ATLANTA (AP) A metro Atlanta public safety leader traveled to Baltimore on Tuesday to help local leaders respond to recent riots.
DeKalb County Public Safety Director Cedric Alexander said he traveled to Baltimore to meet with community leaders and offer help on behalf of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Alexander is the organization's national president.
``We want to be able to assist and provide some productive help to people in the community if they see a need,'' Alexander said.
The National Guard and additional police were summoned to Baltimore on Monday after riots erupted in response to the death of Freddie Gray, 25, who died April 19 of spinal cord and other injuries he sustained while in police custody. A state of emergency was declared in Baltimore after the riots, public schools were closed and a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was implemented beginning Tuesday night.
Alexander also traveled to Ferguson, Missouri, to work with law enforcement and community leaders during violent protests after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown and said the mood in Baltimore seemed similar to what he saw in Missouri.
``Of course, this is a much larger community but the same types of frustrations exist here that exist in other places,'' Alexander said. ``But that is never reason to cause harm and destroy property. That will never be acceptable in any kind of way.''
Thursday
May 2nd, 2024
10:26PM
