442                                LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 203

Police officers—defense against charges—payment of
legal fees and expenses.

538.

In any case, civil or criminal, where a police officer of the Baltimore
City Police Department is charged with the Commission of any
wrong, in consequence of an act done in the course of his official
duty, the Police Commissioner may, when in his sole judgment the
best interests of the public, and/or the Department, and/or the
police officer so charged would appear to warrant it, expend any funds
under his control and jurisdiction which may have been appropriated
either by the City Council of Baltimore or by the General Assembly
of Maryland for the express purpose of reimbursing such officers
for legal expenses incurred in defending against such charges; and
provided further that said Police Commissioner is authorized to ex-
pend for this purpose any other funds, not restricted to specific
uses and purposes, which said Police Commissioner may have under
his jurisdiction and control, though not appropriated either by the
City Council of Baltimore or by the General Assembly of Maryland.
No such fees or expenses shall be paid by the Commissioner until the
Attorney General has approved the same for payment.

Administrative Procedure Act—application of.
539.

Except as provided in Section 536 of this subtitle, none of the
provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act of Maryland shall
be applicable to the Police Department or Police Commissioner of
Baltimore City and the Commissioner shall not be required, when
promulgating or adopting any rule, regulation or order, to comply
with the provisions of Section 9 of Article 41 of the Annotated Code
of Maryland (1965 Replacement Volume).

Attorney General.
540.

The Attorney General of the State shall be the attorney for and
represent the Police Department and Police Commissioner of Balti-
more City.

Special Police Officers.
541.

The Police Commissioner of Baltimore City is hereby authorized,
in the exercise of his discretion, upon the application of any corpo-
ration, association, firm or person in the City of Baltimore that the
said Commissioner may deem responsible, to appoint suitable persons
as special police officers to serve without pay from the said City or
the State of Maryland, and the corporation, association, firm or
person applying for such appointment shall be liable for the official
misconduct, wrongful or negligent acts of the officer appointed on
such application. Every special police officer appointed under the
provisions of this section shall, upon the premises of the corporation,
association, firm or person for which he may have been appointed,
but not elsewhere, have power to preserve the public peace, prevent