Baltimore Reaches $6.4 Million Settlement With Gray Family

Baltimore City has reached a  $6.4 million wrongful death settlement deal with the family of Freddie Gray, pending approval by the Board of Estimates Wednesday morning.

The settlement would be paid out in two years, $2.8 million during Baltimore City’s current fiscal year and $3.6 million in the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016. 

"The proposed settlement agreement going before the Board of Estimates should not be interpreted as a judgment on the guilt or innocence of the officers facing trial," the mayor said in a statement. "This settlement is being proposed solely because it is in the best interest of the city, and avoids costly and protracted litigation that would only make it more difficult for our city to heal and potentially cost taxpayers many millions more in damages."

This announcement angered the head of Baltimore's Fraternal Order of Police and called the mayor's move a "ridiculous reaction."

"It is with a tremendous amount of concern and alarm that we react to today's news of the proposed wrongful death settlement between the City of Baltimore and the family of Freddie Gray. To suggest that there is any reason to settle prior to the adjudication of the pending criminal cases is obscene and without regard to the fiduciary responsibility of taxpaying citizens of the city," Lt. Gene Ryan, President of the Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police, said in a statement. "There has been no civil litigation filed nor has there been any guilt determined that would require such a ridiculous reaction on the part of Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and her administration."

"Just as Baltimore is returning to its pre-riot normalcy, this news threatens to interrupt any progress made toward restoring the relationship between the members of the Baltimore Police Department and the Baltimore City government. We strongly urge the city's spending panel to reject this proposed settlement and to wait until such time as there is a more appropriate response." 

Gray died in April after he suffered a critical spine injury while he was in police custody. Six Baltimore police officers face criminal charges stemming from Gray's death. Gray, who was black, was critically injured April 12 in the back of a prisoner transport van after he was arrested. 

The death of the 25-year-old Gray sparked protests, rioting and unrest that shook Baltimore for days.

Source WBAL