Carroll County's Police Accountability Board said it will step up public outreach to explain the Police Accountability Act and the board's role, including handing out a newly created flyer and staffing a booth at an upcoming Fall Fest.

PAB members said outreach was a central conclusion of a recent technical working session and that the board's goal is public education rather than encouraging complaints. "I don't think that most of the county, most of the state knows if there is a PAB and knows, if there is this act," a PAB member said, urging members to get the word out.

The board reported that members Ian and Lisa worked on a flyer and that the PAB has rented a booth to distribute materials and speak with residents at a Fall Fest scheduled later this month. Board members discussed pairing web links or QR codes on both the PAB and police department websites and suggested adding a commendation form to the PAB site so residents can report positive interactions as well as complaints.

Why it matters: PAB members said better public awareness could reduce frivolous complaints and help residents understand what constitutes a complaint and how the process works. Board members acknowledged outreach could temporarily increase inquiries as residents learn about complaint rights and procedures.

Ending: PAB staff said they will follow up with department IT staff if jurisdictions agree to reciprocal QR links, and the board will include outreach activities in the year-end report to the county commissioners.