--- description: “We have never shied away from scrutiny or assistance,” said commissioner Anthony Batts title: Baltimore Police Chief Welcomes Mayor's Request for Federal Probe image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt610488007d0886fe/6987edc1e20a87b5c1a892ca/ap284548191812.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [justice](/tag/justice/) ## justice Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Baltimore Police Chief Welcomes Mayor's Request for Federal Probe by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 7, 2015 7:34 PM CUT  Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Anthony Batts, center, approaches a news conference before announcing that the department's investigation into the death of Freddie Gray was turned over to the State's Attorney's office a day early on April 30, 2015. Baltimore Police Department Commissioner Anthony Batts, center, approaches a news conference before announcing that the department's investigation into the death of Freddie Gray was turned over to the State's Attorney's office a day early on April 30, 2015.Patrick Semansky—AP by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close May 7, 2015 7:34 PM CUT Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said Thursday he welcomed “with open arms” a request by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for a Department of Justice civil rights review of his department. “We have never shied away from scrutiny or assistance,” Batts said in a [statement](http://www.scribd.com/doc/264539833/May-7-2015 "undefined"). “Our work is ongoing and anyone who wishes to be a part of helping the department better connect with the community will always be welcome.” Rawlings-Blake [asked](http://time.com/3848684/baltimore-justice-department-investigation/ "undefined") for a full-scale civil rights review of the “patterns and practices” of the Baltimore police department in the wake of 25-year-old Freddie Gray’s death. Gray died from injuries sustained while in police custody and his death sparked outrage across the city. Six police officers were [charged last week](http://time.com/3843342/freddie-gray-charges-police-baltimore/ "undefined") in Gray’s April 19 death. “We need to have a foundation of trust,” Mayor Blake said at a [Wednesday press conference](http://time.com/3848684/baltimore-justice-department-investigation/ "undefined"). A “collaborative review” of the Baltimore police department by the Department of Justice is already ongoing, but that doesn’t carry the weight of the full-scale civil rights investigation Mayor Blake has asked for. Batts noted Thursday the Baltimore Police Department was already attempting to address some of these issues, and said as a result of changes they began implementing over two years ago, there was a “54% reduction in discourtesy complaints, a more than 40% reduction in excessive force complaints and a dramatic drop in lawsuits.” ### Baltimore Protests, Then and Now  A man is carried away by police during riots in Baltimore, 1968. Afro American Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images  Baltimore Police officers arrest a man following the funeral of Freddie Gray near Mowdamin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Drew Angerer—Getty Images  Students demonstrate during a Black Power event at Morgan State University in Baltimore on April 6, 1968. Afro American Newspaper/Gado/Getty Images  Protestors participate in a vigil for Freddie Gray down the street from the Baltimore Police Department's Western District police station in Baltimore on April 21, 2015. Drew Angerer—Getty Images  National Guardsmen seal off a business-residential section of Baltimore and prepare to use tear gas against looters on April 8, 1968. Baltimore News-American/AP  Baltimore Police form a perimeter around a CVS pharmacy that was looted and burned in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Chip Somodevilla—Getty Images  Smoke billows from a liquor store which was looted during the third day of violence, which saw over 400 fires, in Baltimore on April 8, 1968. Baltimore News-American/AP  Fire fighters respond to a fire at a CVS pharmacy in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Sait Serkan Gurbuz—Reuters  Baltimore City police pin down a curfew breaker in Baltimore on April 9, 1968. AP  Law enforcement officers detain a demonstrator on Gilmore Avenue near Baltimore Police Department Western District during a protest against the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 25, 2015. 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