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News Wrap: Police Union Supports Officers; Hogan Pressured On School Funding

Baltimore Police Union Stands Behind Officers

Baltimore's police union is standing behind the six officers suspended in the death of Freddie Gray. Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Ryan is among many who don't believe the officers did anything wrong. Police union lawyer Michael Davey says five of the six officers gave voluntary statements the night Gray was arrested, and resents accusations by the mayor's office that the suspended officers aren't cooperating. Gray died Sunday, a week after he was arrested, and a family attorney says the 25-year-old suffered a severed spinal cord.  

“That the officers didn’t cooperate or they didn’t give statements, that’s simply not an accurate statement in any way, and I don’t understand why individuals would continue to make that statement when it’s not true,” Davey said.

The officers’ statements have not yet been publicly released.

About a thousand protesters surrounded police department headquarters yesterday afternoon after marching through downtown Baltimore. Fraternal Order of Police President Gene Ryan initially compared protesters to a "lynch mob," a statement he was quickly questioned about. 

“Maybe i need to reword that, because i wasn’t trying to…I’m not saying they did anything wrong,” said Ryan. “I just don’t want it to turn into something ugly.”

Baltimore Police released the names of the officers involved in the Gray case. Lieutenant Brian Rice, Sergeant Alicia White and officers Caesar Goodson, William Porter, Garrett Miller and Edward Nero are suspended with pay while police investigate the death of Gray. 

Police say they hope to complete their investigation and turn their findings over to the state's attorney's office on May 1. The U.S. Justice Department is also launching a civil rights probe into the case. 

NAACP Baltimore City Chapter President Tessa Hill-Aston says the federal probe will be important in getting to the "ultimate truth" about Gray's death.

Governor Hogan Pressured To Release School Funds 

Public pressure is mounting on Republican Governor Larry Hogan to release $68 million dollars in school funding. House Speaker Michael Busch, top education advocates, prominent state Democrats and some Republicans called on Hogan to spend cash the Legislature set aside for the state's 13 costliest school districts. Hogan has threatened to withhold the funding. 

O'Malley Set To Return To New Hampshire 

Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is set to return to New Hampshire next month. The Boston Globe reports the possible presidential candidate will speak at a fundraiser and attend a party at the home of a former state official on May 13. This will be the eighth trip to New Hampshire for O'Malley, who says he will decide by the end of next month if he's running for president. 

Reward Offer For Information About Donut Shop Murder 

A $20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of a man suspected of killing his wife at an Anne Arundel County Dunkin' Donuts. A nationwide manhunt is underway for Bhadreshkumar Patel. Investigators say the 21-year-old stabbed his wife Palak to death on April 12 at the donut shop in Hanover where they both worked.  

Maryland Reportedly Lost 5,700 Jobs In March 

Maryland payrolls decreased by 5,700 jobs in March, driven by a blend of losses in both the public and private sectors. The private sector shed 2,400 jobs in the month, while public sector positions decreased by 3,300, according to preliminary data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maryland's unemployment rate, however, improved slightly to 5.4 percent. 

Blue Jays Hammer Orioles 

The Toronto Blue Jays hammered the Baltimore Orioles 13-6 Tuesday. The teams face off again as the series continues in Toronto tonight at 7:07 p.m.

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