AG Lynch: It's Up To Baltimore Officials To Get Consent Decree Done
Jayne Miller, WBAL-TV 11
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said it's all up to Baltimore City officials to get the consent decree done to mandate reforms for the Baltimore Police Department.
The process has taken on a sense of urgency to get it done before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
The 11 News I-Team has learned that city officials have everything they need to get the deal done.
Lynch plans to travel to Baltimore in early January in hopes of signing the consent decree to enforce reform of the Police Department.
"At this point, the ball's in the city's court, but we are looking forward to getting a positive response from them on finalizing this consent decree," Lynch said Thursday morning.
In August, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a damning report on the city Police Department, citing unconstitutional arrests, bias and abusive conduct.
The city agreed to the need for a consent decree to be overseen by an independent monitor and court-enforced.
The exact reforms have been the subject of negotiation. A source familiar with the talks provided evidence Thursday that the city holds the cards, saying, "They have everything. They've had some sections for months."
Mayor Catherine Pugh told 11 News that less than half the sections of the consent decree have been resolved.
"Nine are done. We have 21 different negotiating areas," Pugh said.
Pugh would not commit to the attorney general's preferred deadline to get the consent decree before the pro-police reform Obama administration leaves office.
"I have no idea what the time frame is right now. What I do know is we are moving as quickly as we can to make sure we get the best deal. For me, this is not political. This is about what is right for Baltimore," Pugh said.
Pugh said she is concerned about the cost of reforms. She repeated her predecessor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, saying state taxpayers need to help foot the bill.
"What we do in Annapolis is going to be real important as it relates to this consent decree," Pugh said.
Late Thursday afternoon, City Councilman Brandon Scott wrote a letter to Pugh, urging her to sign the consent decree before the president-elect is sworn in. He wrote, "Attorney General-nominee Jeff Sessions threatens to end any hope for reform. Sessions is not a supporter of consent decrees."