(a) Meetings with law enforcement. The Board shall hold at least quarterly meetings with heads of law enforcement agencies and otherwise work with law enforcement agencies and other County agencies to improve matters of policing.
(b) Appointments. The Board shall appoint members to the Administrative Charging Committee and Trial Hearing Boards as provided for in Title 3, Subtitle 1 of the Public Safety Article of the State Code and this Code.
(c) Complaints.
(1) The Board shall receive complaints of police misconduct from members of the public.
(2) Complaints of police misconduct may be filed using an online portal.
(3) Complaints of police misconduct filed with the Board must be in writing and shall include:
(i) the name of the police officer accused of misconduct;
(ii) a description of the facts on which the complaint is based;
(iii) contact information for the complainant or a person filing on behalf of the complainant for investigative follow-up; and
(iv) a statement that the complainant affirms under penalty of perjury that the contents of the complaint are true to the best of their knowledge, information, and belief.
(4) Complaints of police misconduct need not be notarized.
(5) Complaints of police misconduct filed with the Board shall be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency within three days after receipt by the Board.
(6) Complaints of police misconduct filed with a law enforcement agency shall be forwarded to the Police Accountability Board within three days after receipt by the law enforcement agency.
(d) Reporting.
(1) On a quarterly basis, the Board shall review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by the Administrative Charging Committee required by § 3-104 of the Public Safety Article of the State Code.
(2) On or before December 31 of each year, the Board shall submit a report to the County Executive and the County Council that:
(i) identifies any trends in the disciplinary process of police officers in the County; and
(ii) makes recommendations on changes to policy that would improve police officer accountability in the County.
(3) Annual reports and any other reports created by the Police Accountability Board must be shared in a timely manner with the County Executive and County Council and be available for public view at all Anne Arundel County public libraries.
(Bill No. 16-22)