Apr 14, 2026
Robert Kersey Jr. spent 30 years as a Maryland Natural Resources Police officer. He climbed to Deputy Superintendent (the number-two job in the entire agency) becoming only the third Black person to ever hold that position. His boss rated his performance "Outstanding." He had a spotless record.
That all changed when he called out a fellow officer's racist testimony.
On March 31, 2026, Justly Prudent filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Mr. Kersey's behalf against the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and three agency officials. The complaint describes a coordinated scheme by agency officials to fabricate a disciplinary case against Mr. Kersey, stall the investigation for over eight months, and ultimately force him out of the position he had earned—all in retaliation for his public opposition to racially inflammatory remarks and his advocacy on behalf of minority officers.
"Mr. Kersey dedicated 30 years to protecting the people of Maryland. When he spoke out against racial discrimination within his own agency, officials conspired to destroy his career through a fabricated investigation that violated a federal court order specifically designed to prevent this exact kind of abuse," said Attorney Jordan D. Howlette, who represents Mr. Kersey. "This lawsuit seeks to hold every individual who participated in this scheme personally accountable."
For more information about the case, read the official press release at: https://www.justlyprudent.com/press-releases/decorated-black-officer-files-federal-discrimination-lawsuit-against-maryland-department-of-natural-resources