Watch CBS News

DOJ Investigating Hiring Of African-Americans In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (AP) -- The U.S. Justice Department is investigating possible racial discrimination in hiring by police and fire departments in Baltimore County.

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division recently sent the county a two-page letter asking for more information about its hiring of African-Americans. County officials declined to comment on the investigation, but County Executive Kevin Kamenetz said in a 10-page letter to U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings that promoting diversity in the two agencies "has been a long-standing priority."

The paper reports that the letter from the Justice Department is dated Jan. 30 and marks the third time since the late 1970s that the agency has investigated discrimination in county hiring.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.