Racial Complaints Against Prince George's County Police Investigated By Feds

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — The Department of Justice is opening an investigation into allegations of discrimination against Hispanic and black officers within the Prince George's County Police Department, Chief of Police Hank Stawinski announced Tuesday.

Stawinski said the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is investigating allegations reported by officers that are "in violation of Title VII with respect to their employment in sworn positions on our police department."

The complaint was made to the Department of Justice in March 2016. Stawinski said police sent letters to the department offering cooperation and requesting more information on the incident.

"As of today’s date, neither I nor the Department has ever been provided with the complaint," Stawinski said in a statement. "I do not fault the Department of Justice for this. I took this matter very seriously and I sought to take action on your behalf independent of the complaint."

Stawinski said the Panel for Promotions, Discipline, & Practices has met eight times since April 2017 to "obtain facts and gain insights into perceptions about the Department...to correct issues identified during the process."

"I and the Department will cooperate fully and completely with this investigation and will provide any and all requested information to the Civil Rights Division without reservation," Stawinski said in a statement.

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