Officers charged in Freddie Gray’s murder, what happens now?

Today Baltimore’s State Attorney announced after a thorough investigation Freddie Gray’s death has been ruled a homicide and six officers will be charged in connection with his murder.

The unexpected announcement by Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby left no doubt as to what she thinks what happened to Freddie Gray the day he was arrested.

The 25-year-old died, she said, after suffering “a severe and critical neck injury” while being transported “handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained” inside a police van.

It is against police policy to transport a prisoner without proper restraints such as a seat belt.

But the city’s police union insisted that none of the officers was responsible for Gray’s death.

“To the contrary, at all times, each of the officers diligently balanced their obligations to protect Mr. Gray and discharge their duties to protect the public,” wrote Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Ryan.

Freddie Gray suffered a fatal spinal injury on April 12 while being transported in a police van.

Despite repeated stops to check on Mr. Gray, the van driver, Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., and other officers never belted him in, she said, at times leaving him facedown on the van floor with his hands behind him.

Mr. Gray’s condition deteriorated, Mobsy said, as officers repeatedly ignored his pleas for medical attention and ignored obvious signs that he was in distress.

At one point, she said, when officers attempted to check on him, Mr. Gray was completely unresponsive — yet no action was taken. He died of his injuries a week later.

The driver of the van, Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr. received the most serious charge: second-degree depraved-heart murder, among other accusations — including manslaughter by vehicle.

Charges against the other officers varied. All were accused of misconduct and second-degree assault.

Three were charged with involuntary manslaughter. As of Friday afternoon, five of the officers were in custody.

So what does this mean now? Is Baltimore setting the stage to hold police officers accountable for their actions?

Are people finally starting to realize that the issue of  excessive force by police has been a long standing problem for decades and didn’t start happening when social media became the wave of communication?

A charge certainly does not mean a conviction, as you are innocent until proven guilty, but this could be a step to open up the lack of transparency when it comes to policing.

The issue here is not only the actions of the police officers, but the conduct of officers on how they treat citizens of the community.

You will hear dislike of law enforcement, especially in brown and black communities, simply because of the way they are treated by them : second class citizens.

Black men in New York can tell you so much about that with New York’s pointless Stop & Frisk policy.

While the charges against the officers is a step in the right direction, the lens law enforcement has in brown and black communities on how they see the residents needs to be addressed.

The fundamental issue of why Freddie Gray is dead is because of lack of empathy and compassion from the officers.

Yes he was under arrest, but it doesn’t mean he had suffer physical duress because of it. Freddie Gray screamed in agony and pleaded, and yet not one of them cared.

In brown and black communities, the lack of compassion from police officers is one probably every citizen can relay a story to you about.

I remember when I was at a community event a police officer refused to take pictures with the kids.

I was shocked by the police officer’s behavior to not want to interact with members of the community he’s supposed to protect and serve.

Or the time a police officer told me that people who live in urban communities should deal with policing.

Or the time I watched a police officer bother one of the nicest young men I know because the officer didn’t like the fact he “looked” at him.

I can tell you many more stories on lack of compassionate police officers who police a community where most of them don’t live. But I digress.

What happened today in Baltimore was monumental. Whether if the officers are convicted or not, it has set the stage that police brutality and excessive force by police officers will no longer be tolerated.

Protests still continue, because voices still need to be heard. Not just for Freddie Gray, but for all the Freddie Gray’s before him that didn’t result in a charge.

The message today was, no matter your position as a member of society, you will be held accountable for your actions.