Watch CBS News

Federal Officials Asked To Investigate Misconduct In Anne Arundel Co. Police Dept.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ)—A top commander inside the Anne Arundel County Police Department calls on federal officials to investigate allegations connected to the scandal involving the county executive.

Derek Valcourt has more on what appears to be a growing revolt against the county executive and the police chief.

First rank and file officers, now even one of the top leaders in the department voices his complaints over the scandal.

This comes just weeks after two Anne Arundel County police unions issued a vote of no confidence in indicted county executive John Leopold and Police Chief James Teare.

The department's second-in-command speaks publicly for the first time, supporting the rank and file.

"I believe those votes of no confidence are a cry out for help," said Emerson Davis.

And he wants that help to come from the U.S. Department of Justice in a bombshell announcement to the County Council Monday night.

Deputy Police Chief Davis says he's called on justice officials to investigate allegations of misconduct and wrongdoing within the department.  Those allegations stem from the county executive's criminal indictment last month.

Leopold is accused of making police officers assigned to protect him use the state's criminal database to dig up dirt on his enemies, and making those officers drive him to sexual encounters in public parking lots.

"Who knew what and who is going to be held accountable for it? This is the biggest black eye we've had in the department in the 35 years I've been here," Davis said.

"Oh it gives a great deal of credence to what we've been saying," said O'Brien Atkinson, FOP President.

Union president O'Brien Atkinson applauds the deputy chief for speaking out after Teare refused to answer questions about the department's involvement in the scandal.

"I do not want to break the law," Teare said.

Teare has ignored calls to resign and can only be fired by the county executive.

"The real bad guy in all of this [is] County Executive John Leopold. All of this focuses on the chief of police and as long as this focus remains on the chief, the county executive is not going to get rid of him," Atkinson said.

In two weeks the County Council will vote on a resolution urging the county executive to suspend Teare, but that resolution has no binding power.

The case against Leopold heads to court later this year.

The Department of Justice tells WJZ it is currently reviewing the deputy chief's request for an investigation.

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.