E-Police

When the cops in DC aren't busy chasing crooks around the Capitol, they seem to spend a lot of time writing e-mail. Most of it involves legitimate police business, but plenty of it doesn't, admits Police Chief Charles Ramsey. Worse, a lot of the messages contain racist, vulgar and homophobic language aimed largely at those the coppers are sworn to protect and serve. Ramsey, whose office has been auditing the e-mail for about three weeks, says white, black and Hispanic officers have all been involved in the extracurriculars and he promises swift justice once things are wrapped up.

When the cops in DC aren't busy chasing crooks around the Capitol, they seem to spend a lot of time writing e-mail. Most of it involves legitimate police business, but plenty of it doesn't, admits Police Chief Charles Ramsey. Worse, a lot of the messages contain racist, vulgar and homophobic language aimed largely at those the coppers are sworn to protect and serve. Ramsey, whose office has been auditing the e-mail for about three weeks, says white, black and Hispanic officers have all been involved in the extracurriculars and he promises swift justice once things are wrapped up.