Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that city- Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts has been fired following a recent spike in homicides and a string of protests over the death of Freddie Gray, who died in police custody in April.

During a late Wednesday afternoon news conference, Mayor Rawlings-Blake thanked Batts for his service but declared that the troubled city needed a change. She also noted that growing criticism of the commissioner's leadership had become a distraction in the city's effort to move forward.

"We need a change," she said, according to The Associated Press. "This was not an easy decision but it is one that is in the best interest of Baltimore. The people of Baltimore deserve better and we're going to get better."

She went on to say that "recent events have placed an intense focus on our police leadership, distracting many from what needs to be our main focus, the fight against crime."

Rawlings-Blake also made a reference to the two men and women who were fatally shot by two gunmen near the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Tuesday night. A fourth woman was also shot and wounded in the targeted attack.

"Too many continue to die on our streets, including three just last night and one lost earlier today," she said, adding, "Families are tired of feeling this pain, and so am I."

"A key goal of my administration is making Baltimore a safer place. We cannot continue to debate the leadership of the department. We cannot continue to have the level of violence we've seen in recent weeks in this city. We have made progress; I don't want to lose that progress," said the mayor.

Rawlings-Blake also announced Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Davis will immediately replace Batts as an interim commissioner.

Hours before the mayor's announced, morning the Fraternal Order of Police on Wednesday issued a highly critical report of police leadership during the recent rioting. However, Rawlings-Blake said that her decision was not based on the scathing report but rather her concern about continued violence in Baltimore.

In response, Batts told The Baltimore Sun that he has "been honored to serve the citizens and residents of Baltimore. I've been proud to be a police officer for this city."