Baltimore mayor opposes state probe of city police scandal

Baltimore’s mayor is opposing a proposal to have the state investigate the corruption scandal that has roiled Baltimore police, citing existing federal monitoring and her police chief’s pursuit of an independent inquiry.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Mayor Catherine Pugh said at her weekly news conference Wednesday that she thinks the state commission proposed Tuesday by Baltimore Democrat State Sen. Bill Ferguson is unnecessary. She said Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa is soliciting private funds to establish his own independent commission into the department’s Gun Trace Task Force.

An amendment to Ferguson’s bill calling for regular state auditing of the department would create a commission with subpoena power that would conduct a 20-month investigation into corruption. Ferguson said any investigation originated by city police wouldn’t restore public trust.

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Information from: The Baltimore Sun, http://www.baltimoresun.com