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Police report: caseload easing, move to 305 Washington planned; several bills in Annapolis could change complaint handling
Summary
Major Gomez reported a possible plateau in complaint caseloads, a planned departmental relocation to 305 Washington, and appreciation for grant-funded training; staff summarized multiple pending bills in Annapolis that could alter complaint records and timelines.
Major Gomez, reporting for Chief McCullough, told the Baltimore County Police Accountability Board that the department’s case level appears to be "evening out," which will help with case management. He said the department is slated to move to 305 Washington likely later this spring, a shift he expects will allow public access without entering headquarters.
On training and resources, Major Gomez thanked state grant funding that enabled training for department members, calling the money “appreciated and well spent.” He said training included virtual, regional and local options and that staff expect to watch for legislative changes this year that could affect operations.
Staff and board members also reviewed pending legislation filed in Annapolis that could affect complaint handling and timelines. The items summarized during the meeting included (as spoken): “S b 6 25” (a bill described as requiring removal of unfounded or exonerated complaints after three years), “H b 0 3 0 5 3 7” (permitting an officer to request a show-cause order during an investigation), “House bill 0 1 2 2” (allowing officers to file complaints through the PAB rather than only through internal affairs), “House bill 0 1 3 9” (requiring internal affairs to complete investigations within nine months), “House bill 0 1 8 6” (allowing licensed local attorneys to chair trial boards), and legislation to toll the year-and-a-day statute of limitations until criminal proceedings conclude.
Staff cautioned the board the exact implications would require further review; for example, the proposal to let officers file complaints through the PAB could change routing but likely would still result in matters going to internal affairs for investigation in many cases. The board asked staff to provide bill numbers and links in the minutes for follow-up.
Staff said they will continue to monitor the bills and provide updates to the board as the legislative session proceeds.
