The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) to assess whether it has engaged in hiring and promotion practices that are racially discriminatory.
The investigation will be conducted pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits any discrimination in employment on the basis of color, race, sex, religion, and national origin, a July 15 press release by the DOJ said. According to Title VII, DOJ has the authority to investigate local and state employers if there is reason to believe that a “pattern or practice” of discriminatory employment exists.
The DOJ investigation comes after a series of complaints about racial discrimination from black officers who have accused their fellow white troopers of mistreatment….