Jul 27, 2008 1:11 pm US/Eastern
Police Head Says Surveillance Doesn't Merit Probe
PIKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―
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The head of Maryland's state police says a federal investigation into his agency's surveillance of anti-war and death penalty opposition groups is not needed.
"We did nothing wrong."
That's what the superintendent of the Maryland State Police says in response to a 14-month undercover operation to spy on anti-death penalty and anti-war groups.
Still, as
Weijia Jiang reports, many people, including the colonel, believe the operation lacked good judgment.
The story begins with Vernon Evans. Back in February 2005, protesters fought for his life after he was sentenced to death row.
But despite the uproar to stop the death penalty, a death warrant was signed the following November for Wesley Baker.
"We hadn't had executions for a while, then we had one in 2004 and then two scheduled close together and the concern was because the state police do provide security and ensure the safety of those people," said Colonel Terrence Sheridan.
In a 43-page document, the American Civil Liberties Union shows Maryland State Police went on to monitor Baltimore activists during 2005 and 2006.
Two undercover troopers tagged Marylanders on a terrorist database.
"We're hoping to use this as a teaching moment where other cities, other states can start investigating to see if there's been surveillance on their own groups. I cannot believe Maryland was the only state doing this," said activist Max Obuszewski.
Colonel Sheridan reiterated several times that he knew nothing about the monitoring when it was going on, even though at the time he was the Baltimore County police commissioner and served on a Homeland Security advisory board.
"I have no knowledge of ever receiving a report about this," said Sheridan.
The monitoring went on for 14 months until troopers concluded there was no threat to public safety at protests.
A federal investigation is underway, but no hearing has been set.
Colonel Sheridan says no federal money was used to monitor the groups.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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