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Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Code
Preliminary Information
Preface
Part I. The Charter. [Note]
Part II. Local Laws, Ordinances, Resolutions, Etc.
Chapter 1. General Provisions.
Chapter 1A. Structure of County Government.
Chapter 2. Administration. [Note]
Chapter 2A. Administrative Procedures Act. [Note]
Chapter 2B. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION.*
Chapter 3. Air Quality Control. [Note]
Chapter 3A. Alarms. [Note]
Chapter 4. Amusements. [Note]
Chapter 5. Animal Control. [Note]
Chapter 5A. Arts and Humanities. [Note]
Chapter 6. Auction Sales.
Chapter 6A. Beverage Containers. [Note]
Chapter 7. Bicycles. [Note]
Chapter 7A. Off-the-road Vehicles
Chapter 8. Buildings. [Note]
Chapter 8A. Cable Communications. [Note]
Chapter 9. Reserved.*
Chapter 9A. Reserved. [Note]
Chapter 10. Reserved.*
Chapter 10A. Child Care.
Chapter 10B. Common Ownership Communities. [Note]
Chapter 11. Consumer Protection. [Note]
Chapter 11A. Condominiums. [Note]
Chapter 11B. Contracts and Procurement. [Note]
Chapter 11C. Cooperative Housing. [Note]
Chapter 12. Courts. [Note]
Chapter 13. Detention Centers and Rehabilitation Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 13A. Reserved*.
Chapter 14. Development Districts.
Chapter 15. Eating and Drinking Establishments. [Note]
Chapter 15A. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.*
Chapter 16. Elections. [Note]
Chapter 17. Electricity. [Note]
Chapter 18. Elm Disease. [Note]
Chapter 18A. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY [Note]
Chapter 19. EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. [Note]
Chapter 19A. Ethics. [Note]
Chapter 20. Finance. [Note]
Chapter 20A. Special Obligation Debt.
Chapter 21. Fire and Rescue Services.*
Chapter 22. Fire Safety Code. [Note]
Chapter 22A. Forest Conservation - Trees. [Note]
Chapter 23. RESERVED*
Chapter 23A. Group Homes. [Note]
Chapter 23B. Financial Assistance to Nonprofit Service Organizations. [Note]
Chapter 24. Health and Sanitation.
Chapter 24A. Historic Resources Preservation. [Note]
Chapter 24B. Homeowners' Associations. [Note]
Chapter 25. Hospitals, Sanitariums, Nursing and Care Homes. [Note]
Chapter 25A. Housing, Moderately Priced. [Note]
Chapter 25B. Housing Policy. [Note]
Chapter 26. Housing and Building Maintenance Standards.*
Chapter 27. Human Rights and Civil Liberties.
Chapter 27A. Individual Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 28. RESERVED.* [Note]
Chapter 29. Landlord-Tenant Relations. [Note]
Chapter 29A. Legislative Oversight.
Chapter 30. Licensing and Regulations Generally. [Note]
Chapter 30A. Montgomery County Municipal Revenue Program. [Note]
Chapter 30B. RESERVED*
Chapter 30C. Motor Vehicle Towing and Immobilization on Private Property. [Note]
Chapter 31. Motor Vehicles and Traffic.
Chapter 31A. Motor Vehicle Repair and Towing Registration. [Note]
Chapter 31B. Noise Control. [Note]
Chapter 31C. NEW HOME BUILDER AND SELLER REGISTRATION AND WARRANTY. [Note]
Chapter 32. Offenses-Victim Advocate. [Note]
Chapter 33. Personnel and Human Resources. [Note]
Chapter 33A. Planning Procedures. [Note]
Chapter 33B. Pesticides. [Note]
Chapter 34. Plumbing and Gas Fitting. [Note]
Chapter 35. Police. [Note]
Chapter 36. Pond Safety. [Note]
Chapter 36A. Public Service Company Underground Facilities.
Chapter 37. Public Welfare. [Note]
Chapter 38. Quarries. [Note]
Chapter 38A. Radio, Television and Electrical Appliance Installation and Repairs. [Note]
Chapter 39. Rat Control. [Note]
Chapter 40. Real Property. [Note]
Chapter 41. Recreation and Recreation Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 41A. Rental Assistance. [Note]
Chapter 42. Revenue Authority. [Note]
Chapter 42A. Ridesharing and Transportation Management. [Note]
Chapter 43. Reserved.*
Chapter 44. Schools and Camps. [Note]
Chapter 44A. Secondhand Personal Property. [Note]
Chapter 45. Sewers, Sewage Disposal and Drainage. [Note]
Chapter 46. Slaughterhouses.
Chapter 47. Vendors.
Chapter 48. Solid Waste (Trash). [Note]
Chapter 49. Streets and Roads.*
Chapter 49A. Reserved.*
Chapter 50. Subdivision of Land. [Note]
Chapter 51. Swimming Pools. [Note]
Chapter 51A. Tanning Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 52. Taxation.* [Note]
Chapter 53. TAXICABS.*
Chapter 53A. Tenant Displacement. [Note]
Chapter 54. Transient Lodging Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 54A. Transit Facilities. [Note]
Chapter 55. TREE CANOPY. [Note]
Chapter 56. Urban Renewal and Community Development. [Note]
Chapter 56A. Video Games. [Note]
Chapter 57. Weapons.
Chapter 58. Weeds. [Note]
Chapter 59. Zoning.
Part III. Special Taxing Area Laws. [Note]
Appendix
Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance (2014)
COMCOR - Code of Montgomery County Regulations
COMCOR Code of Montgomery County Regulations
FORWARD
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 1A. STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 2. ADMINISTRATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 2B. AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 3. AIR QUALITY CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 3A. ALARMS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 5. ANIMAL CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8. BUILDINGS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 8A. CABLE COMMUNICATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 10B. COMMON OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11. CONSUMER PROTECTION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11A. CONDOMINIUMS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 11B. CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 13. DETENTION CENTERS AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 15. EATING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 16. ELECTIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 17. ELECTRICITY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 18A. ENERGY POLICY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 19. EROSION, SEDIMENT CONTROL AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 19A. ETHICS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 20 FINANCE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 21 FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 22. FIRE SAFETY CODE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 22A. FOREST CONSERVATION - TREES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 23A. GROUP HOMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24. HEALTH AND SANITATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24A. HISTORIC RESOURCES PRESERVATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 24B. HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25. HOSPITALS, SANITARIUMS, NURSING AND CARE HOMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25A. HOUSING, MODERATELY PRICED - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 25B. HOUSING POLICY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 26. HOUSING AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE STANDARDS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 27. HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 27A. INDIVIDUAL WATER SUPPLY AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 29. LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 30. LICENSING AND REGULATIONS GENERALLY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 30C. MOTOR VEHICLE TOWING AND IMMOBILIZATION ON PRIVATE PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31A. MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIR AND TOWING REGISTRATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31B. NOISE CONTROL - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 31C. NEW HOME BUILDER AND SELLER REGISTRATION AND WARRANTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 33. PERSONNEL AND HUMAN RESOURCES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 33B. PESTICIDES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 35. POLICE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 36. POND SAFETY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 38A. RADIO, TELEVISION AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 40. REAL PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 41. RECREATION AND RECREATION FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 41A. RENTAL ASSISTANCE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 42A. RIDESHARING AND TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 44. SCHOOLS AND CAMPS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 44A. SECONDHAND PERSONAL PROPERTY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 45. SEWERS, SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND DRAINAGE - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 47. VENDORS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 48. SOLID WASTES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 49. STREETS AND ROADS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 50. SUBDIVISION OF LAND - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 51 SWIMMING POOLS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 51A. TANNING FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 52. TAXATION - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 53. TAXICABS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 53A. TENANT DISPLACEMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 54. TRANSIENT LODGING FACILITIES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 55. TREE CANOPY - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 56. URBAN RENEWAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 56A. VIDEO GAMES - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 57. WEAPONS - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 59. ZONING - REGULATIONS
CHAPTER 60. SILVER SPRING, BETHESDA, WHEATON AND MONTGOMERY HILLS PARKING LOT DISTRICTS - REGULATIONS
MISCELLANEOUS MONTGOMERY COUNTY REGULATIONS
TABLE 1 Previous COMCOR Number to Current COMCOR Number
TABLE 2 Executive Regulation Number to Current COMCOR Number
TABLE 3 Executive Order Number to Current COMCOR Number
INDEX BY AGENCY
INDEX BY SUBJECT
County Attorney Opinions and Advice of Counsel
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Sec. 35-1. County police subject to control by director of police.
   The members of the county police are hereby required to report to the director of the county police immediately after their appointment and qualification and shall be at all times under the supervision and orders of such director. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 18-1; 1979 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 1990 L.M.C., ch. 31, § 2.)
Sec. 35-2. Law Enforcement Trust and Transparency Act.
   (a)   Definitions. As used in this Section:
      Department means the Montgomery County Department of Police.
      Law enforcement agency means a government agency charged with enforcing Federal, State, or County law.
      Officer involved death means the death of an individual resulting from an action by a police officer or while the individual is in police custody.
      Police officer means a sworn officer employed by the County Department of Police.
      State’s Attorney means the State’s Attorney for Montgomery County.
   (b)   Independent investigation required. Except as provided in subsection (f), the Executive must ensure that an independent investigation is performed for each officer involved death. The independent investigation must be led by at least 2 sworn independent investigators:
      (1)   who are not employed by the County or the State’s Attorney;
      (2)   who have significant experience and expertise in conducting homicide and law enforcement officer use of force investigations; and
      (3)   work for a:
         (A)   local law enforcement agency located outside of the County;
         (B)   Federal law enforcement agency; or
         (C)   State law enforcement agency.
   (c)   Report. The independent investigators must submit a final written report to the State’s Attorney.
   (d)   Publication of the investigation report.
      (1)   Except as provided in paragraph (2), the written report must be released to the public to the extent permitted by law:
         (A)   if no criminal charges are filed against the police officer; or
         (B)   after the conclusion of any criminal case against the police officer.
      (2)   The custodian of the report may deny inspection of any part of the written report if it would:
         (A)   interfere with a valid and proper law enforcement proceeding;
         (B)   deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication;
         (C)   constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
         (D)   disclose the identity of a confidential source;
         (E)   disclose an investigative technique or procedure;
         (F)   prejudice an investigation; or
         (G)   endanger the life or physical safety of an individual.
      (3)   This subsection must apply to a written investigation report prepared by the independent investigators or a report prepared by the Department if the Executive is unable to obtain an independent investigation.
   (e)   Internal investigation. This Section must not be interpreted to prohibit:
      (1)   an internal administrative review of the incident by the Department for possible discipline of a police officer pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, MD Public Safety Code, §§3-101 to 3-113, as amended; or
      (2)   the Department from:
         (A)   responding to the crime scene to perform routine police duties to protect members of the public and members of the Department; or
         (B)   providing support and assistance to the independent investigators leading the investigation as requested by the independent investigators.
   (f)   Reporting. If, after making good faith efforts, the Executive is unable to enter into an agreement with another law enforcement agency to perform the required independent investigation, the Executive must submit:
      (1)   a report to the Council on or before January 1, 2020:
         (A)   explaining all efforts made to secure an agreement with another law enforcement agency; and
         (B)   recommending changes to the law to support its goals; and
      (2)   updates to the Council every 90 days beginning on April 1, 2020 explaining continuing efforts to secure an agreement. (2019 L.M.C., ch. 6, §1; 2021 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1.)
   Editor’s note—2019 L.M.C., ch. 6, §2, states: Effective Date. This Act must take effect on January 1, 2020. The amendments in Section 1 must apply to each officer involved death occurring after the Act takes effect.
Sec. 35-3. Powers and duties of director.
   (a)   Chief executive officer. The director of police is the chief executive officer of the department of police and in the exercise of official duties the director shall be subject to such orders, rules and regulations as may be issued by the county executive from time to time and shall be responsible to the county executive for the proper and efficient conduct, control and discipline of the department of police.
   (b)   Law enforcement. The director of police shall take such measures as will ensure prompt and vigorous enforcement of all criminal statutes, laws, regulations and ordinances, enforcement of which comes properly within the scope of the police function and power.
   (c)   Adoption of regulations, orders, etc., generally. The director of police shall adopt, under method (2) of section 2A-15 of this Code, all regulations for the county which pertain to the work of the department of police. The director shall issue such additional instructions and adopt such orders and administrative procedures, not inconsistent with law, as deemed proper in the exercise of the functions of chief executive officer of the department of police.
   (d)   Duty assignments, etc. The director of police shall order and direct such assignments to duty, detail and transfers as deemed necessary in the interest of public service.
   (e)   Fires, riots, etc. The director of police shall maintain contact with supervisors on the scene of any large fire within the jurisdiction of the county police and at the scene of any riot, tumultuous assemblage, catastrophe or other unusual occurrence where the services of large details of police are necessary and shall take command of the police and direct their efforts in the work at hand through his/her supervisors.
   (f)   Operation of department generally. The director of police shall exact from all members of the police unquestioned loyalty, unfailing energy and strict obedience and shall take prompt action in prosecuting any member guilty of interfering with, or in any manner impeding, the orderly and efficient operation and conduct of the department of police.
   (g)   Charges against members. The director shall refer all charges properly filed with the director or the department against any member of the police to the office of internal affairs.
   (h)   Instruction and training. The director of police shall order and direct the instruction and training for the members of the police.
   (i)   Inspections. The director of police shall develop and implement policies and procedures within the department of police which will ensure an inspection program function at every level of management responsibility. The inspection program will encompass personnel, facilities and property, resource management and operations.
   (j)   Reports and recommendations. The director of police shall make a written report annually to the county council and county executive as to the operation of the department of police, for the fiscal year ending June 30, and shall submit recommendations for improvements, and shall make such other general and special reports as may be required.
   (k)   Notice of appointments, transfers, separations, etc. The director of police shall promptly notify the county personnel board of all appointments, transfers, promotions, demotions, suspensions and separations from the department of police. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 96-5; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 35, § 13; 1971 L.M.C., ch. 29, § 1; 1979 L.M.C., ch. 6, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 40; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 27, § 24.)   
   Editor’s note-The above section is cited and quoted in part in FOP, Montgomery County Lodge No. 35 v. Mehrling, 343 Md. 155, 680 A.2d 1052 (1996). Section 35-3(b) is quoted in Soper v. Montgomery County, 294 Md. 331, 449 A.2d 1158 (1982).
   See County Attorney Opinion dated 1/24/99 explaining that a non-merit position in the Animal Control Division need not be filled.
Sec. 35-4. Headquarters and substations-Generally.
   The county executive is hereby authorized to establish and maintain within the county headquarters and substations of the county police and to fix the locations thereof. The present headquarters and substations of such police shall continue to be maintained unless otherwise provided by the county executive. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 18-8; 1939, ch. 730, § 9; 1943, ch. 449, § 786; 1969 L.M.C., ch. 43, § 2.)
Sec. 35-5. Takoma Park reimbursement.
   (a)   If the County does not provide police protection in the City of Takoma Park, and the City provides its own citywide police protection, reimbursements to the City for police services must be the greater of the amount calculated under Section 30A-3 or $4,020,521.
   (b)   If the County resumes police services in the City of Takoma Park after a fiscal year begins, the amount paid under subsection (a) must be prorated according to the number of days in that fiscal year that the County provides the services.
   (c)   Nothing in this Section limits the jurisdiction of the County police in the City of Takoma Park. (Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 18-9; 1939, ch. 730, § 9; 1943, ch. 449, § 786; 2003 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1; 2022 L.M.C., ch. 7, §1.)
   Editor’s note2022 L.M.C., ch. 7 , § 3, states: Sec. 3. Transition. The County Executive may phase in the implementation of Section 1 of this Act over a three-year period after the effective date. In fiscal year 2023, subject to Section 30A-4, the County must fund the reimbursements at no less than 80% of the amounts specified under Section 1. In fiscal year 2024, subject to Section 30A-4, the County must fund the reimbursements at no less than 90% of the amounts specified under Section 1. Beginning in fiscal year 2025, the County must fully fund the reimbursements specified under Section 1, subject to Section 30A-4.
Sec. 35-6. Advisory Commission on Policing.
   (a)   Definitions. In this Section the following words have the meanings indicated:
      Commission means the Advisory Commission on Policing.
      Department means the Montgomery County Police Department.
      Institutional members are: (A) the Police Chief or the Police Chief’s designee; and (B) the President of an employee organization certified under Article V of Chapter 33 or the President’s designee.
   (b)   Established. County Council must appoint an Advisory Commission on Policing.
   (c)   Composition and terms of members.
      (1)   The Commission has 15 members consisting of 13 public members and 2 institutional members.
      (2)   The Council must appoint all members. Except for the institutional members, every other member should represent a community organization operating in the County or be an individual. Each Councilmember must nominate one public member. If there is a vacancy on the Commission and the Councilmember who appointed the Commissioner is no longer on the Council, then the Councilmember’s successor must appoint the public member to fill the vacancy.
      (3)   Of the public members:
         (A)   one member, known as the youth member, must be 25 years of age or younger at the time of appointment;;
         (B)   one member, known as the young adult member, must be 26-35 years of age at the time of appointment; and
         (C)   both the youth member and young adult member must be nominated by the County Executive.
      (4)   The public members appointed under paragraphs (2) and (3) should:
         (A)   reflect a range of ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and places of origin to reflect the racial and economic diversity of the County’s communities, including religious creed, age, sex - including on the basis of gender identity or orientation, disability, and geographic location, with emphasis on those disproportionately impacted by inequities; and
         (B)   have an interest or expertise in policing matters.
      (5)   The term of each member is 3 years. A member must not serve more than two consecutive full terms. A member must continue in office until a successor is appointed and qualified. After an appointment to fill a vacancy before a term expires, the successor serves a three-year term.
   (d)   New member orientation. Every new member must participate in an orientation program consisting of a menu of training opportunities determined by the Chair in consultation with staff.
   (e)   Voting, officers, meetings, and compensation.
      (1)   Except the institutional members, all members of the Commission are voting members.
      (2)   The Commission must elect a Chair and Vice-Chair from among its voting members.
      (3)   The Commission meets at the call of the Chair. The Commission must meet as often as necessary to perform its duties, but not less than 6 times each year.
      (4)   A member must serve without compensation. However, a member may request reimbursement for mileage and dependent care costs at rates established by the County.
   (f)   Duties. The Commission must:
      (1)   advise the Council on policing matters;
      (2)   provide information regarding best practices on policing matters;
      (3)   recommend policies, programs, legislation, or regulations;
      (4)   comment on matters referred to it by the Council;
      (5)   conduct at least one public forum each year for community input on policing matters;
      (6)   accept correspondence and comments from members of the public, except that the Commission must forward to the Police Advisory Board complaints involving police misconduct and discipline that fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Advisory Board pursuant to Section 35-24; and
      (7)   engage in public education.
   (g)   Requests for information. The County, including the Police Department, should respond to Commission requests for information within 30 days after the County receives the request.
   (h)   Annual Report. By July 1 each year, the Commission must submit to the Executive and the Council an annual report on its functions, activities, accomplishments, and plans and objectives.
   (i)   Advocacy. The Commission must not engage in any advocacy activity at the State or federal levels unless that activity is approved by the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.
   (j)   Staff. The Executive Director of the Office of the County Council must provide appropriate staff to the Commission.
   (k)   The Commission is not a regulatory or disciplinary body over any law enforcement agency. (2019 L.M.C., ch. 29, §1.; 2023 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 1.)
   Editor’s note—2019 L.M.C., ch. 29, § 2, states: Transition. Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(2), the Council must designate the Chair and Vice-Chair until the Commission elects the Chair and Vice-Chair.
   Former Sec. 35-6, "Same-Same-Abolished", derived from Mont. Co. Code 1965, § 96-1, was repealed by 2003 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1.
Sec. 35-6A. Community Policing.
   (a)   Legislative findings.
      (1)   The United States Department of Justice advises that:
         (A)   strong relationships of mutual trust between police agencies and the communities they serve are critical to maintaining public safety and effective policing;
         (B)   police officials rely on the cooperation of community members to provide information about crime in their neighborhoods, and to work with the police to devise solutions to crime and disorder problems; and
         (C)   community members’ willingness to trust the police depends on whether they believe that police actions reflect community values and incorporate the principles of procedural justice and legitimacy.
      (2)   The Police Executive Research Forum hosted a national meeting of police and community leaders. The following key issues and recommendations were determined to be useful to help police departments and their communities to develop collaborative strategies for moving forward. Police departments should:
         (A)   acknowledge and discuss with communities the challenges local police departments face;
         (B)   be transparent and accountable;
         (C)   take steps to reduce bias and improve cultural competency;
         (D)   maintain focus on the importance of collaboration and be visible in the community; and
         (E)   promote internal diversity and ensure professional growth opportunities.
   (b)   Community policing guidelines. To further community policing objectives:
      (1)   officers must strive to regularly initiate and engage in positive nonenforcement activities with their communities;
      (2)   the Department must ensure cultural competency throughout the Department and increase officer knowledge of the County’s diverse population;
      (3)   the Department must emphasize the recruitment of candidates with ties to the County;
      (4)   the Department must increase community outreach initiatives and officers must attend community events on behalf of the Department;
      (5)   the Department must provide adequate training in de-escalation tactics;
      (6)   the Police Chief must designate a liaison to each population that is disproportionately impacted by inequities, as appropriate; and
      (7)   the Department must incorporate mental health and positive youth development initiatives in partnership with County departments, agencies, and community-based organizations.
   (c)   Reporting requirements.
      (1)   By February 1 each year, the Montgomery County Department of Police must report the following information to the Executive and Council for the prior calendar year:
         (A)   information about the demographic makeup of the Department, including:
            (i)   the total number of sworn police officers in the Department;
            (ii)   the total number of sworn racial minority police officers in the Department by race and ethnicity;
            (iii)   the total number of sworn female police officers in the Department;
            (iv)   the number of sworn police officers in the Department that reside in the County; and
            (v)   any other demographic information voluntarily provided by sworn police officers;
         (B)   the number of recruiting events the Department sponsored or participated in the County;
         (C)   the number of instances of use of force that resulted in an injury when the injury occurred as a direct result of an officer’s actions;
         (D)   the number of civilian complaints about the use of force by an officer;
         (E)   the number of civilian complaints regarding discrimination and harassment;
         (F)   the number of officers who were suspended with pay;
         (G)   the number of officers who were suspended without pay;
         (H)   the percentage of patrol officers who were assigned to neighborhood patrols;
         (I)   the number of youth under the age of 18 years referred to intervention programs by officers;
         (J)   data, in the manner prescribed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, regarding the number of calls for service involving substance abuse, the responses to those calls, and the outcomes of those calls;
         (K)   data, in the manner prescribed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, regarding the number of calls for service involving mental health issues, the responses to those calls, and the outcomes of those calls;
         (L)   demographic information regarding individuals stopped (including a stop and frisk that does not result in a citation or arrest), searched, cited, arrested, or the subject of a use of force incident by the Department, including:
            (i)   race;
            (ii)   ethnicity;
            (iii)   gender;
            (iv)   age; and
            (v)   any other demographic information voluntarily provided by the detainee;
         (M)   demographic information regarding individuals subject to a field interview, including:
            (i)   race;
            (ii)   ethnicity;
            (iii)   gender;
            (iv)   location;
            (v)   age; and
            (vi)   any other demographic information voluntarily provided by the detainee;
         (N)   a description of the Department’s training standards and practices, including training and practices related to de-escalation;
         (O)   a description of the Department’s community policing efforts, including community policing programs, participation in town hall meetings, and efforts to engage with schools, recreation centers, community centers, and senior centers;
         (P)   the number of officers subject to each type of officer discipline;
         (Q)   the number of violations of the use of force policy, and the number of officers found to have violated the use of force policy;
         (R)   the number of investigations conducted by the Internal Affairs Division of the Department;
         (S)   with respect to civilian complaints, the number of complaints per police district, the number of officers against whom the complaints were made, and the outcomes of the complaints;
         (T)   the number of overtime hours worked per police district; and
         (U)   data, in the manner prescribed by the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, regarding the number of service calls involving a homeless individual, the responses to those calls, and the outcomes of those calls.
      (2)   The Council annually must hold a public hearing regarding the report submitted under paragraph (1).
      (3)   Subject to state and federal law, the Department must maintain the following public datasets, to include race, gender, age, and ethnicity data, and data by police district, division, and bureau, on the web portal identified in Article XIV of Chapter 2:
         (A)   use of force incidents;
         (B)   field interview reports;
         (C)   juvenile citations;
         (D)   criminal citations, including trespassing citations;
         (E)   alcohol beverage violations;
         (F)   possession of marijuana violations less than 10 grams;
         (G)   smoking marijuana in public places;
         (H)   the pointing of a service weapon, taser, or pepper spray at an individual;
         (I)   the issuance of a stay-away order for trespass enforcement, and the location of property where the enforcement occurs;
         (J)   information identified under Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the 2021 Laws of Maryland regarding the activation, deployment, and results of the SWAT team;
         (K)   information identified under Section 1 of Chapter 62 of the 2021 Laws of Maryland regarding search warrants;
         (L)   arrests, including arrests on or immediately adjacent to school property;
         (M)   searches, including searches that result in arrest or the discovery of contraband;
         (N)   stops (including stop and frisks that does not result in citations or arrests);
         (U)   service calls related to mental health;
         (V)   service calls related to substance abuse issues;
         (W)   service calls related to homeless individuals; and
         (X)   service calls determined to be unfounded.
      (4)   If state or federal law prevents the Department from publishing a dataset under paragraph (3), the Department must, in its report under paragraph (1), identify the dataset and explain the reason that the dataset is confidential.
      (5)   For the datasets published under paragraph (3), the Department must provide an explanation of terms used in the data, such as the term other to identify race or ethnicity, and guidelines regarding how to navigate the data.
      (6)   The Department must also provide the information reported under paragraph (1) to the Advisory Commission on Policing established under Section 35-6.
   (d)   Annual survey.
      (1)   The Department annually must conduct an anonymous survey of residents and officers regarding police-community relations, including, at a minimum, the levels of trust communities have in the police.
      (2)   The survey must be administered to residents in multiple languages.
      (3)   The survey must contain demographic information, including racial, ethnic, age, gender, and geographic information, regarding respondents.
      (4)   The Department must post the survey results on the web portal identified in Article XIV of Chapter 2.
   (e)   The Department must designate an individual officer as the point of contact responsible for the data collection and transparency requirements under this Section.
   (f)   The Department must post online each written agreement it has entered into with a property owner regarding the enforcement of trespass laws. (2020 L.M.C., ch. 7, §1; 2021 L.M.C., ch. 26, § 1; 2021 L.M.C., ch. 31, § 1; 2023 L.M.C., ch. 21, § 1; 2023 L.M.C., ch. 32, § 1.)
Sec. 35-6B. Community Informed Police Training.
   (a)   Definitions. For purposes of this Section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
   Active listening means a process by which parties reach a peaceful resolution to a dispute, including through the skills of:
      (1)   managing stress quickly while remaining alert and calm;
      (2)   controlling emotions and behavior;
      (3)   paying attention to the words and feelings expressed by others; and
      (4)   being aware of and respecting differences.
   Cadet or police cadet means a uniformed civilian employee of the Department who participates in the Cadet Program established by the Department for college students.
   Civic engagement means participation by community members in social and political processes designed to communicate ideas, values, and beliefs, and to promote legal, political, or social change.
   Community policing means a policing strategy to develop trusting relationships with the community, and to work in partnership with the community to address crime, public safety, and quality of life issues.
   Health means a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
   Police academy means the entry-level police training academy required by the Department for all prospective police officers.
   Policing history means a social, political, and historical understanding of why and how policing developed in the United States, including an examination of the transitional eras of policing (Political Era, Reform/Professional Era, and Community Era) and the structural changes that occurred under each of those eras since the mid nineteenth century.
   Racial equity has the meaning stated in Section 2-64A.
   Social justice has the meaning stated in Section 2-64A.
   Wellness means a positive approach to living.
   (b)   Cadet program. The Department must collaborate and partner with local educational institutions to:
      (1)   expand the recruitment of police cadets who reflect the diversity of the County;
      (2)   sponsor communication sessions with prospective cadets and community members; and
      (3)   develop internship programs for prospective cadets.
   (c)   Police academy – required program regarding community services and social justice.
      (1)   Prior to the commencement of field training, a member of the police academy must complete a program regarding community services and social justice.
      (2)   The program must consist of 30 hours or their equivalent.
      (3)   The program must be designed, in collaboration and partnership with one or more local educational institutions, to develop competency in the topics of:
         (A)   racial equity and social justice;
         (B)   health and wellness;
         (C)   community policing;
         (D)   policing history;
         (E)   active listening and conflict resolution; and
         (F)   civic engagement.
      (4)   In selecting an applicant for admission into the police academy, the Department must consider:
         (A)   the applicant’s performance in the program under this subsection; and
         (B)   the applicant’s performance in any implicit bias test required by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.
   (d)   Continuing Education. The Department must collaborate and partner with local educational institutions and national law enforcement professional organizations to provide continuing education, as demonstrated by the awarding of Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) or similar credentialing indicating content mastery:
      (1)   to all County police officers regarding:
         (A)   socially just policing and community engagement; and
         (B)   emerging topics in law enforcement, including cybersecurity, human trafficking, and proactive community engagement;
      (2)   to executive-level police officers regarding leadership and management challenges in socially just policing; and
      (3)   to new police sergeants regarding supervisory skills, with a focus on community policing, mentorship, and ethical leadership.
   (e)   State requirements. The training provided under this Section must incorporate to the extent practicable, and must comply with, the requirements of the Public Safety Article of the Maryland Code, including the Maryland Use of Force Statute. (2022 L.M.C., ch. 29, §1.)
   Editor’s note—2022 L.M.C., ch. 29, §§ 2 and 3, state: Sec. 2. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Community Informed Police Training Act.
   Sec. 3. Effective Date. This Act must take effect on the 181st day after it becomes law.
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