Prince George’s County police are expected to announce today the end of federal oversight just hours before Roberto Hylton is sworn in as the county’s new police chief, sources said.
Since 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice has been keeping an eye on the department after a series of violent police encounters raised concerns about Prince George’s police using excessive force. A similar agreement between the county and the federal government regarding the use of overly violent canines came to an end in March.
But while changes within the department have been made to meet the standards established by the Justice Department, including the addition of video cameras in police cruisers, some worry the end of oversight will mean a return to the old ways.
“Things have gotten a lot better,” said Prince George’s community activist Zalee Harris, “But now [the Justice Department] is letting the horse out of the barn, and it won’t easy to just whistle and have it come back.”
Meanwhile, Hylton, who has been acting chief since August, will be taking the chief’s oath at a time when county law enforcement is under fire and being investigated by the FBI.
Still unresolved is the hanging death of Ronnie White. After being charged with running down a county police officer with a stolen truck, he turned up dead in his jail cell less than 48 hours later. The medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide, the jail guards say it was a suicide and the FBI is looking for civil rights violations.
The county sheriff’s office is also being investigated by the FBI after a SWAT team stormed the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and killed his two dogs. Calvo has been in Annapolis lately, pushing for a law that would require every SWAT team in Maryland to provide monthly reports on their activities.
Hylton is expected to be approved as police chief by the County Council and be sworn in at 1:30 p.m., county executive spokesman John Erzen said.
