Hogan says Baltimore will be ready if rioting breaks out

Gov. Larry Hogan met with officers at the Maryland State Police Barrack in Easton Thursday morning to go over security team briefings in case riots should break out in Baltimore over the result of the Caesar Goodson trial.

Hogan said right now they are hoping for the best, but expecting the worse.

Since last years riots Hogan said his administration has been working with community and faith based leaders to try to get the message into the community about keeping calm and keeping the peace. He added that they have also stressed keeping out the same “out of town” trouble makers that came in last year and stirred things up.

However if something were to happen, the governor is confident that Baltimore is ready.

“I think from a security standpoint, I can’t get into all the details of it, but we’ve been working very closely with the city of Baltimore, we’re fully prepared for any eventuality, but we’re hoping things remain calm and we’re encouraging citizens of Baltimore to stay peaceful,” Hogan said.

47 ABC was also able to ask Hogan what he thought about Ofc. Caesar Goodson being found not guilty on all charges, including second degree murder, in the case of Freddie Gray’s death. Goodson was the van driver that allegedly gave Gray the rough ride that allegedly led to Gray’s death.

“My reaction is that the criminal justice system works,” Hogan said. “It’s not something for us in the executive branch to get involved in, but we’ve been following it closely.”