St. Mary's County Police Accountability Board finds five OPR complaints unfounded; limited training recommended

The St. Mary's County Police Accountability Board reviewed five Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigation files at its May 21, 2026 meeting and concluded that the complaints in each file were unfounded, while endorsing limited remedial steps in two cases.

Chairman Nick Cromwell opened new business by noting OPR files contain sensitive investigatory information and are redacted until final disposition. The board then considered matters OPR2025-2022 (02/28/2025), OPR2025-2023 (03/04/2025), OPR2025-2030 (02/17/2025), OPR2025-2658 (03/24/2025) and OPR2025-2827 (04/26/2025).

In OPR2025-2022, involving a high-speed traffic stop on 3 Notch Road in Mechanicsville, officers arrested a driver after learning of a protective order. Staff explained the custody decision turned on an apparent exception for child-custody communications; the driver was returned to his vehicle and released once staff determined the exception applied. The ACC found the officers acted in good faith and classified the allegations as unfounded for all officers, while noting a need for improved cross-jurisdictional transmittal of protective-order information and assigning remedial training to one officer on verification of court orders.

In OPR2025-2023, a traffic stop in Lexington Park that involved a K-9 search resulted in controlled substances being recovered from the vehicle and passengers. The ACC found allegations of unlawful search and constitutional violations unfounded but sustained a meritorious administrative charge for one officer’s use of profane or derogatory language; the board concurred with the sheriff’s recommended discipline of one day loss of leave.

OPR2025-2030 concerned a complaint alleging unlawful stop, false arrest and excessive force. The ACC concluded the initial stop and subsequent arrests were lawful and the force used proportionate; allegations were determined unfounded. Separately, the committee sustained an administrative violation for agency-vehicle operation: one officer was found to have driven a patrol vehicle over posted limits while not on emergency response. Given the officer’s prior record category, the ACC recommended formal written counseling and remedial training on safe vehicle operation.

In OPR2025-2658, staff reported officers responding to a hazardous roadway condition issued repeated lawful orders that were ignored; after review the ACC found use of force reasonable and proportional and did not recommend discipline. In OPR2025-2827, a traffic stop for missing front license plate and dark tint included a K-9 scan that produced no alert; the ACC found the stop lawful and determined the allegations unfounded for all officers with no discipline recommended.

Board members asked detailed procedural questions during deliberations, including about equipment-repair orders and the timing of K-9 responses; staff noted local lab capacity for substance testing and reiterated that a stop may last as long as it is being actively worked without an arbitrary time limit. The ACC repeatedly emphasized its determinations were based on the investigatory record, body-worn video and applicable law.

The board took no disciplinary action in three of the five matters, approved a one-day loss of leave for one officer and recommended remedial training or written counseling for others where policy violations were sustained. The meeting concluded with scheduling the next regular meeting for Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. (online) and an adjournment vote.