Police Accountability, Oversight and Reform

Police Accountability Board

In the Spring of 2022 Baltimore County began the process to establish a Police Accountability Board (PAB), as required by HB0670, the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021—Police Discipline and Law Enforcement Programs and Procedures.

The local governing body must:

1. Establish the membership of, and the budget and staff for the PAB
2. Appoint a chair for the PAB
3. Establish the procedures for record keeping by the PAB

Duties

Pursuant to this law, each county must have a PAB to:

• Hold quarterly meetings with heads of law enforcement agencies, and otherwise work with law enforcement agencies and the County government to improve matters of policing
• Appoint civilian members to charging committees and trial boards
• Receive complaints of law enforcement officer misconduct filed by members of the public
• On a quarterly basis, review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by charging committees
• By December 31 each year, submit a report to the governing body of the County that identifies any trends in the disciplinary process of County law enforcement officers, and makes recommendations on changes to policy that would improve law enforcement officer accountability in the County

Report Misconduct of Law Enforcement Officers

The duties of the PAB includes receiving complaints of law enforcement personnel misconduct filed by members of the public.

Register to Speak at the Next Meeting

Use the form below to register to speak at the next PAB meeting.

Reports

• 2023 Annual Report
• 2022 Annual Report

Members

PAB members were confirmed by the County Council on October 13, 2022. The Board is comprised of nine members, seven to represent each Council district and two at-large.

Applications to serve on the PAB and other County boards and commissions are open on a rolling basis. Should a vacancy arise, or you would like to be considered in the future, please visit the Boards and Commissions page, select "Apply for a Vacancy" and select "Police Accountability Board" from the drop-down menu.

PAB members are required to complete a "ride-along" with a Baltimore County Police Department officer, and attend a condensed version of the Baltimore County Citizens' Police Academy following their appointment and confirmation. The next condensed version of the Academy will begin on Wednesday, April 5, from approximately 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and will continue every Wednesday until May 24, with an additional Saturday session on May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Administrative Charging Committee

Each County shall have one Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) to serve Countywide law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement agencies within the County.

A County ACC shall be composed of the following:

1. The Chair of the County’s Police Accountability Board or another member of the Police Accountability Board designated by the Chair;
2. Two civilian members selected by the County’s Police Accountability Board, and
3. Two civilian members selected by the Chief Executive of the County.

Before serving on the ACC, an appointed member shall receive 40 hours of in-person training pursuant to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.

Members

Duties

Pursuant to State and County law, the ACC shall:

1. Review the law enforcement agency’s investigation conducted and forwarded upon the filing of a complaint made by a member of the public against a law enforcement officer;
2. Make a determination as to whether or not the law enforcement officer who is subject to the investigation shall be administratively charged or not;
3. If the law enforcement officer is charged, recommend discipline in accordance with the law enforcement agency’s disciplinary matrix;
4. Review any body camera footage that may be relevant to the matters covered in the complaint of misconduct;
5. Authorize a law enforcement officer called to appear before the ACC to be accompanied by a representative;
6. Issue a written opinion that describes in detail the ACC’s findings, determinations and recommendations, and
7. Forward the written opinion to the chief of the law enforcement agency, the law enforcement officer and the complainant.

Trial Boards

Each law enforcement agency in the County shall establish a trial board process to adjudicate matters for which a police officer is subject to discipline.

A trial board shall be composed of the following:

1. An actively serving or retired Administrative Law Judge or a retired judge of the District or Circuit Court, appointed by the County Executive;
2. A civilian who is not a member of the Administrative Charging Committee, appointed by the Police Accountability Board, and;
3. A police officer of equal rank to the police officer who is accused of misconduct, appointed by the head of the law enforcement agency.

Before serving on the trial boards, an appointed member shall receive training pursuant to the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.

Upcoming Vote on Amendment

The Police Accountability Board will vote on an amendment to the Rules of Procedure, Section 1.04 (Functions and Duties) (B). The amendment is to add the following language after “Appoint civilian members to charging committees and trial boards":

A nominating committee shall be responsible for interviewing and recommending members of the public to serve on trial boards and charging committees. Upon recommendation by the nominating committee, members of the public shall be confirmed by the full membership of the Police Accountability Board. A member of the public confirmed to serve on trial boards shall complete any required training. Upon completion of their training, a member of the public will be added to a trial board “roster.” When a trial board is requested, the Executive Secretary and/or Coordination Manager or their designee shall inform the Police Accountability Board. A member of the trial board “roster” will be automatically appointed to serve on the trial board based on the date they completed training (in descending chronological order), and their service on any prior trial boards. No member of the roster will be appointed to additional trial boards until all members of the “roster” have had the opportunity to serve on the same number of trial boards (i.e. no member will serve on a third trial board until all members of the trial board roster have had the opportunity to serve on a second trial board.)

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