William A. King and Antonio L. Murray are two former Baltimore Police Department officers sentenced to a total of 454 years (reduced to 20) in prison after an FBI investigation in 2005.[2] The conviction of King and Murray resulted from the Baltimore-based Stop Snitchin' campaign in which the two officers were identified on videotape for being involved in drug dealing. Ironically, the case received help from drug dealers, who testified that the two officers were involved in the use of robbery, extortion, and excessive force against various dealers as a means of reselling the drugs for profit on the street.[3] Former police commissioner Leonard Hamm said that "justice was served", and that "People like William King have no place in the Baltimore City Police Department, and never will".
William A. King | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 (age 51–52) |
| Police career | |
| Department | Baltimore Police Department |
| Service years | 1992 – 2005[1] |
| Rank | Detective |
Antonio L. Murray | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 (age 52–53) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Children | 2 |
| Police career | |
| Department | Baltimore Police Department |
| Service years | 1992 – 2005 |
| Rank | Detective |
In May 2021 King and Murray's sentences were reduced from 454 years to 20 years after a federal judge ruled under the First Step Act passed in 2018 that King and Murray would have received significantly shorter sentences under the new law.[4]
Early lives
editKing graduated from Mergenthaler Vocational Technical Senior High School in 1988 and Murray from Lake Clifton High School in 1989.[5] King served in the army from 1988 until 1992 and was a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm.[5]
Careers
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2010) |
Both officers joined the department in 1992, Murray in May and King in November.[5] King worked with high-profile Baltimore City Police Department units throughout his career. On May 23, 1994, Murray was shot in the arm and lost his gun during a struggle with an alleged drug dealer.[5] His gun was used to kill a 26-year-old man eight days later.[5] The injuries he suffered from this incident forced Murray off the job for almost two years.[5] After 2004, both King and Murray worked in the department's housing authority unit.[1][5] The police department's internal affairs division started investigating the two officers after receiving several tips. Their investigation was aided by the circulation of the controversial "Stop Snitchin'" DVD.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Baltimore Cops Found Guilty Of Corruption". WJZ-TV. Associated Press. April 7, 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ^ "Antonio Mosby sentenced for conspiracy to distribute heroin". United States Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland. September 15, 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ^ "Drug Cases In Jeopardy After Feds Indict Officers: Prosecutors Identify Officers Facing Corruption Charges As Witnesses". WBAL-TV. May 13, 2005. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
- ^ "Corrupt former Baltimore Police officers get sentences reduced from 454 years to 20 years".
- ^ a b c d e f g Dolan, Matthew; Ryan Davis (May 14, 2005). "Rumors followed two officers. 'King and Murray' a familiar phrase in west-side neighborhood". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2009-06-08.