The president of the Baltimore Police Union on Thursday says that there is a lack of respect for officers on the streets after six officer for indicted in the death of Freddie Gray.
FOP Lodge 3 President Lt. Gene Ryan released a statement Thursday claiming that criminals are taking advantage of the situation in the city since the riots in late April.
"Criminals feel empowered now," Ryan said. "There is no respect. Police are under siege in every quarter."
Ryan also contended that Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby essentially overturned Illinois v. Wardlow. The 2000 U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that two Chicago police officers who pursued a man in a known drug area and discovered a handgun in his bag did not violate the fourth amendment.
"They are more afraid of going to jail for doing their jobs properly than they are of getting shot on duty," Ryan said.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts on Wednesday said that his officers were a bit "confused" following the fallout over the death of Gray.
"They've said to me 'If I get out of my car and I make a stop for a reasonable suspicion, but I make a mistake on it, will I be arrested for it?', " Batts said at a press conference.
On Friday, officers were scheduled to receive a legal refresher from the Justice Department.
