The U.S. Justice Department wants to intervene in a private lawsuit brought by Pocomoke City's former police chief and two other black officers alleging race discrimination.
The Justice Department filed the motion to intervene Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore.
Former police chief Kelvin Sewell, former officer Franklin Savage, and former Lt. Lynell Green filed the suit in January. They allege that Pocomoke city government, the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and the state of Maryland created a hostile work environment based on race, and retaliation.
Sewell was Pocomoke City's first black police chief when he was appointed in 2011. He was fired last year.
