Baltimore Police Union Faces Backlash for 'Insensitive' Tweets Following Freddie Gray Verdict

By Paulina Firozi, The Hill

25 June 16

altimore's police union is facing heavy criticism after a series of tweets it posted in response to a police officer's acquittal in the death of Freddie Gray.

On Friday night, the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police's Twitter account posted a photo of Leonardo DiCaprio holding up a glass from the film "Great Gatsby," overlaid with the words "Here’s to the Baltimore 6 defense team, the FOP and Detective Taylor.”

On Saturday morning, the police union posted another meme with a picture of Baltimore’s State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby with the text, “The Wolf That Lurks.”

The first meme apparently refers to Detective Dawnyell Taylor, the lead detective in charge of the investigation into Gray’s death.

Baltimore officer Caesar Goodson — who was driving the van Gray was in when he fell into a coma and who faced the most serious charges — was found not guilty Thursday of all charges in connection with the death of Freddie Gray.

Both tweets have since been deleted, though several people on Twitter took screenshots and have continued to respond.

Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis said he has spoken to the union president about the posts.

“Inappropriate, insensitive remarks or attacks that serve to detract from our necessary relationships with our community and criminal justice partners have no place in our City,” Davis wrote in a statement.