A federal judge on Friday approved a plan to reform the Baltimore Police Department, a day after a stream of residents urged him to reject attempts by the U.S. Department of Justice to delay a consent agreement with the city. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar rejected the postponement request, noting the agreement had already been signed by the government and Baltimore. But the agreement was awaiting approval from a federal judge as President Trump took office. Residents who spoke in federal court yesterday told the judge that they had lost trust in the police force and federal oversight was needed for any reforms to have credibility. The Baltimore agreement, reached after Freddie Gray died in April 2015 following an injury in police custody, calls for changes including training officers on how to resolve conflicts without force.

Source: Washington Post April 07, 2017 16:46 UTC