The Police Training Commission was created in
1966 to improve law enforcement by raising standards
of training and education for police (Chapter 286,
Acts of 1966). Subject to the authority of the Secre-
tary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the
Commission prescribes standards for and certifies
schools that offer police and security training. It may
revoke a school's certification for cause. The Commis-
sion sets minimum qualifications for instructors and
certifies qualified instructors for approved training
schools. It verifies which officers have satisfactorily
completed training programs and issues diplomas.
The Commission also operates approved police train-
ing schools (Code 1957, Art. 41, sec. 4-201).
The Commission certifies persons as police offi-
cers who have met all standards of the Commission.
Under certain conditions, it also can suspend or
revoke certification. Persons not satisfactorily
trained in the twelve-month probationary period
may not be employed as police officers. Nor may a
police officer serve after certification has been re-
voked, suspended, or allowed to lapse.
The Commission studies entrance-level and in-
service training methods and procedures, and con-
sults and cooperates with recognized federal, State
or municipal law enforcement agencies, educational
institutions, and other State departments and agen-
cies concerned with police training. The administra-
tive staff of the Commission also works with the
Correctional Training Commission.
The Police Training Commission consists of four-
teen members. Eleven serve ex officio and may be
represented by alternates. The Secretary of Public
Safety and Correctional Services, with the approval of
the Governor and Senate advice and consent, ap-
points the remaining three members for three-year
terms. Each appointed member must be a police
official from a different geographical area of the State.
With the approval of the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services, the Commission appoints the
Executive Director (Code 1957, Art. 41, sec. 4-201).

CORRECTIONAL TRAINING COMMISSION
Chairperson: David N. Bezanson, Deputy
Secretary of Public Safety & Correctional Services
(410) 442-2700

In 1971, the Correctional Training Commission
was established to improve the administration of
the correctional system by raising standards of
training and education for those in the field of
corrections, parole, and probation (Chapter 213,
Acts of 1971). Subject to the authority of the
Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Serv-
ices, the Commission prescribes standards for and
certifies all schools that offer training courses. It
may revoke a school's certification for cause.
The Commission outlines minimum qualifications
for instructors and certifies qualified instructors for

approved training schools. Correctional officers
who have satisfactorily completed training pro-
grams are certified by the Commission which also
operates approved correctional training schools.
The Commission examines correctional training
methods and procedures for all correctional schools
and consults and cooperates with recognized federal,
State or municipal correctional agencies, educational
institutions, and other departments and agencies of
the State concerned with correctional training.
The Commission has twelve members. Nine
serve ex officio and may be represented by alter-
nates. With the approval of the Governor and Sen-
ate advice and consent, the Secretary of Public
Safety and Correctional Services appoints three
members who are correctional, parole or probation
officers from different geographical regions for
three-year terms. The Commission appoints the
Executive Director with the approval of the Secre-
tary (Code 1957, Art. 41, sec. 4-301).

STATE FIRE MARSHAL

Rocco J. Gabriele, State Fire Marshal

106 Old Court Road, Suite 300
Pikesville, MD 21208 (410) 764-4324

Duties of the first State Fire Marshal, whose
office was created in 1894, were assumed ex officio
by the Insurance Commissioner in 1916 (Chapter
248, Acts of 1894; Chapter 521, Acts of 1916).The
Office of State Fire Marshal took on these respon-
sibilities in 1964 (Chapter 46, Acts of 1964). The
State Fire Marshal and the State Fire Prevention
Commission became part of the Department of
Public Safety and Correctional Services in 1970.
Appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety and
Correctional Services, the State Fire Marshal en-
forces all Maryland laws dealing with fire preven-
tion, electrical safety, and the storage, sale, and use
of explosives and combustibles. The State Fire Mar-
shal also enforces all State laws on installation and
maintenance of fire detection and control equip-
ment, fire exits in public buildings, and suppression
of arson (Code 1957, Art. 38A).

STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION

Smith N. Stathem, Chairperson, 1996
M. Elizabeth Weiderhold, Secretary
(410) 836-4843

The State Fire Prevention Commission was estab-
lished in 1964 (Chapter 46, Acts of 1964). The
Commission promulgates regulations for the safe-
guarding of life and property from fire and explosion.
It also serves as a board of appeals for matters con-
nected with the enforcement of the Fire Code and
interpretation of conflicts with local codes.