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Public safety committee reviews Montgomery County Police's updated consent-search policy and new app
Summary
County officials described a consent-search policy revised to require body-worn recording, an in-house app for logging searches (soft-launched Dec. 2) and mandatory supervisory review of granted searches; council members pressed for stronger public safeguards and clearer standards for when searches may be requested.
The Montgomery County Public Safety Committee on Dec. 9 reviewed a revised county police consent-search policy and an in-house phone application officials say will record whether people grant or decline searches.
Assistant Chief Frank said the department's latest policy "went into effect on December 2." He described changes intended to go beyond legal minimums by ensuring recorded interactions and by collecting demographic and search outcome data in the app. Susan Farag, who prepared the staff packet, told the committee the packet includes outside inputs and cites research showing consent searches can have disproportionate impacts on communities of color.
The policy requires officers to record consent-search interactions on body-worn cameras and to use the app to capture demographic and contraband information, with a written paper form reserved as a backup. "The new policy...the interactions are recorded on body worn camera video," Farag said during her presentation. Officials said supervisors will review transactions within five working days and that the app will send automated email notices to the chain of command.
Council members praised the steps but repeatedly asked for clearer public-facing language, a demonstration of the app, and regular data reporting so the public and accountability bodies can evaluate how the tool is used. Chair Katz closed the session after officers and staff agreed to follow up with demonstrations and reporting plans.
