Metropolitan Police Department: Remarks from Public Hearings on Metropolitan Police Department E-Mail Matter

Remarks from Public Hearings on Metropolitan Police Department E-Mail Matter

Brian Jordan
Assistant Chief of Police
Office of Professional Responsibility
Metropolitan Police Department

Assistant Chief of Police Brian Jordan delivered the following remarks during the "Public Hearings on the Metropolitan Police Department E-mail Matter" held by the DC Commission on Human Rights. The hearing was held October 3, 2001.

Chairman Wu, members of the Commission and audience guests ... I thank you for the opportunity to participate in these public hearings, to update the Commission —and the community— on the Metropolitan Police Department's continuing investigation into inappropriate and offensive messages exchanged by a small number of our officers over the Department's Mobile Digital Computer, or MDC, network. My name is Brian Jordan, and I am the Assistant Chief in charge of the MPD's Office of Professional Responsibility, the unit responsible for conducting the so-called "e-mail investigation." I am representing Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey, who regrets that he is unable to present this testimony due to a last-minute conflict.

From the time our Department first uncovered these serious allegations and they became public, Chief Ramsey has pledged that our investigation would be thorough, precise and wide-ranging —and that we would keep the community informed as to our progress in the investigation. These two nights of public hearings are part of that community outreach and notification effort. For your information, the text of my remarks has been posted on the Police Department's Website: http://mpdc.dc.gov.

My testimony this evening is divided into three parts: first, background on how these problems were first identified and the investigation initiated; second, an update on exactly where we stand with the investigation; and third, the steps we have taken to help prevent these types of problems in the future.

I want to point out, at the very beginning of my statement, that we are talking about a very small number of officers who may be involved in the most egregious conduct related to this investigation. The vast, vast majority of our officers have used, and continue to use, our MDC network in ways that are appropriate and do not suggest any underlying misconduct. But at the same time, I am fully aware that even one inappropriate message or one act of misconduct is one too many when it comes to members of the Metropolitan Police Department. Our members are held to a higher standard — as well we should be, given the unique role we play in our city and our society.

Chief Ramsey has made his feelings on this matter very clear to the members of our Department, through both a videotaped message and a special newsletter: there is no place in the MPD for racist, sexist, homophobic or malicious speech —or actions— of any sort. Displaying disrespect for other individuals - either members of the community or fellow members of our Department - undermines the very foundation of trust and cooperation that we have worked so hard to build over the last few years, as we have implemented community policing in our city. Members of MPD who spew profanity, perpetuate ugly stereotypes, or make references to —or engage in— biased policing of any form will be identified, and strong disciplinary action will be taken. This underlying philosophy of "zero tolerance for intolerance" continues to guide our investigation into this matter.