Maryland county commits to change after lawsuit settlement apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Prince George’s County executive and police chief are addressing reaching a settlement in a lawsuit against the Maryland county, following a claim of discrimination and bias inside its police department.
“This settlement allows us to continue the path that we are already on by reforming this department,” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said.
Alsobrooks’ statement comes days after a $2.3 million settlement was announced Tuesday over a lawsuit filed by the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association and the United Black Police Officers Association on behalf of 12 officers with Prince George’s County police.
The lawsuit claimed systemic racism existed in the department in policing and also promotion and discipline of officers. The lawsuit also claimed that officers who spoke up experienced retaliation.
She said she is moving forward after a two-and-a-half-year legal battle.
“It was necessary that we do this right,” she said. “I was determined that we were going to do this the right way.”
The settlement includes $2.3 million for the plaintiffs and more than $5.8 million for their legal fees. The settlement also calls for some new policing polices, the department s new chief, Malik Aziz, says those changes are welcomed.
“This day puts us on a course and a path to be a better police department,” he said.
The officers who filed the federal lawsuit say they were forced to sue when superiors ignored their concerns for years.
Maryland county commits to change after lawsuit settlement wbal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wbal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Prince George s County settles police discrimination lawsuit sfgate.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sfgate.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.