Baltimore County ACC reviews Maryland Police Accountability Act timing changes, reports recent trial-board outcomes

The Baltimore County Administrative Charging Committee on May 2 reviewed recent changes to the Maryland Police Accountability Act that alter case-timing rules for officer investigations, received reports on two recent trial-board decisions, and scheduled a May 14 trial board that will be open to observers in the Public Safety Building.

Committee member Joan Harris opened the meeting and asked for a motion to adopt minutes from the April 4 meeting; a committee member moved to adopt the minutes, a second was recorded and members voted "Aye," and the minutes were approved.

Committee staff member Henry summarized legislative changes in the statewide Maryland Police Accountability Act. "The only 1 that passed or even got a vote in committee, is the change to the 1 year and 1 day rule," Henry said, describing how the statute now delays the start of that deadline when an officer is under criminal investigation until the criminal proceedings conclude or the officer is notified that no criminal investigation is underway. Henry said the Act also sets a deadline for internal affairs to submit records of investigation (ROIs) to the ACC and adjusts the ACC's deadline for issuing opinions.

Henry said one statutory change requires internal affairs to submit ROIs "within 334 days of the complaint being made," and that the law now gives the ACC "390 days" to issue an opinion in certain cases once records are submitted. Henry said Baltimore County Internal Affairs typically submits cases about 10 months before the statute of limitations date, so the new deadlines were not expected to substantially change local operations.

The committee also received reports on trial-board outcomes since the April meeting. Henry said a departmental trial board on April 15 reviewed a motor-vehicle-collision matter and found the officer not guilty of the traffic violation. A second trial board on April 30 addressed allegations of excessive use of force, rude and discourteous conduct, and failure to notify a supervisor; Henry said the officer pleaded guilty to rude and discourteous conduct and to failure to notify a supervisor and received a written reprimand for those counts. "He was found not guilty of excessive use of force by a vote of 3 to nothing," Henry said.

The committee was told one trial board remained pending: an officer charged with failure to take appropriate police action will be heard May 14 at 9 a.m. in the Public Safety Building. Henry said there will be a viewing area in the main lobby where observers can watch the proceeding.

Before moving into closed session for routine personnel and case review, the committee confirmed its next open meeting is scheduled for June 6, 2025, at noon in Room 118 of the Baltimore County Historic Courthouse and on Webex. The committee then voted to enter closed session and later reconvened in open session and adjourned.

The meeting transcript records committee discussion and formal votes to adopt the April 4 minutes, to enter closed session, and to adjourn. Trial-board findings and the May 14 hearing were reported to the committee; no new policy actions were adopted at the May 2 open meeting.