Former Pocomoke police chief found guilty on misconduct charge

Misconduct in office that’s what the jury of former Pocomoke Police Chief Kelvin Sewell’s peers said he was guilty of. Agreeing with the state that Sewell interfered with a car crash investigation back in November of 2014, but disagreeing that he ever conspired with anyone else do so. He was found not guilty of conspiracy.

The judge sentenced Sewell to three years of jail time all suspended, three years of supervised probation and a $1000 fine. The judge foregoing the jail time because he said that the ramifications from the verdict on Sewell’s professional career will far outweigh the punishment of jail time.

Maryland state’s attorney Emmett Davitt commented after the case, seemingly relieved with the outcome. 

“Well, I’m gratified with the verdict,” Davitt said. “We feel whenever it’s an abuse of power by a police officer something needs to be done, people need to be held accountable.”

The state argued that Sewell, along with Lt. Lynell Green, gave favoritism to the suspect, a fellow Mason lodge member. That night in 2014 the suspect hit two unoccupied cars on Cedar Street on his way home from the Mason lodge.

The suspect allegedly had a business card for Green, so he called the officer as soon as he got home.

Sewell responded later, after hearing chatter on the radio.

The state claimed when Sewell was on scene he improperly assigned the investigation to an officer in training who was originally the secondary officer on the case. Sewell testified he told her to file the report as an accident, not a hit and run. In the state’s theory, protecting his Mason brother.

However the defense argued otherwise. They claim from the investigation Sewell found the suspect not to be drunk and that since the suspect called the police Sewell used his discretion to determine the event was not a hit and run, rather just an accident. Sewell likening the suspect calling the police to someone leaving a note on a car after an accident. The defense added that as chief, Sewell had every right to offer his opinion on the case.

After the verdict was delivered, several of Sewell’s friends thought the jury made a mistake.  

“To be judged because they made a call that they were allowed to make I just feel that it was unjust,” said Rev. James Jones, a friend of Sewell.

When asked if he believed Sewell would ever lie or risk his job for any of his friends, as the state alleged he did Jones responded,”No, he would help as best he could, but he would not jeopardize his career to cover up for anyone.”

Now with a misconduct in office charge it seems it’s Sewell’s current job as chief senior investigator for the Baltimore state’s attorney’s office that may be in jeopardy.

Sewell declined to comment after the case. He also has a pending equal employment lawsuit in federal court against his former department, the Worcester County State’s Attorney and other involved entities. Sewell claiming racial discrimination in that case.

Lt. Green is due in court later this month for misconduct charges. Davitt declined to comment on how the outcome of Sewell’s case might effect that, but added that he believed they have a strong case.