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Caroline County introduces ordinance to formalize Police Accountability Board; first reading approved
Summary
County attorney introduced legislative bill 2025-006 to convert earlier resolutions into a codified Police Accountability Board ordinance; commissioners approved the bill’s first reading and set a public hearing for May 27.
Caroline County’s attorney introduced legislative bill 2025-006 on Tuesday, an ordinance to establish a Police Accountability Board (PAB), Administrative Charging Committee and trial-board procedures in county code. The board approved the ordinance’s first reading and scheduled a public hearing for May 27.
County Attorney (presented the ordinance) said the ordinance would supersede earlier resolutions that implemented Police Accountability Board and Administrative Charging Committee functions after the General Assembly in 2021 required counties to establish such bodies. The ordinance is described as a recodification and expansion of prior resolutions into chapter 20, Police Accountability, of the county’s public local laws.
The ordinance text “establish[es] a police accountability board, defining certain terms, providing for the composition and terms and removal of members of the Police Accountability Board, providing for a chair of the Police Accountability Board, providing for the meeting standards, training, budget and staff and record keeping standards,” the attorney said during the introduction. The measure also “establish[es] an administrative charging committee, providing for the staffing, powers, duties, and appointment of members” and sets up trial boards, the attorney added.
The commissioners were told the measure is legislative bill 2025-006. The attorney recommended and the commissioners approved a proposed schedule: a public hearing on Tuesday, May 27 (published notice set for May 24), and, if needed, subsequent readings with the potential for amendment before final adoption in June. The attorney explained that if amendments are made, the amended language must be reduced to writing and made available to the public before enactment.
The Denton Police Department submitted a letter with suggested changes through the sheriff’s office; county staff said copies were distributed to commissioners and would be considered during the public-comment and amendment process. Commissioners also said the Maryland Police Training Commission planned to attend the next meeting to provide input.
A motion to approve the first reading and the schedule was made, seconded, and adopted on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.
