Police Accountability Board authorizes chair to seek clarification from sheriff's office and hears sheriff's quarterly report

The Calvert County Police Accountability Board on Feb. 25 authorized its chair to transmit a written follow-up inquiry to the sheriff’s office, limited to seeking clarification of the agency’s prior response to a public complaint, and heard a quarterly report from the sheriff covering training, community outreach and operational metrics.

The motion was put on the floor by a board member and read aloud by the chair. As read, the motion stated: "I move that the Police Accountability Board authorize the chair, following consultation with counsel, to transmit a written follow-up inquiry limited to seeking clarification of the law enforcement agencies prior response to the public complaint." The motion was moved by a board member and seconded by the chair; the board approved it by voice vote.

Why it matters: the authorization gives the board a formal, counsel-reviewed channel to request clarifying information from the sheriff’s office when the PAB determines the agency’s initial response does not provide sufficient detail for the board’s review. The step is procedural but important to the board’s ability to complete complaint reviews and identify trends.

In presentation of case statistics, the chair said complaints received between Nov. 20 and Feb. 19 numbered nine, with two found ineligible for review; eight cases were reviewed (seven from before Nov. 20), 10 cases were pending review and there were zero administrative charges arising from the reviewed cases. The chair noted the sheriff’s office has up to one year to complete investigations before providing materials to the board.

The board also agreed to form a small community-outreach committee to research local organizations and groups the PAB could meet with to explain the board’s role and the Administrative Charging Committee and trial board process. Volunteers were identified; the committee’s work will begin without dedicated funding.

Sheriff’s quarterly report: the sheriff reported several training and community-engagement highlights and operational statistics. He said deputies graduated from regional training programs, officers completed SWAT and crisis-intervention (CIT) training, and the office hosted and participated in statewide meetings and community events, such as a law-enforcement torch run and a guest-reading event at Mutual Elementary. The sheriff said his office launched the Calvert County Sheriff’s Foundation and noted ongoing partnership work with the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse.

On workload, the sheriff reported 30,725 calls for service for the quarter, 1,229 traffic citations, 7,063 traffic warnings, 76 DUI arrests and 536 traffic accidents. He said the average daily inmate population at the county detention center for the quarter was about 128. The sheriff recounted a multi-jurisdiction investigation into card-skimming devices at fuel pumps that led to arrests and advised residents to favor tap-pay or to pay inside when possible.

Both the sheriff and board members credited body-worn camera footage with improving investigations and accountability. As one board member put it, "the body cam is... like the bottom line that really shows what is and isn't," a point the sheriff and others echoed when describing the office’s case reviews.

Votes at a glance: • Motion to approve meeting agenda — approved by voice vote (motion moved by a board member; second not specified). • Motion authorizing the chair, after consultation with counsel, to transmit a written follow-up inquiry to the sheriff’s office — moved by Board member (S3), seconded by Chair (S1); approved by voice vote. • Motion to adjourn — moved by Chair (S1), seconded by Board member (S2); approved by voice vote.

The board reviewed the 2026 meeting schedule (May 27, Aug. 26, Dec. 2), heard no public comment, and adjourned the meeting.