Baker Begins Setting Up Prince George's Co. Watchdog

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) -- Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker has taken the first steps toward establishing a watchdog for county government.

Baker promised during his campaign to set up an inspector general's office for the county. It's part of his pledge to clean up politics in Prince George's. The previous county executive and his wife are facing charges in an ongoing federal corruption probe.

Baker last week asked former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke and retired Prince George's Circuit Judge William Missouri to lead a task force examining the prospect of a permanent inspector general's office.

It's not clear how the county would pay for the office. But if it's established, Prince George's would be one of only a few local governments in the nation with an internal watchdog agency.

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