tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368160828091722393.post2285520176692332915..comments2024-03-08T01:54:55.870-05:00Comments on Baltimore Criminal Justice Blogger Page Croyder: A Texas-Sized LessonPage Croyderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13005710168659844334noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368160828091722393.post-50461480855713880762016-02-06T20:33:44.048-05:002016-02-06T20:33:44.048-05:00Lauren Reeder, an assistant district attorney unde...Lauren Reeder, an assistant district attorney under Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson, has been a member of the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Board of Directors since 2013. Reeder and Anderson both claim that Reeder had nothing to do with the Grand Jury indictment of undercover investigator David Daleiden, and the failure to charge Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast with anything. Yeah, right.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01530865229669045729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368160828091722393.post-38271198071486364912016-02-04T16:18:32.938-05:002016-02-04T16:18:32.938-05:00Thanks, Ms. Croyder, for another insightful column...Thanks, Ms. Croyder, for another insightful column. I hope that your renewed hope in the power of ethics and professionalism remains justified. But you'll have to be hopeful for both of us. I'm sticking with cynicism since it's got such a good track record. Hickmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02186873462482719150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5368160828091722393.post-82126798126894055482016-01-31T17:15:12.734-05:002016-01-31T17:15:12.734-05:00Miss Croyder,
I couldn't agree with you more a...Miss Croyder,<br />I couldn't agree with you more about DA Devon Anderson following the standards of his profession, as opposed to what has occurred in Baltimore with criminal charges brought against the six officers. It is not only the lacking evidence of criminal intent, but the manner of investigation and speed of those charges that is so troubling. Who did this investigation? What is their experience in death investigations? Why was the BPD homicide unit--the entity tasked with death investigations in Baltimore--irrelevant? Did the major in the Baltimore Sheriff's Office who signed the statement of charges actually write them, and what is his experience in death investigations? How many death investigations have ever been done by the Sheriff's Office? I think these questions are legitimate, because of the incredible speed with which the charges were brought. I'm not aware of the media, especially The Sun, asking these, or similar, questions. You refer to an editorial about some tweets by a BPD officer. I thought it was an exceptially vicious attack on an individual, and as you pointed out, a more subtle indictment of all BPD officers. I would like to include the following letter to the editors I sent, which they chose not to publish:<br />The sanctimonious position of the Sun Editorial Board in The Officer's Tweets (Jan. 27) is simply astounding. In the editorial you state, "Through his thoughtless actions, Mr. Gearhart has presented himself not only as someone who chose his career field unwisely but as a misanthrope living on the city taxpayers' dime..." I could not find in the editorial any reference to "thoughtless actions" Lt. Victor Gearhart may have done as a police officer for 33 years. I do know that early in his career Victor Gearhart, after working his regular shift for the police department, he would then do a night shift of foot patrol in the high-rise projects for the Baltimore Housing Authority. He did this several times a week for years. For safety reasons, these were two-person patrols. I worked with him on many occasions. I witnessed him treat everyone with respect and fairness. He appeared dedicated, and did nothing that would make one think he had chosen his career unwisely. I, of course, was not present for the thousands of interactions he has had with citizens during his career, but would be shocked if there have been any sustained charges of mistreatment of any citizen, or racist behavior. Calling him a misanthrope--that is hyperbole at its worse. As is the case with 99.9 percent of the Baltimore Police Officers, the dimes of the city taxpayers were well spent on Lt. Gearhart. I have not read his tweets, but it is my understanding Lt. Gearhart does not identify his occupation, nor present himself as representing any entity. Would we even know this tweeter was a police officer if not for The Sun? Shouldn't he be judged as a police officer by his actions as a police officer, and not his words as an anonymous tweeter. Maybe his words are just a result of his frustration with the bias of the media. Has The Baltimore Sun ever questioned the motivation and professionalism of Marilyn Mosby? Why hasn't The Sun wondered where is the evidence of criminal intent of the six officers? After the mistrial of Officer Porter, The Sun ran a front page article titled Hung Jury Might Not Hurt State. It is stated in the lead paragraph that the mistrial will not hurt the prosecutors' chances of conviction. Why not say it won't hurt the chances of a presumed innocent defendent being acquitted?<br />Finally, I'm sure many readers disapproved of your degrading officers providing building security--"surely not one of the department's most prestigious assignments." The Sun is nothing, if not arrogant.<br /><br />Thanks for your blog.<br />You're providing a needed perspective in these times when so many public officials forget/disregard the oath of their respective office.<br />Charles Gilbert<br />(BPD retiree)<br />Charles Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03865062762670249720noreply@blogger.com