McCullough was a long time prosecutor of unquestioned integrity. He was not an activist nor was his spouse or close family member an elected politician for the city where the crime occurred and someone who was and is vocal about police "abuse".
Mosby is brand new and last worked for an insurance company. She and her husband have both been vocal about cases viewed by the public as similar. Mosby also publicly criticized McCullough and the Ferguson process.
Mosby's husband is a councilman for the district where this happened. He's an apparently ambitious politician. I read about him being interviewed where he seemed to be essentially excusing the rioter/looters and deeming the looting going on in front of him not worthy of discussion:
Mosby kept responding that he thought looting was wrong, but that broader, historical realities like a paucity of investment and counterproductive policies imposed on struggling inner cities just like his were like kindling. They went back and forth like this for a few minutes until an exasperated Mosby finally had enough. "At this point, this is not productive," he said. "All you want to do is talk about this" pointing over his shoulder to the liquor store that had been looted, and walking away from the conversation.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2015/04/30/403382265/councilmans-star-rises-fast-amid-baltimore-unrest
Mosby criticized prosecutor McCullough in the Fergusson case and said there should be a special prosecutor.
What we saw (in Ferguson) was a questionable process, because we have to question the motives, said Mosby.
http://newsone.com/3076148/newsone-now-how-a-grand-jury-works-video/
She has criticized the working of the justice system in cases where there have not been indictments.
Shortly before she became the youngest top prosecutor in any major American city, Marilyn J. Mosby, a daughter and granddaughter of police officers, had tough words about how the nations criminal justice system had handled mistreatment of black men by the police.
Its been 78 days since Michael Brown was shot in the street by a police officer, Ms. Mosby said in October at her alma mater, Tuskegee University in Alabama. Its been 101 days since Eric Garner was choked to death in New York by a police officer, and 54 days since the New York City medical examiner ruled that incident a homicide. Neither has resulted in an indictment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/us/marilyn-mosby-prosecutor-in-freddie-gray-case-seen-as-tough-on-police-misconduct.html
And I am concerned that her husband is a vocal activist who echoes the views of the community that elected him. He spoke against the Zimmerman verdict as did his wife, though before she was prosecutor, and proposed a boycott of FL. He also ran on some interesting positions after first losing an election. And he has spoken as though the police are certainly guilty.
A few weeks after a Florida jury acquitted neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby wants the city government to stop doing business with firms in Florida.
http://www.wbal.com/article/101963/21/template-story/Councilman-Wants-City-Boycott-Of-Florida-Stand-Your-Ground-Bill-Proposed-In-Maryland
Mosby was good on some of the issues, like pushing a bill that removed questions about a job-seeker's criminal history from job applications...Mosby ran, in part, on a vow for more police accountability the city's police force has a well-earned reputation for excessive force. He tried to improve the relationship between the department and the folks they police.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2015/04/30/403382265/councilmans-star-rises-fast-amid-baltimore-unrest
Freddie Gray will not die in vain, said Nick Mosby, councilman for the seventh district of Baltimore, which incorporates both the location of Grays arrest and the Western District police station where protesters have congregated for six days on end. I see change coming to Baltimore city. At the end of the day we cant rest on anything less.
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/25/freddie-gray-death-triggers-frustration-baltimore-police
I felt at times today that Mosby's actions were perhaps more political than prosecutorial. I really hope these officers are not being sacrificed for people to make names for themselves and pursue political ambitions. I really question whether Baltimore's problems are racism based and I have issue with stoking the racist flames.
In Baltimore, African Americans control virtually the entire political apparatus. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Anthony Batts have been the most prominent faces of political power in Baltimore over the last several weeks. But Baltimores City Council has 15 members, and a majority, eight, are African American, including its president. The superintendent of the public schools and the entire board of the citys housing commission are African American.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/17888/baltimore_riots_black_politicians
Baltimore is a city mired in violent crime, poverty and dysfunction. I wouldn't work there as anything, never mind a police officer. Despite the promises of politicians nothing has gotten better.
I have no idea what happened in this case and whether some or all of the officers involved acted negligently or criminally. I just hope the justice system is being invoked in an effort to determine that and not merely to appease the local populace and present local elected officials as "heroes" who are willing to quickly indict police without due regard for the facts.
One can feel for the victim without concluding it was criminal and condemning the police before all the facts are available. And I am very troubled by her words
To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America, she said, I heard your call for no justice, no peace.
that were not ones I would usually imagine a prosecutor speaking, seeming to encourage the crowd in the sentiment and allow them to continue to equate indictments and convictions of officers with "justice", thus condoning violence when the crowd doesn't get the results they deem "justice".
I am sad that a sworn officer of the court is having her integrity questioned.
FG was a victim here. Yes, he may have been a criminal in the past or on that day but once he was handcuffed and shackled the officers had a duty to protect his health and safety. Are we not a victim friendly site? FG was not saint but he died handcuffed/shackled on the floor of a police van.
In Ferguson, the police stood down on the first nights. Similar, no?
We may not like that the officers have been charged but why do people need to see the prosecutor as against LE? In Ferguson, many questioned the prosecutor but the general tone was that it was his call to go to the Grand Jury. She makes a call and every move she makes is seen as done based on her leanings toward the youth of Baltimore.
