in the BPD and ensure the protection of our citizens’ constitutional rights. Such an investigation could address issues such as allegations of persistent patterns of police misconduct, use of excessive force, discriminatory policing or use of profiling, and improper stops, searches, or arrests. We would welcome a detailed report on the BPD along with recommendations to reform this critical agency in a timely manner.
We ask the Justice Department to continue its Collaborative Reform Initiative through the COPS Office that is providing technical assistance to the BPD. We also ask the Justice Department continue its criminal and civil rights investigation into the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray.
Thank you again for your leadership on these issues and the personal attention and time you have devoted on behalf of the citizens of Baltimore. We stand ready to assist you in your efforts and look forward to working with you as you begin your tenure as Attorney General.
Sincerely,
Benjamin L. Cardin Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator United States Senator
Elijah E. Cummings John Delaney
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Donna F. Edwards Steny H. Hoyer
Member of Congress Member of Congress
C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger John Sarbanes
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Chris Van Hollen
Member of Congress
###
