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Residents urge clearer complaint forms, posting of annual report and transparency on in-custody deaths
Summary
Several members of the public at the Aug. 28 PAB meeting urged better access to a 2023 annual report, a simple complaint form for community members, statistics on in-custody deaths, and raised concerns about alleged Facebook censorship by sheriff’s office social media administrators.
Public comment at the Calvert County Police Accountability Board meeting on Aug. 28 focused on transparency, reporting and how the public can file complaints.
Nikquita Gross of Prince Frederick said the PAB website contains a 2022 annual report but not a 2023 report and urged the board to make the later report available. She also recommended a standardized complaint form be provided to anyone who interacts with a police officer and asked whether the sheriff’s office releases statistics on persons who die in custody.
Joyce Freeland, second vice president of the Calvert County NAACP, asked when the community is notified about deaths that occur in custody and urged clearer public notification protocols. The chair and county attorney responded that deaths in the detention center fall under the sheriff’s internal processes and the correctional officers’ disciplinary procedures rather than the PAB/ACC statutory jurisdiction, and recommended contacting the sheriff’s office for detention-related matters.
Leslie Sokolove described being censored on the sheriff’s department Facebook page, said she reported an online threat to the sheriff via email and received no follow-up, and urged the board to consider posting meetings more broadly. A board representative replied that misconduct complaints can be filed through the PAB website and will be tracked.
A resident who gave only her first name, Emily, said she attends most meetings and questioned why the Police Accountability Board frequently discusses money and budget matters, saying the PAB’s primary purpose should be oversight, not budgetary decisions.
Ed Baylor, newly elected chair of the Administrative Charging Committee and a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, introduced himself and commended the ACC’s cooperation with the sheriff’s office.
Board staff and the chair thanked speakers, noted outreach efforts (presentations to community organizations are available on request) and invited volunteers to help prepare the PAB’s annual report.
The board did not make policy changes during public comment; it recorded the concerns and listed follow-up items for staff.
