Police union must end unfair attacks on Mosby
I read police union president Gene Ryan’s recent letter to the editor with interest and shared compassion for the tragic loss of Baltimore County Police Officer Amy Caprio’s young life (“FOP: Mosby’s failure led to Baltimore County officer’s death,” May 25). Recognizing Mr. Ryan’s profound grief and justified anger, I expected the union to take aim at the alleged principal perpetrator, Dawnta Harris.
Instead, I read with disbelief the sweeping charge he leveled against our city’s highest-ranking law enforcement official, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, whom he holds responsible for the officer’s death. Mr. Ryan blames Ms. Mosby for the court releasing 16-year-old Dawnta Harris on home detention on a pending burglary charge. That seemed strange since it’s the judge, not the prosecutor, who decides release.
Mr. Ryan never tells readers that Mr. Harris’ mother, who asked for Juvenile Services help and intervention, spoke in court and told reporters that prosecutors vigorously joined her effort to keep her son in jail. Mr. Ryan omitted this crucial information. He also ignored news reports indicating Juvenile Services recommended that he return home, a fact that persuaded the judge to overcome the mom’s and state’s attorney’s objection.
Lt. Ryan takes another unfair swipe at Ms. Mosby by charging prosecutors with following the same “catch and release” practice that allowed other dangerous defendants to be released. Defense lawyers would scoff at this assertion. They bear witness daily to prosecutors opposing release for violent offenders. Mr. Ryan is aware that only judges are empowered to detain defendants.
Why the misleading and inaccurate assertions? With an upcoming election next month, the union leadership and allies want a state’s attorney more to their liking than the independent Ms. Mosby.
It’s time for the police union to take immediate steps to regain community trust by correcting the public record and ending its divisive and strained relationship with State’s Attorney Mosby.