For Immediate Release
Contact: Lisa Ellis; Maryland Business Clergy Partnership
301-298-5447
Prince George's County Police Officer Files Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation for Exposing Corruption
Prince George's County, MD (October 21, 2024): Lt. Sonya Zollicoffer, a decorated former Internal Affairs officer with the Prince George's County Police Department, today filed a lawsuit against the Fraternal Order of Police (Prince George’s County, MD Lodge 89, Inc.) and Investigator Officer Matthew Sledgeski, alleging wrongful termination and retaliation for uncovering corrupted officials’ intent to cover up a multimillion-dollar corruption scheme and racial profiling within the force.
Lt. Zollicoffer's career has been marked by both outstanding service and a disturbing pattern of discrimination and retaliation. In 2001, she was sexually harassed by her field training officer, a white male who exposed himself to her and touched her inappropriately. Despite reporting the incident and undergoing a polygraph test, Lt. Zollicoffer received a deceptively labeled settlement, far less than initially promised, in an attempt to bury the incident. This marked the beginning of years of retaliation, including being left unsupported in dangerous situations and transferred to a distant district.
Despite these challenges, Lt. Zollicoffer excelled in her career, becoming a spokesperson for the force in 2012 and representing the department in media outlets and charitable events. However, her commitment to justice ultimately led to her downfall. In 2018, while investigating two white officers for a traffic stop, Lt. Zollicoffer discovered video evidence of them racially profiling and assaulting an African American man. The victim's ordeal was erased: seven minutes of footage, capturing the officers' racial profiling and brutal assault, disappeared from the in-car video. When she requested the original videotape, she faced an immediate backlash.
Despite the evidence and support from three expert witnesses, Lt. Zollicoffer was denied access to the original tape and brought before an Administrative Hearing Board consisting of three white officers from another police department. She was subsequently demoted two ranks to corporal and ultimately forced to resign. Further investigation revealed a connection between the two white officers and a broader double-dipping scheme involving twelve other officers.
This case highlights the deeply ingrained culture of racial discrimination and corruption within Prince George's County Police Department. A recent NBC Washington report revealed shocking statistics on police discipline, showing that Black officers are disproportionately punished and terminated compared to their white counterparts.
Lt. Zollicoffer's lawsuit seeks to rectify the wrongful demotion and forced resignation she suffered. Her fight is not only for herself but for all officers of color who have been silenced and marginalized within the department.
Join us tomorrow, October 21st, at 10:00 AM for a press conference in front of the Wayne K. Curry Administrative Building in Largo, Maryland, as we stand with Lt. Sonya Zollicoffer in her fight for justice against corruption and discrimination within the Prince George's County Police Department.
A GoFundMe campaign has been organized by Raymond Medeiros to help Lt. Zollicoffer with the costly legal battle ahead. To donate, please visit https://gofund.me/a7b2dff9.
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Maryland Business & Clergy Partnership
6710 Oxon Hill Road, Ste 210
Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745
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