April 29, 2015
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf is sending 300 state troopers and a member of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to Baltimore to help quell the city's violent civil unrest over the death of a black man while in police custody.
“Our troopers and emergency personnel are sources of pride for our commonwealth,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. “Our thoughts will be with them and their families as they help our neighbors in Baltimore during this difficult time. We hope that with their assistance, calm will prevail and the Baltimore community can begin to move forward.”
The 300 state troopers will be deployed later this week and Maryland, which requested the help through a request administered by the National Emergency Management Association, will reimburse the commonwealth, the governor's office said.
“Pennsylvania will be prepared to send troopers and personnel from stations across the commonwealth to assist law enforcement in the City of Baltimore,” said Acting State Police Commissioner Marcus L. Brown. “Our troopers are highly trained to keep communities safe and secure and we are going to help the people of Baltimore and support their law enforcement efforts.”
The state's emergency management agency is sending an emergency management administrator to help help Maryland allocate and deliver help to the battered neighborhoods in Baltimore.
Riots erupted Monday evening after the funeral of Freddie Gray, who died after his spinal column was broken while in police custody. Six officers have been suspended as police and the U.S. Justice Department investigates.
