The City Council approved yesterday a resolution urging Police Commissioner Edward T. Norris and his chief of internal affairs to meet with members to address their concerns about possible misconduct in the Police Department.
Council President Sheila Dixon, who introduced the resolution, said council members regularly receive e-mails, phone calls and other inquiries concerning police conduct. She said members hope to leave the meetings with information they can pass on to the public.
The resolution was introduced in response to the recent arrest of Officer Brian L. Sewell on charges of perjury and misconduct in office. Sewell, a six-year police veteran, is accused of planting drugs on a resident.
Sewell is the first officer caught in the random undercover stings the department has been conduct- ing since April. Norris has said the stings are part of the department's zero-tolerance effort to reduce crime.
"My immediate reaction was that I was glad they caught him and were willing to go forward and pursue it," said Dixon.
Sewell's arrest has prompted a review of dozens of cases in which he was involved. City prosecutors are looking into 20 pending drug cases, some of which might have to be dropped.
Also yesterday, the council passed a bill expanding the laws governing vicious dogs to include dogs that bite or attack other animals. The law had been restricted to dogs that bite people.
Councilman Melvin L. Stukes introduced a resolution urging the Maryland Stadium Authority to include in future lease agreements a commitment that the annual football game between City College and Polytechnic Institute be held at PSINet Stadium.
