Neuman Brings Outside Task Force to Investigate Police Department

Anne Arundel County Executive Laura Neuman announced Friday that she is assembling an inter-county task force of investigators from Montgomery and Harford counties to investigate allegations surrounding the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

"Problems in our Police Department continue to keep surfacing," said Neuman, in a press release. "I have zero tolerance for inappropriate behavior of our police department if it exists."

The team will look into procedures, protocol and what Neuman called "inappropriate anonymous correspondence" based on claims without evidence. Rumors of confidential information being leaked will also be investigated, according to the statement.

This comes just over a week after County Councilman Jamie Benoit (D-Crownsville) requested an investigation into whether Police Chief Larry Tolliver used homophobic slurs toward police officers who testified against former executive John Leopold in his criminal trial.

"The task force will investigate departmental procedures and morale issues," Neuman said. "The Police Department cannot effectively operate under continued scandal and scrutiny."