PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Police Reform Coming to Prince George’s County William J. Ford WI Staff Writer Prince George’s County residents such as Kema Hutchinson-Harris said some of the adopted police department reform policies are either “watered-down” or should already implemented. Three policies would require new recruits to engage in community service, improve access and operations of body-worn cameras and incorpo-
rate comprehensive leadership and other forms of training. “[County officials] are transforming the police department by giving them extra training [and] giving them extra leeway,” said Hutchinson-Harris of Clinton, whose son was assaulted by a Prince George’s officer in May 2017. “We really aren’t getting any accountability.” County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced nearly four dozen recommendations for the police de-
partment to implement such as mental health programs, officer training to prevent racial profiling and not hire officers with a history of misconduct or disciplinary problems. “We are working to ensure that our police department respects the dignity and values of every single member of our community,” Alsobrooks said during a press conference Friday, Feb. 5 at the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo. “We want to give our police officers every chance to succeed.” One person who attended the press conference, interim police chief Hector Velez, received a few compliments for his work to help implement the new changes. “You’re the leader that this county police department needs at this time as you’ve worked to ensure the men and women under your leadership understand that you’re not going to accept anything less than their professional best,” said County Council chair Calvin Hawkins II (D-AtLarge). Alsobrooks said a decision could be made in the next few weeks on hiring a new police chief. Dawn Dalton of Upper Marlboro said the new leader shouldn’t be Velez. “Velez definitely shouldn’t be the
Maryland Legislation Proposed to Reform State's Unemployment Insurance System William J. Ford WI Staff Writer As the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect thousands of Marylanders in the job market, the state’s unemployment insurance claims could increase for a sixth straight week when weekly figures are released Thursday, Feb. 11. The state Department of Labor reported more than 50,000 unemployment insurance claims filed the week ending Jan. 30, which marked the fifth straight week they increased in the state. The majority Black jurisdiction of Prince George’s County recorded the highest number of claims filed with 2,000. State lawmakers plan to present a legislative package this week on ways to enhance the state’s “broken” unemployment insurance system. About 85 of the 4,000 active unemployment cases come from
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Senate President Bill Ferguson’s district in Baltimore City. “This is not a partisan issue. This is about the people of Maryland who need help and we must do right by them,” he said during a virtual press conference Feb. 4. “Now that the legislature is in session, we are determined to do our part and provide the correct tools to ensure we do better.” The legislative package would be filed through multiple bills to include: • Modernize the unemployment insurance system so people can receive benefits through direct deposit. • Adequately staff the call center and require caller ID to show that a representative is calling from the state Department of Labor’s unemployment office. • Require the department to undertake a study to analyze several items such as weekly benefits, longterm solvency and expanded eligi-
bility. Part of the requirement would be to provide monthly updates until completion of a final report at the end of the year. Since the pandemic affected Maryland last year, the state’s unemployment office has received major criticism from thousands of residents who either received payments months later, or not at all. The Senate approved an amendment this month to provide $1,000 for 39,000 residents who Ferguson said are “stuck in adjudication purgatory. Marylanders need help.” In terms of additional staff, the Senate seeks to add one person from each of the 47 senatorial districts. Sen. Kathy Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County) said the department hired about 300 people from a vendor. The national goal to adjudicate claims stands at 87 percent in a three-week period. Last month, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics ranked Maryland last at 37 percent.
5 Reforms are about to take shape in the Prince George’s County Police Department. (FILE: William J. Ford/The Washington Informer)
chief. He is a part of the problem,” she said. “How do we really think we are going to get any change with the same bad apples?” A similar remark has been echoed by former and current Black and Latino officers who filed a lawsuit in December 2018 against the county and police department for alleged racial and retaliatory practices within Del. Dereck Davis (D-District 25) of Mitchellville said the legislature wants to work with the department to improve the unemployment service, but the department remains a function of the executive branch. “It’s incumbent upon us to work with them [and] to work with Gov. Hogan to ensure that the department is living up to its responsibilities to the citizens of Maryland,” Davis said. “We know they’re trying . . . but at the end of the day, trying is not good enough. We have to deliver.” WI @jabariwill
5 William Ferguson (Courtesy photo)
the department. According to the report, more than 6,800 use-of-force incidents occurred between 2016 to 2019. Black civilians accounted for 86 percent and Latinos at 8 percent. Those incidents became highlighted in a 94-page report released in June by Michael E. Graham, a former 33-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Former Police Chief Hank Stawinski resigned hours after the report became public. The next day, Alsobrooks announced the appointment of Hector as interim chief during a national search for a new leader. After the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis on Memorial Day last year, state and county officials such as Alsobrooks established a police reform task force in July to review police department strategies, hiring and use of force policies. A few of the county police department’s 46 changes mirror what Maryland lawmakers are working on in Annapolis such as eliminating all military-style equipment, investment in mental health and restorative practices to eliminate the school-to-prison pipeline. Another major reform approved will overhaul the department’s crisis response system that includes the construction of a mental health and addiction center. Alsobrooks earlier last year, which County Council later approved, to use $20 million from the police budget to build a facility focused on mental health.
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