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U.S. NEWS A3
1 year after Freddie Gray, police work to heal city’s wounds
JULIET LINDERMAN
Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — A year
after the death of Freddie
Gray in police custody, a
small part of his legacy can has that trust been so tenu- ment by police officers,
be seen at a southwest
Baltimore recreation cen-
ter, where the pounding of
basketballs and squeak of
sneakers echo off the walls
as young black men in
shorts and sweats face off.
Ken Hurst, a white police-
man, watches from the
side, a bum knee the only
thing that keeps him from
playing. He visits the game
each week, not to make
arrests but to make friends. into allegations of unlawful skeptical, other say there
“I need them to realize I’m
not out here to lock every-
one up,” he says. “I’m here
to rebuild trust.”
Seldom in the city’s history of black men’s mistreat-
ous: Gray, a 25-year-old
black man from West Bal-
timore, died after his neck
was broken April 12 in the
back of a police van. Pro-
tests erupted and long-sim-
mering tensions between
the police and residents
exploded into the worst
riots and looting in more
than four decades. The U.S.
Department of Justice an-
nounced an investigation
arrests and excessive force.
In Baltimore and beyond,
Gray’s name became a
rallying cry, representative
and of the Baltimore de-
partment’s own failings.
Police commissioner Antho-
ny Batts was fired. His dep-
uty — and replacement
— Kevin Davis — promised
to repair a relationship with
the community that was so
strained some say it’s safer
to run from police than
take a chance on interact-
ing with them. While some
in the community remain
Monday 11 April 2016
Baltimore Police Department Officer Ken Hurst, center, and Maj.
Byron Conaway, right, help a player to his feet during a rec-
reational basketball game in Baltimore. Hurst visits the game
each week as part of a new program to get patrol officers out of
their cars and on foot in the communities they serve.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
has been progress. in the neighborhood that
Davis has implemented a Hurst patrols, and he shows
mandatory, 40-hour com- up at the recreation center
munity patrol class that every Tuesday night.
teaches officers in train- “Not all cops want to
ing — and eventually, all see us dead or in jail. We
officers — how to engage need more officers to
residents. Davis said he has come out and feel com-
also begun honoring of- fortable being around us,”
ficers each week for dem- he says.
onstrating “guardianship” An hour earlier, Hurst, blue-
— for forging strong bonds eyed with tanned skin and
with residents, rather than an easy smile, was walking
making arrests. along a commercial strip
“That’s how far we’ve in the Irvington neighbor-
come this year,” he says. hood, dotted with corner
“Would that have hap- stores, liquor stores, cheap
pened before Freddie restaurants and a mas-
Gray? Probably not. sive thrift shop. Spotting a
“We can no longer just go group of young men loiter-
occupy a geography, a ing near a bus shelter, he
poor minority neighbor- gently but firmly told them
hood, and stop 300 people to move along.
in the hopes of catching As he strolled down the
10 bad guys,” Davis said. block, a car stopped in the
“We’re also looking at who middle of the road and a
we’re hiring ... Are we hiring young man popped his
people with a service mind head out of the passenger
set, or people who watch window.
too many cops and rob- “Whassup Hurst?” he
bers television shows?” shouts, his smiling lips part-
Another initiative, the one ed to reveal teeth plated
that brought Hurst to the with gold veneers.
recreation center, aims to As part of his routine, Hurst
get more officers out of walks to a cellphone store
their cars and walking the to check in on the manag-
streets of Baltimore’s most er. On the way, 45-year-old
crime-ridden neighbor- Keith Hopkins, who sat in a
hoods as full-time patrol wheelchair, a hand-rolled
officers. Howard Hood is cigarette between his fin-
a 22-year-old black man gers, stopped the officer to
who was born and raised chat.q