For what is believed to be the first time in the city's history, a civil rights group in Annapolis has said they have "no confidence" in the city's police chief.
The group, the Caucus of African-American Leaders, said the vote of no confidence is necessary after the city's seen a rise of murders. Nine people have been killed in 2016 alone, compared with the same number between 2011 and 2015.
They've pointed to what they're calling differences between the way whites and blacks are treated, both inside and outside the department.
"It's a practice and pattern," said the group's leader Carl Snowden.
Just before the vote pertaining to Annapolis Police Chief Michael Pristoop, the group's leader said the move is a long time coming.
"What we're trying to do is get the attention of the public officials and let them know there are some real issues here," Snowden said.
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Among concerns the group raises is a 2007 case in which an officer altered an arrest warrant, leading to the arrest of the wrong man. That same officer participated in a separate false detainment years later. There was no public action taken against the officer, who is white.
However, the group points to the case of former Annapolis police officer Jason Thomas, who was fired after an on-the-job injury.
In response to allegations of racial bias, the city's police chief responded in a statement through a spokesperson.
"The mayor and I have set high goals for fairness and outreach … our staffing and hiring are highly diverse, and our training standards and measures to ensure internal fairness exceed practices of other police departments and state mandates."
The decision of no confidence by the group, which includes the Anne Arundel County NAACP, was unanimous.
City Alderman Kenneth Kirby, who said he's also been mistreated by the police department, said the resolution will be forwarded to his council colleagues.
"Being elected officials -- we are an elected body -- we don't have a choice; we've got to address it," Kirby said.
It's not yet clear what process the resolution will follow.
