‘Don’t be afraid to speak up’: Former security guard files lawsuit against National Harbor
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. Aug 28 2021 Two years ago, National Harbor and its security contractor, Metropolitan Protective Services, were the focus of a 7News I-Team investigation after MPS hired Gerald Griffith, a convicted Tier 3 child sex offender, to train workers in charge of security at National Harbor.
“It’s beyond unbelievable,” says former MPS security guard Brian Askew.
Askew blew the whistle on the hiring and says that led to retaliation at his job. Askew just filed a federal lawsuit against National Harbor and MPS.
“After it was aired they moved me to a parking lot and subjected me to scrutiny and subjected me to all these other terms and conditions other than my employment,” says Askew.
Askew claims he was assigned to sit in a patrol car overnight and guard MPS’ corporate office and wasn’t given a key to use the building’s restroom.
“Several times they did not leave keys in the car for me and I had to relieve myself in a jar,” says Askew.
He claims his race and sexuality were also the focus of abuse claiming an MPS supervisor said “He’s too gay for me anyway” and “You need to go back into the field”.
“Don’t be afraid to speak up because somebody else might be experiencing the same thing,” says Askew.
We reached out to MPS who has no comment on the lawsuit.
National Harbor has yet to respond to 7News requests for comment.
Askew isn’t the only one who has issues with National Harbor and MPS. Another former security guard just filed a second federal lawsuit.
