Baltimore Police Lieutenant Suspended for Email About Protesters: Report

A Baltimore Police lieutenant has been suspended after sending a derogatory email about protesters at the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) conference, according to reports.

Twelve people were arrested for trespassing after chaining themselves to a railing Sunday afternoon at the state FOP conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the 300 block of Light Street.

Lt. Victor Gearhart, a 33-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department who is also FOP vice president, emailed the entire police force Sunday night advising them of the demonstration: "By now you have seen that the THUGS from BLM and other similar groups have attempted to disrupt the State FOP Convention...expect more bad behavior from the THUGS OF BALTIMORE. On the bright side maybe they will stop killing each other while they are protesting us," according to a copy of the email obtained by WJZ.

Gearhart was suspended and an internal investigation is underway, according to WJZ, which said he sued the department earlier this year after he was reassigned to overnight duty following a series of tweets.

"We support people's right to protest," Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith said during a media briefing. "We see protests almost daily in Baltimore."

The FOP protesters were arrested because they blocked free travel on private property, where hotel personnel had called for police assistance. He noted the arrests followed repeated warnings.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis and others in the department were "outraged" by Gearhart's email, Smith told ABC 2 News.

The controversial email from Gearhart came one week after the U.S. Department of Justice released its findings from a civil rights investigation of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), which referenced the pattern of arresting people unconstitutionally for saying things police did not like.

"BPD violates the First Amendment by retaliating against individuals engaged in constitutionally protected activities. Officers frequently detain and arrest members of the public for engaging in speech the officers perceive to be critical or disrespectful," the Department of Justice report states. "And BPD officers use force against members of the public who are engaging in protected speech. BPD has failed to provide officers with sufficient guidance and oversight regarding their interactions with individuals that implicate First Amendment protections, leading to the violations we observed."

Davis has made a commitment to continuing reform at the Baltimore Police Department, and the city will enter into a court-enforceable agreement with the justice department in the months ahead to ensure change.

Related: Federal Report Slams Baltimore Cops For Treating Blacks Worse Than Whites

Photo Credit: Baltimore Police.