Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said this week State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s heart was in the right place when it came to the Freddie Gray case
"From her campaign rhetoric it was clear what she was going to do. I think her heart was in the right place but you can't correct a dysfunctional system in that way,” said Batts, who was police commissioner from 2012 until last June, when Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fired him. “Change takes time and hard work. The resolutions have to be legitimate.”
“You don't correct injustice with injustice,” Batts said.
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In an interview with ABC2 News, Mosby said she still believes her office made the right call to prosecute the officers, despite the outcome.
RELATED: ABC2 sits down with Marilyn Mosby
Batts was the city’s top cop when Gray, 25, was fatally injured in the back of a police van last April. His death a week later sparked several days of unrest.
Six city officers were indicted for his death. After three were acquitted, Mosby announced Wednesday her plans to drop charges against the remaining three.
“This community has felt pain and at times has been treated unjustly. You must correct the injustice with hard work and diligence,” Batts said.
He said Mosby could have benefited from more guidance.
“The gray hair around her should have provided sound counsel and assisted her, they let her down,” he said.
Batts also applauded Judge Barry Williams, who oversaw the cases, for "showing professionalism, courage and character.”
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