FREDDIE GRAY ARREST RECORD

  

03-20-15 dealing cocaine
08-28-08 possession of narcotics
10-05-12 illegal gambling
01-25-14 possession of narcotics over 10 grams
08-24-07 manufacturing and distribution narcotics
08/29-07 distribution of narcotics
09-16-08 distribution of narcotics
04-16-08 distribution of narcotics
05-09-12 distribution of narcotics
01-04-15 distribution of narcotics
12-31-14 distribution of narcotics
05-13-14 stolen property
07-16-08 distribution of narcotics
03-28-08 possession of narcotics
02-12-08 distribution of narcotics
09-29-13 distribution of narcotics
12-04-14 distribution of narcotics
12-04-14 possession of narcotics
03-20-08 burglary
03-20-08 possession of narcotics
09-21-07 distribution of narcotics
04-30-08 unlawful possession (two counts)

Full disclosure: I was a teenager just out of high school when I got a job with the Denver Police Department. I transcribed crime reports from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.  The “wagon room” where police officers reported for duty was right next to my office.  It was also the room where prisoners were brought, walked across the room to the elevator and taken to the Denver City Jail.  On numerous occasions I witnessed abuse of prisoners... policemen getting their jollies by beating drunks with their night sticks as they took them to jail.  I reported it to the on duty Captain several times and because nothing was done to correct it, I resigned.  It was awful.  It was totally abusive and I wanted no part of it, least of all being a witness to it.  Thus, I am not naïve about police officers who violate the public trust.  Later in life I became very involved on the Board of Directors of Americans for Effective Law Enforcement to try to correct problems with police departments and communities that do not understand the problems police officers face every day.

            Because of my background, my natural inclination would be to side with the abused rather than the abuser.  In this case, I do not.