Race Discrimination on the Prince George's Police Force

We want officers to speak up against racist police practices and sexual harassment to help change the culture of policing. But when officers of color speak up against these unconstitutional practices they often experience discrimination and retaliation. For this Black History Month, we sat down with an African American officer, Lieutenant Sonya Zollicoffer, second vice president of the United Black Police Officers Association and with a Latino officer Retired Captain Joe Perez, president of the Hispanic National Law Enforcement Association. We talk about why they and over 10 other officers of color, decided to file a lawsuit against Prince George’s County Police Department challenging the department’s pattern and practice of unconstitutional conduct. And we ask them about their message to other Black and brown officers and women officers fighting against discrimination in their police departments.