Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Effort

55 pallets of food, clothing, supplies and an additional

30 thousand pounds of donations collected in Virginia.

  

(Hyattsville, MD) Several HAPCOA members participated in a successful food drive, Thursday, October 6, 2017 from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. in support of the natural disasters that transpired in Puerto Rico and Mexico.  This initiative by HNLEA members (Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association) was held in Hyattsville, Maryland located in Prince Georges County and in Alexandria, VA.  The food drive was held in front of the Mega Mart food stores – a long time sponsor and major contributor to community outreach endeavors.  ABC News 7, News Channel 8 and radio station 107.9 El Zol were present and broadcasted live from the Hyattsville, MD location.  Members of UBPOA (United Black Police Officers Association) collected donations and helped make the event a success.  A group of Salvadorian Police Officers attending training here in the U.S. provided outstanding entertainment in the form of live music.  They played music from the Beatles, Columbian and Mexican cumbias.

Today’s excellent example of giving demonstrates that community police relationships work because of the liaison established in both the commercial and the residential neighborhoods over a period of time said Miguel Core, HNLEA – Vice President).  Several local area news reporters interviewed Luis E. Borunda (Deputy Secretary of State for Maryland), PG County Police Command Staff (Assistant Chief Hector Velez and Captain Joe Perez – HAPCOA NCR President), Richard Rosa (HAPCOA – 1^st VP National Board), Luis Rodriguez (Executive Director – Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association in Baltimore, MD), Alex Zunca (Executive Director in Washington, DC for the Association for Police Attaches in Latin America), Thomas Boone (President United Black Police Officers Association), and police officers from various agencies, volunteers and donors.  As a result of local media communicating the food drive locations in Hyattsville, MD and Alexandria, VA the positive response from the community yielded a collection of 39 pallets of food, supplies and clothing; in addition, the Fauquier County Sheriffs, Virginia collected and donated 30 thousand pounds of food and much needed supplies.  CASA De Maryland has graciously set up a donation location for the Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief effort at 8151 15th Avenue Langley Park MD.

DOJ investigating claims of discrimination within Prince George's Police Department

By Hawa Konte and Scott Broom, WUSA9

Video: http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/upper-marlboro/doj-investigating-claims-of-discrimination-in-prince-georges-co-police-department/480508989

To the Community of Prince George's County,

Since the beginning of my tenure as Chief of Police I have provided specific facts regarding matters that impact you as soon as I have them. I am writing today to inform you that the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has chosen to initiate a pattern and practice investigation into allegations of discrimination against Hispanics and African Americans in violation of Title VII with respect to their employment in sworn positions on our police department. I was notified of this on Saturday, September 30, 2017. 

Upon my appointment as Chief of Police in January of 2016, I accepted the greatest amount of responsibility for this institution, and the men and women who serve, that any individual can hold. I and the Department will cooperate fully and completely with this investigation and will provide any and all requested information to the Civil Rights Division without reservation.

I was informed on October 24, 2016 that a complaint had been filed with the Department of Justice in March of 2016. On October 25, 2016 a letter requesting information and offering cooperation was written to the Department of Justice at my direction and hand carried to the Civil Rights Division. In the months that followed, questions about this complaint were repeatedly directed to me. To demonstrate our good faith efforts to the community and in keeping with my commitment to transparency, on February 9, 2017 I directed the Department’s media relations director to release to the public the first letter to the Department of Justice dated October 25, 2016. A second letter was sent to the Department of Justice on May 18, 2017. As of today’s date, neither I nor the Department has ever been provided with the complaint. I do not fault the Department of Justice for this. I took this matter very seriously and I sought to take action on your behalf independent of the complaint. In order to gather facts and understand perceptions that would inform my decision making, I immediately had personal conversations and held meetings with many of you who are reading this. I then approached the Fraternal Order of Police and together we did two specific things.

First, on April 7, 2017 we jointly convened the Panel for Promotions, Discipline, & Practices. As of today it has met 8 times. It was deliberately composed of sworn and retired members of the Department as well as academics, county officials, and community members from outside the Department representing all points of view. The goal of the Panel is to obtain facts and gain insights into perceptions about the Department and then provide specific guidance to me to correct issues identified during the process. Second, on June 1, 2017 we began publishing the outcomes of internal disciplinary cases quarterly so that all members of the Department would know the results and to dispel perceptions that “nothing was done.” Both initiatives will continue.

I have the highest expectations of this institution and of all who serve it. I know very well the toll that this profession takes on you who serve. I have acted only to build trust in the Prince George’s County Police Department. If it is demonstrated that structures or practices of this institution negatively impact any of you without cause, I will end them. I welcome this new opportunity to further advance this work.

Yours Very Respectfully,

Hank Stawinski, Chief of Police