BALTIMORE _ The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Baltimore County police department, alleging the department "has engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against African American applicants" for entry-level positions.
The suit alleges that written exams used to screen applicants were discriminatory, because white applicants passed at a higher rate than African American applicants. The exams tested reading, grammar, logic and other skills that the Department of Justice suit alleges are not job-related.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, asks Baltimore County police to stop using a written exam to screen applicants, provide relief to anyone who was hurt by the alleged discrimination and adopt other policies to "correct the present effects of its discriminatory policies and practices."
County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. issued a statement Tuesday saying that the department has discontinued the test.
Olszewski, a Democrat, also said that he's created two positions in his administration focused on improving diversity. He also said he'll work with interested organizations, such as the Fraternal Order of Police and the Blue Guardians, which represents minority police officers.
"A law enforcement agency should look like the community it serves," Olszewski's statement said. "As I have said repeatedly since taking office, I am committed to increasing diversity in the county's Police Department."
Baltimore County's roughly 828,000 residents are 57% white, 30% black, 6% Asian and 6% Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections.
Officials at the police department declined to comment, referring inquiries to the county executive's office.
Olszewski said in his statement that his new police chief, Melissa Hyatt, is working with him on "concrete steps forward" toward diversity.
