UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) — A Maryland county is paying a group of Black and Latino police officers $2.3 million to settle their workplace discrimination lawsuit.
The Washington Post reports the payment by Prince George’s County represents a fraction of the nearly $18 million that officials spent fighting the case over two and a half years.
The agreement announced Tuesday includes a host of policy reforms at the police department.
It also requires the county to pay $5.8 million in attorney fees and reimbursements to the Washington Lawyers Committee, the ACLU of Maryland and the law firm representing the plaintiffs.
The lawyers said the money will fund future pro-bono cases.
Hey #PGcounty,
— ACLU of Maryland (@ACLU_MD) July 21, 2021
Some significant policy changes are coming to the Prince George’s Police Department due to the settlement brought by @HNLEANCR, @UBPOAofMD & 12 officers who challenged racial discrimination and retaliation in PGPD
Learn the policy changes⬇️ https://t.co/YXoKtXl3Hu pic.twitter.com/nsu6yjlAoj
To help ensure these vital changes are fully implemented the Settlement Agreement vests the
— ACLU of Maryland (@ACLU_MD) July 21, 2021
Department’s new Office of Integrity and Compliance w/ responsibility for monitoring and ensuring
the compliance of the PGPD and its officers with the new policies #pgcounty #racialjustice pic.twitter.com/o4EbtkkLJp