Despite his best attempts at masking the troubles beneath the surface of his Department, former Prince George’s County Police Chief Hank Stawinski couldn’t avoid the lack of confidence his community lost in him.
County Executive Angela N. Alsobrooks immediately accepted Stawinski’s resignation when details began surfacing about incendiary images of African Americans (wearing afro wigs) that were placed on a training dummy and used as demonstration tools for police baton striking practice.
The ACLU’s report was developed following accusations by 13 former officers who tell a story of systematic racism in a department that is responsible for policing one of the most affluent African-American populations and whose ethnic diversity continues to grow while more Hispanics are purchasing homes throughout the County.
In May, three County police officers were suspended after a video showing one of them beating a man while trying to detain at a gas station in Langley Park went viral on social media after the George Floyd incident.
Alsobrooks announced that Assistant Police Chief Hector Velez, will serve as interim chief of the Department while the County begins a national search to replace Stawinski.
