Definitions. In this Article, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
Administrative Charging Committee or Committee means the Committee established in Section 35-25 to serve Countywide law enforcement agencies and local law enforcement agencies within the County pursuant to Section 3-104 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended.
Administratively charged means that a police officer has been formally accused of misconduct in an administrative proceeding.
Complaint means an allegation of police misconduct involving a member of the public and a police officer, regardless of whether the allegation originated from within the law enforcement agency or from an external source.
Disciplinary matrix means a written, consistent, progressive, and transparent tool or rubric that provides ranges of disciplinary actions for different types of misconduct prepared by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.
Exonerated means that a police officer acted in accordance with the law and agency policy.
Law enforcement agency means the County police force, Sheriff's office, or other security force or law enforcement organization of the County or a municipal corporation that by statute, ordinance, or common law is authorized to enforce the general criminal laws of the State.
Not administratively charged means that a determination has been made not to administratively charge a police officer in connection with alleged misconduct.
Police Accountability Board or Board means the Police Accountability Board for the County established in Section 35-24 pursuant to Section 3-102 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended.
Police misconduct means a pattern, a practice, or conduct by a police officer or law enforcement agency that includes:
(1) depriving persons of rights protected by the Constitution or laws of the State or the United States;
(2) a violation of a criminal statute; and
(3) a violation of law enforcement agency standards and policies.
Police officer means an individual who:
(1) is authorized to enforce the general criminal laws of the State; and
(2) is a member of one of the following law enforcement agencies:
(a) the County police department;
(b) a municipal police department;
(c) the office of the County Sheriff; or
(d) a County fire and explosive investigator.
A police officer does not include the Sheriff, a chief of police, a deputy or assistant chief of police, or another individual with an equivalent title who is appointed or employed by a government to exercise equivalent supervisory authority. (2022 L.M.C., ch. 12, §1.)