BALTIMORE -- U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Tuesday that the Justice Department will examine the best options to improve the Baltimore Police Department, and a full-scale civil-rights investigation has not been ruled out in the death of Freddie Gray, which sparked rioting and looting around the city.
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After meeting with elected leaders, clergy and activists at four locations in Baltimore, Lynch said the city has come to symbolize police and community mistrust -- an issue that plagues many cities across the United States.
"We're going to try to come up with solutions, real solutions for the city of Baltimore to improve this city," Lynch said. "That is our goal. That is our commitment. It is my commitment on behalf of the Department of Justice."
Lynch visited Baltimore four days after State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against six officers involved in Gray's arrest and transport. He died April 19 -- one week after suffering a spinal injury during his arrest.
Much of Lynch's five-hour fact-finding mission was spent privately listening to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts, clergy leaders and activists who frequently protest police brutality and excessive force.
Lynch first met privately with Gray's family at the University of Baltimore. Gray family attorney William Murphy said Lynch expressed condolences to the family.
"It was wonderful for the first black woman attorney general in the history of this country to care so much about our city that she came here today to express her full involvement in coming up with a solution to our common problems," Murphy said. He said the culture of policing must change "across the country."
Lynch then held talks for nearly an hour with more than 30 faith leaders and members of the city's congressional delegation.
Lynch reiterated the federal government's pledge to improve the police force's relationship with Baltimore residents, adding: "We're here to hold your hands and provide support."
Afterward, officials praised Lynch for going to Baltimore so quickly after she was sworn in last week.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, said Lynch did not rule out an investigation of "patterns and practices" of possible legal and constitutional violations in the Police Department, similar to a probe the federal agency conducted in Ferguson, Mo.
A Section on 05/06/2015