Public Meeting Announcement: Charles County Police Accountability Board
The Charles County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 at 6 p.m. to garner input from the public on the establishment of a Charles County Police Accountability Board (PAB). Specifically, the Commissioners are seeking feedback on the proposed composition of the PAB membership, to include number of members, length of terms, qualifications, and any other criteria the public believes should be considered by the Commissioners when establishing the membership of the PAB.
The Maryland General Assembly enacted the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 – Police Discipline and Law Enforcement Programs and Procedures (HB 670), on April 10, 2021, that requires each County establish a PAB and an Administrative Charging Committee (ACC). The Bill may be viewed at https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2021RS/bills/hb/hb0670E.pdf.
In accordance with HB 670, the PAB must receive complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public against any local law enforcement agency in the county; hold quarterly meetings with heads of law enforcement agencies and to otherwise work with law enforcement agencies and the county government to improve matters of policing; appoint civilian members to Charging Committees and Trial Boards; review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by Charging Committees on a quarterly basis; submit a report to the Board of Commissioners annually that identifies trends in disciplinary process of law enforcement in the county and make recommendations on changes to policy that would improve police accountability in the county. Further, HB 670 provides that the membership of the PAB, to the extent practicable, shall reflect the racial, gender, and cultural diversity of the county, and that an active police office may not be a member of the PAB.
The public meeting is scheduled to be conducted virtually. To register to speak during the meeting, please call 301-885-2779 on Nov. 3, 2021 between 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. At that time, registered speakers will be provided information on how to join the virtual public hearing. Speakers are asked to be available between 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Nov. 3. If a registered speaker is unavailable, the County has the right to move on to the next speaker. Comments may also be submitted online beginning Oct. 25, 2021, at 8 a.m. through Nov. 12, 2021, at 4 p.m. by using the e-comment feature at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/government/public-comments. Comments may be submitted by mail to the following address: Charles County Commissioners, 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Comments sent by mail must be received no later than Nov. 12, 2021.
Please contact Danielle Mitchell, Associate County Attorney, at mitcheld@charlescountymd.gov, or at 301-645-0554 with additional questions concerning the public meeting.