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Summit recap flags trial‑board prosecution gaps, evidence‑sharing costs and resignations
Summary
Members relayed takeaways from the 2026 statewide PAB summit: Baltimore City's PAB handles large caseloads with substantial staff; members raised concerns that prosecution roles at trial boards can leave cases unpresented, that Axon portal fees limit shared access to body‑worn camera evidence, and that resignations before administrative charges create flagging and interstate hiring gaps.
Members of the Administrative Charging Commission reported key takeaways from the 2026 statewide Police Accountability Board (PAB) summit during the May 6 meeting, highlighting resourcing differences, procedural gaps at trial boards, and barriers to shared access for evidentiary video.
Judge (S2) described Baltimore City's PAB as operating under its office of civil rights with a substantial staff and numerous investigators, and said its ACC meets frequently — reported as twice weekly — to review “30 to 75 or... sometimes even a 100 cases.” The judge used that example to underscore the difference in capacity between Baltimore and smaller counties.
Commission members raised a recurring concern observed at the summit: when a police chief or designee serves as the prosecutor for a trial board, that prosecutor may choose not to present evidence, effectively leaving the board without a case to adjudicate. One participant said that structural conflict can allow a finding to be avoided and suggested legislative correction may be needed.
Barry (S5) summarized another summit topic: several agencies reported officers resigning when administratively charged or under investigation. He said agencies were struggling to determine what action, if any, is available after an officer resigns. Judge (S2) responded that the Maryland Police Training Commission flags an officer’s certification if the officer resigns while under investigation; a flagged certificate may prevent re‑certification in Maryland but does not automatically prevent hiring in other states.
Members also discussed evidence‑sharing practices. Judge (S2) noted many agencies use body‑worn cameras from Axon, which provides a portal that can link agencies and permit file sharing; however, S2 said the portal carries a fee and none of the three local agencies currently pay that fee. Staff were asked to research the portal cost and whether grant funding could cover it.
Taken together, the summit recap prompted the commission to consider whether state procedural rules, interagency evidence‑sharing contracts, or funding should change to reduce gaps in accountability and preserve investigatory integrity when officers resign. The transcript records no formal policy action at the meeting; members agreed to share training materials and to continue discussion at future meetings.
