The investigation into the racial e-mail that was circulated by city police officers broadened Thursday, as officials confirmed the e-mail also was shared by employees of both the city?s Department of Public Works and the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Bob Morrow, spokesman for the city Department of Public Works, said the e-mail was circulated by employees at his agency.
“The e-mail is a violation of our communications policy, and we are investigating it,” he said. “However, it did not originate in our agency. It came from the Maryland State Highway Administration,” he said.
In a written statement, state highway officials said the e-mail was sent by a black employee. “I spoke with the employee; he apologized to me and ensured that this type of behavior will not take place again,” SHA Administrator Neil Pedersen.
The statement said forwarding the e-mail was not intended to be malicious. The e-mail came to light after it was circulated by city police officers and turned over to the department?s Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance section. The e-mail obtained by The Examiner contained a joke written in the form of parable that depicts a conversation between God and the devil. In the parable, God asks the devil if he ishaving problems with “Negros” and mentions several stereotypes.
Baltimore police said they are investigating the e-mail.
City Council Member Kenneth Harris, D-4th District, one of the few elected officials to speak out about the e-mail, said the involvement of other agencies was troubling.
“I am alarmed that this type of derogatory message is being circulated through so many government agencies,” Harris said. “I have zero tolerance for this type of behavior, and I expect the agencies involved to respond.” City Council President Sheila Dixon declined to comment on the e-mail Thursday, saying through spokeswoman Marva Williams that Dixon was “satisfied that the police department was handling it.”
