It was a simple gesture.
The Hyatt Regency downtown held what it called the Central District Appreciation Day, awarding several Baltimore police officers for what they do every day in and around downtown.
The hotel's director of security led the small ceremony with some...succinct remarks.
"We really appreciate it and we decided to do this today to show some love to you all because we know that things have been rough over the last couple of weeks."
They most certainly have been.
Leading the way is the resignation of the city's top cop.
Darryl De Sousa stepped down as commissioner on Tuesday after just four months.
He faces a year in prison for each of the successive years he did not pay his taxes.
The federal case goes before the judge for the first time Monday.
On the other side of the table will be the now well-known prosecutors who took down the Gun Trace Task Force.
Given the scope of Leo Wise and Derek Hines' recent work, attorney Charles Curlett says De Sousa's charges may not be so random.
"Prosecutors will follow an investigation where ever the facts lead. It is certainly conceivable that as they were investigating the Baltimore Police Department that that led them to a discovery of the commissioner’s failure to file tax returns."
But it might be even more.
WMAR 2 News obtained grand jury subpoenas issued to the Baltimore Police Department looking for more information on Darryl De Sousa.
Among what the feds are asking for our tax forms, wage statements, pay stubs, De Sousa’s personnel, and internal investigations files along with overtime and timesheet records dating back a decade.
As the scope of the investigation seems to be growing, court records show De Sousa lists new attorneys for his representation.
Rosenberg Martin Greenberg is now listed as the firm and according to its website has a “nationally recognized tax controversy practice.”
Our phone calls to De Sousa's attorneys went unanswered Friday but we should get more details about the case against the former commissioner as each side is expected in court on Monday at 1 o’clock.
