The Justice Department is requesting a 90-day continuance of a hearing this week on its proposed court-enforceable consent decree with the Baltimore police department.
The request was made Monday evening, three days before a scheduled hearing before a federal judge.
The department is citing several reasons for the request, including new Justice Department policies that federal officials say are aimed at reducing crime as well as a new memo that seeks a review of existing or proposed consent decrees.
If granted, the request would effectively put on pause a process that could lead to a sweeping overhaul in the policies and practices of the Baltimore police force.
The two sides reached agreement on a consent decree earlier this year before Attorney General Loretta Lynch left the Justice Department.
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh released the following statement:
"We learned late this evening that the Department of Justice has requested a continuance with the federal court regarding Baltmore's police consent decree. We strongly oppose any delay in moving forward. I, along with Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and the citizens of Baltimore, recognize that reforming our police department is long overdue.
Much has been done to begin the process of building faith between the police department and the community it seeks to serve. Any interruption in moving forward may have the effect of eroding the trust that we are working hard to establish."
And the Baltimore Police Department released this statement:
"We recently were informed of the 90 day extension request by the Department of Justice to "review and assess" matters within the DOJ to include the proposed consent decree here in Baltimore. This is a decision made solely by the DOJ and we oppose the decision.
The Baltimore Police Department is continuing to move forward with reforms related to the forthcoming consent decree for the overall progress of the city of Baltimore. Further delays only serve to erode the trust of the public in this process."
RELATED:DOJ agrees to reforms for BPD
WMAR Staff contributed to this report.
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