Corrupt Ex-Baltimore Officer's Compassionate Release Denied Amid Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Judge cites seriousness of crimes and damage to police department's reputation in denying release to Daniel Hersl, former member of the scandal-ridden Gun Trace Task Force.

• Daniel Hersl, a former Baltimore police officer convicted in the Gun Trace Task Force corruption scandal, had his request for compassionate release denied by a federal judge.
• Hersl, sentenced to 18 years in prison for racketeering and robbery, was recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and has less than 18 months to live.
• Hersl was part of the Gun Trace Task Force, a unit that was supposed to combat violent crime but instead committed crimes including robbing drug dealers and planting evidence.
• Prosecutors said Hersl 'devalued' people he dealt with as an officer and 'abused his power to prey on them', also committing rampant overtime fraud.
• Judge George L. Russell III denied Hersl's request, citing the seriousness of his crimes and the damage they caused to the reputation of the Baltimore City Police Department.

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