(BALTIMORE – June 18, 2026) – Freddie Gray happened 11 years ago. It was the worst Baltimore experienced since 1968, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Baltimore, Newark, Philadelphia, New York, Watts – cities with strong numbers of melanated people let the world feel their pain.
When Freddie Gray’s untimely death happened, Baltimore was a powder keg just waiting to explode. Penn-North became the epicenter of international media attention. CNN. Al Jazeera. ABC. Even Geraldo found his way to an intersection we know all too well.
In the middle of all that attention and hype, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby made the most important legal decision of her career: to charge the officers involved.
This is where I could digress and say I disagree with who was charged — that the whole world saw three white officers take Freddie down like a wild bronco, yet somehow, out of the clear blue sky, three Black officers got thrown under the bus by a historically racist, anti-Black Baltimore City Police Department. Wait. What happened? Truth is, Freddie should have never been put in a paddy wagon. He should have been placed in an ambulance. Period. End of story.
And here’s what still eats at me: the world watched three white officers take Freddie down. Then, arbitrarily, inadvertently — pick whatever word you want — the three Black officers got swept into the same pot. To boot, it was a Black officer, William Porter, who went to trial FIRST, in December 2015. His case ended in a mistrial. That was messed up. The weight of the entire matter shifted onto Black faces. That has to be said.
In any event, Sam Cogen had one task. Marilyn Mosby’s case depended on it. She needed the Deputy Sheriff to conduct an investigation. Now, before I proceed, I should say — yes, Baltimore was on fire. Yes, emotions were higher than high. Yes, the media was everywhere and in everybody’s face. Yes, reporters were reaching out. Hell, even Prince reached out. Other famous people did, too. Baltimore was in the midst of a whirlwind of attention.
The point is, even in times like those, you have to do your job.
He said he did.
Then he turned around and admitted under oath that he did no such thing.
Chew on that for a minute.
Now envision a well-loved Sgt. Alicia White of the Baltimore Police Department. She attended church in the area too — New Bethlehem Baptist Church, under Dr. Lisa Weah. Sgt. White was one of those officers charged — one of the three Black officers who came after the rodeo takedown by the initial three white officers.
All of a sudden, Sgt. White is fighting for her career. What the heck just happened? Not Sgt. White. Surely, you all must be mistaken.
That’s actually when I first met Ivan Bates. He was the attorney representing Sgt. White.
The most ferocious Black cop advocate I’ve ever known called me. His name was Sgt. Louie Hopson, and he fought for Black police officers his entire career. He won millions for them.
He instructed me to help illuminate Sgt. White’s story.
And we did.
I attended Bates’ press conference at Baltimore City Community College. Long story short, Sgt. White went through living hell. Her reputation was questioned. Her career was jeopardized. Her life was turned upside down because she was being painted as a bad cop.
Had Sam Cogen done his job, Sgt. White may have been spared all of it.
Imagine being accused of doing something that runs completely contrary to who you are.
She endured that.
And she persevered.
In November 2025, the Baltimore Police Department promoted Alicia White to the rank of Major and placed her in command of the Homeland Security Section.
The promotion was no accident.
Major White had already served as Captain of the Public Integrity Division, overseeing criminal and administrative investigations into police misconduct. She also served as Captain of the Anti-Crime Section, Executive Officer to the Deputy Commissioner, and held leadership roles in inspections, audits, policy development, and consent decree implementation.
In other words, the Baltimore Police Department entrusted her with some of its most important responsibilities.
She’s finally getting her due.
But the damage caused by those years cannot simply be erased.
Then there is Sabrina Tapp-Harper.
After Sheriff John Anderson left office, Sam Cogen fired her.
Like Alicia White, Tapp-Harper found herself forced to navigate professional turmoil that many believe was unnecessary.
What strikes me is the pattern.
Two accomplished Black women.
Two dedicated public servants.
Two careers disrupted.
One was forced to defend her reputation after an investigation that was never conducted.
The other lost her position after decades of service.
Yet both persevered.
One became a Major in the Baltimore Police Department.
The other is seeking to become Baltimore City’s next Sheriff.
That’s why BMORENews endorses Sabrina Tapp-Harper.
Because leadership is about accountability.
It’s about doing the work.
It’s about treating people fairly.
And it’s about understanding that decisions made in positions of power have real consequences for real people.
Major Alicia White’s promotion is proof that perseverance can overcome adversity.
But her story is also a reminder that when those entrusted with responsibility fail to do their jobs, innocent people can pay the price.
Baltimore deserves better.
And that’s why we’re supporting Sabrina Tapp-Harper for Sheriff.
