To the Community of Prince George's County,
Since the beginning of my tenure as
Chief of Police I have provided specific facts regarding matters that impact
you as soon as I have them. I am writing today to inform you that the United
States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has chosen to initiate a
pattern and practice investigation into allegations of discrimination against
Hispanics and African Americans in violation of Title VII with respect to their
employment in sworn positions on our police department. I was notified of this
on Saturday, September 30, 2017.
Upon my appointment as Chief of Police
in January of 2016, I accepted the greatest amount of responsibility for this
institution, and the men and women who serve, that any individual can hold. 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.
I was informed on October 24, 2016 that
a complaint had been filed with the Department of Justice in March of 2016. On
October 25, 2016 a letter requesting information and offering cooperation was
written to the Department of Justice at my direction and hand carried to the
Civil Rights Division. In the months that followed, questions about this
complaint were repeatedly directed to me. To demonstrate our good faith efforts
to the community and in keeping with my commitment to transparency, on February
9, 2017 I directed the Department’s media relations director to release to the
public the first letter to the Department of Justice dated October 25, 2016. A
second letter was sent to the Department of Justice on May 18, 2017. As of
today’s date, neither I nor the Department has ever been provided with the
complaint. 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. In order to gather facts and understand perceptions that would
inform my decision making, I immediately had personal conversations and held
meetings with many of you who are reading this. I then approached the Fraternal
Order of Police and together we did two specific things.
First, on April 7, 2017 we jointly
convened the Panel for Promotions, Discipline, & Practices. As of today it
has met 8 times. It was deliberately composed of sworn and retired members of
the Department as well as academics, county officials, and community members
from outside the Department representing all points of view. The goal of the Panel
is to obtain facts and gain insights into perceptions about the Department and
then provide specific guidance to me to correct issues identified during the
process. Second, on June 1, 2017 we began publishing the outcomes of internal
disciplinary cases quarterly so that all members of the Department would know
the results and to dispel perceptions that “nothing was done.” Both
initiatives will continue.
I have the highest expectations of this
institution and of all who serve it. I know very well the toll that this
profession takes on you who serve. I have acted only to build trust in the
Prince George’s County Police Department. If it is demonstrated that structures
or practices of this institution negatively impact any of you without cause, I
will end them. I welcome this new opportunity to further advance this work.
Yours Very Respectfully,
Hank Stawinski, Chief of Police
October 3, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment