Attorney concerned with DOJ agreement on racial discrimination complaint against Liberty Co. Sheriff’s Office

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - The Attorney representing majority of the Delaware State University Woman’s Lacrosse Team has concerns about the Justice Department deal with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office to resolve a racial discrimination complaint. Attorney Greg Tarone says he plans to file a lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.

“The emotional distress that has been cast upon these female athletes, as well as the bus driver, has been significant,” Tarone said.

Deputies stopped and searched the bus of the Delaware State University lacrosse team for driving in the left lane on I-95 in April of 2022. Law enforcement did not find any contraband on the bus.

The university then filed a complaint with the Justice Department, accusing the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office of violating the Civil Rights Act.

“Once the deputies got on to the bus and saw that these were Black students the attitude seemed to change,” Tarone said.

An internal investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office found no policies were violated. Sheriff Will Bowman says, “I am confident that race in no way motivated or influenced the traffic stop or other investigatory activities of April 20, 2022.”

Under the terms of the DOJ agreement, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office will review its bias-free policing policies, make what the DOJ calls necessary updates to its policies on traffic enforcement and searches, and develop data collection procedures.

In the statement, Bowman goes on to say, “By our Memorandum of Agreement, I intend to reaffirm my commitment to fair and impartial law enforcement practices whereby all persons are treated with dignity and respect. More specifically, I have pledged to continue my ongoing efforts to modernize the operations of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in regard to these matters.”

Attorney Greg Tarone says the bus shouldn’t have been pulled over in the first place. He says he and the NAACP are calling for an external investigation from an agency with no bias.

“The Justice Department took the internal investigation for it’s word which I find dubious and cursory treatment of a very serious situation. This was not an external investigation.”

He says he will be filing a lawsuit on behalf the players seeking punitive damages and calling for the deputies to be punished or terminated.

“The 4th amendment to the United States constitution which protects against unreasonable searches will be one cause of action and consideration. The other one will be a violation of title six of the U.S. code the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office will review its bias-free policing policies, make what the DOJ calls necessary updates to its policies on traffic enforcement and searches, and develop data collection procedures.

U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg said in a prepared statement, “Law enforcement is most effective when it is supported by public confidence. The agreement announced today is a step toward ensuring that policing occurs in an evenhanded manner.”

Liberty County Sheriff Will Bowman’s full statement is below:

“I want to thank the Department of Justice for its assistance in addressing the public allegations of “racial profiling” made in connection with the April 20, 2022 traffic stop involving the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team. As the first black Sheriff of Liberty County, I take these allegations very seriously and very personally. Thankfully, and as discussed in a forthcoming internal investigative report, I am confident that race in no way motivated or influenced the traffic stop or other investigatory activities of April 20, 2022, and that these actions were otherwise entirely legal. Rather, in my opinion, the central issue (and principal tension) presented by this case is the appropriateness of coordinating drug interdiction efforts with routine traffic stops, especially those that are canine supported. I understand the indignation and unease (if not fear in some cases) that any law-abiding person, regardless of their race, can feel from being subjected to an investigation unrelated to their traffic violation, such as having their vehicle’s exterior sniffed by a drug dog. This is especially true for black Americans, who have historically been disproportionately impacted by these practices, and, in many cases, unlawfully discriminated against and mistreated by law enforcement because of their race. I am also mindful that drug interdiction activities such as the ones practiced during the traffic stop involving the Delaware State University Women’s Lacrosse Team have long been supported and practiced by a multitude of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. In particular, and as part of my office’s interstate interdiction efforts, it is common for available canine units to respond to traffic stops, especially those involving trucks, buses, and other common carriers. In these situations, and if a canine unit is available, an open-air sniff is customarily conducted to the extent it can be accomplished without prolonging the traffic stop. This is done, in part, to address the reported use of these large vehicles for the illegal transportation of drugs and other contraband along the interstate corridors, sometimes without the knowledge of drivers or passengers. The legal underpinnings of these practices have long been sanctioned by federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. More importantly, I know from personal experience that drug interdiction efforts can make communities safer. However, I also understand that these efforts must be accomplished in a way that the public can appreciate and support. If not, these otherwise legal and well-intentioned practices can erode trust between law enforcement and the communities that they serve. This must be avoided at all costs. It is for this reason that my office has fully cooperated with the Department of Justice in this matter. By our Memorandum of Agreement, I intend to reaffirm my commitment to fair and impartial law enforcement practices whereby all persons are treated with dignity and respect. More specifically, I have pledged to continue my ongoing efforts to modernize the operations of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in regard to these matters. By working with the Department of Justice, I hope that our common goals can be effectively pursued with even greater resources and urgency. Perhaps more than anything, I want the residents of Liberty County, and particularly the members of our minority communities, to know that the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office will do everything it can to be responsive, transparent, and accountable to the public, who we serve. In the coming months, my office will engage in a further review of its drug interdiction practices and will consider how they may be improved. I look forward to your feedback and support in these efforts.”

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