Cops may face suspension after Web site incident

Baltimore police say two officers accused of forcing a black detective to look at racist material on the Internet could be suspended without pay and have letters of reprimand placed in their files.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says Lt. James Hagin Jr. and Detective Paul Kidd can fight the charges at a departmental hearing.

A complaint filed last year accuses Hagin of ordering Sgt. Kelvin Sewell to view a Ku Klux Klan Web site. It is alleged that Kidd tampered with the computer.

Guglielmi says both face a neglect of duty administrative charge and Hagin is also charged with bringing disrespect to the department and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld’s brother, Charles, was found to have given a false report in the case, but has since joined the Annapolis Police Department.