NAACP asks for US probe of racist e-mails Sent to Conn. troopers, staff

[Ian David]

HARTFORD -- The state chapter of the NAACP called yesterday for a federal investigation of the Connecticut State Police and possible civil rights violations following the discovery of racially offensive e-mails sent to some troopers and staff members.

State Police announced this week that they have opened an internal investigation into the e-mails, which were sent to the director of the state forensics lab and employees he oversees, including troopers and civilians.

A photograph and video were e-mailed from a private account to other private accounts in February. The photo is of a black man lying on a street surrounded by pieces of watermelon and a bucket of chicken, while the video shows a young white girl repeating racial slurs with the encouragement of off-camera adults.

The materials, which surfaced Tuesday, were distributed about a week after Sergeant Andrew Crumbie was replaced as head of the lab by Lieutenant David Rice. Crumbie, who is black, has alleged that racial discrimination was behind the decision to replace him with Rice, who is white.

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2007/07/20/naacp_asks_for_us_probe_of_racist_e_mails/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News