Programs related to correction and rehabilitation among State and county agencies are developed, implemented, and maintained by the Department. Working in cooperation with the Sheriff's Office, the Department performs duties related to the temporary incarceration of those awaiting trial, and their transfer between County correctional facilities and the Courts (County Code, secs. 18-108 through 18-110.02).
The Director oversees the Department, and creates and amends rules and regulations that pertain to maintenance, discipline, and conduct within the County Jail, and the Department. The Director is appointed by County Executive with County Council consent (County Code, secs. 18-108, 18-110.01).
Two bureaus comprise the Department: the Administrative Bureau, and the Operations Bureau.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAU
OPERATIONS BUREAU
In March 1966, the County began incorporating members of the Prince George's County Volunteer Firemen's Association as paid, professional government employees. In June 1968, the Department of Fire Protection was established to oversee their work.
With the adoption of charter government, County government was restructured in 1970. Under the Charter, the Department of Fire Protection was reformed as the Prince George's County Fire Department, commanded by the newly created office of Fire Chief. In the following years, the Department established 911 services, added medical response units, and in 1982, established a fire and rescue academy at Cheltenham. To reflect its additional duties, the Department was renamed in 1998 as the Fire and Emergency Services Department.
The primary responsibility of the Fire and Emergency Services Department is to provide fire and rescue services for the County. Other duties include enforcing laws and ordinances to prevent fires; store explosive, flamable, and other hazardous substances; and install and maintain fire alarms and escapes. To these ends, the Department conducts investigations of fires and explosions within the County. The Department also regulates volunteer fire companies and emergency medical service providers within the County, and provides support for them (County Code, secs. 11-101 through 11-347).
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Fire Chief oversees the Department. The Fire Chief is authorized, when needed, to delegate his duties to the Fire Marshal, or other fire officials (County Code, sec. 11-150).
Under the Department is the Office of Fire Marshal.
FIRE MARSHAL
The Office of Fire Marshal has four divisions: Administrative Services; Emergency Operations; Management Services; and Support Services. The Office also is aided by the Fire Commission.
The Commission consists of nine members. Each July, they are elected to one-year terms by the volunteer fire companies within the County (County Code, secs. 11-301 through 11-303).
The Office works to prevent and deter terrorist attacks, and protect against and respond to threats and hazards within the County.
Under the Office are three units: the Administrative Division, the Office of Emergency Management, and Public Safety Communications.
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Appointed by the Governor on recommendation of the County Executive, the Director oversees the Office (Code Public Safety Article, sec. 14-109).
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
The Police Accountability Board receives complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public. On a quarterly basis, the Board meets with heads of law enforcement agencies and works with those agencies and County government to improve County policing.
Legal mandates providing for the Board also authorized Charging Committees and Trial Boards, whose civilian members are appointed by the Police Accountability Board. On a quarterly basis, the Board reviews disciplinary matters considered by Charging Committees.
Serving four-year terms, the Police Accountability Board consists of eleven members. Five members each are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, and the County Council. The Chair is chosen by the County Executive with County Council consent (County Code secs. 2-528 through 2-542).
Meeting at least monthly, the Committee reviews the findings of each law enforcement agency’s investigation of police misconduct complaints forwarded by the agency to the Committee. From information related to the investigation, the Committee makes determinations and recommendations. It may review body camera footage, call a police officer before the Committee, determine if a police officer should be charged administratively, or recommend discipline. The Committee may submit written opinions to the director of the law enforcement agency, and to the accused police officer, the complainant, and the Police Accountability Board.
Five members constitute the Committee. The County Council appoints two members to two-year terms as does the Police Accountability Board. One member serves ex officio (Code Public Safety Article, sec. 3-104).
Directed by the Chief of Police, the Police Department is responsible for preserving the peace within the County. The Department prevents crime, enforces the law, and protects life and property. Other duties include the aquisition, storage, and disposition of property; and the reporting of property taken during an investigation or prosecution of a crime. To implement and operate Neighborhood Watch Programs, the Police Chief approves and provides regulations (County Code, secs. 18-111 through 18-115, and 18-121 through 18-190).
Through the County Executive, the Police Department is authorized, by mutual aid agreements, to lend assistance when necessary to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, as well as to other federal and state agencies in, but not limited to, Maryland and Virginia (P.L. 108-458; County Code, sec. 18-189).
The Chief of Police is appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent.
Under the Department are the Inspector General, and four bureaus: Administration and Homeland Security; Forensic Science and Intelligence; Investigation; and Patrol. The Department also oversees three divisions: Critical Support Services, Internal Affairs, and Media Relations. Assisting the Department is the Citizen Complaint Oversight Panel.
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The Administrative Bureau oversees three divisions: Human Resources, Program Services, and Support Services.
The Operations Bureau is responsible for two divisions: Operations, and Population Management.
FIRE & EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Fire fighting originally was a local matter, handled by citizens. The first countywide fire-fighting organization formed in 1922. At that time, the Prince George's County Volunteer Firemen's Association organized existing departments at Brentwood, Cottage City, Hyattsville, and Mount Rainier. In 1923, the Association added departments from Greater Capitol Heights, Riverdale, Seat Pleasant, and Sidney (now disbanded). The first rescue squad in the County formed in 1927, and joined the Association the same year. By 1946, the Association included 26 fire companies and that rescue squad.
The first fire-related government office in Prince George's County was that of Fire Marshal, which was created in 1954.
FIRE COMMISSION
Established by the County Charter in 1970, the Fire Commission regulates volunteer fire companies in Prince George's County. The Commission reviews the financial needs of the companies, and helps dispurse public funds to them. Annually, the Commission formulates budgets and capital improvement programs for each company. These budgets and programs are submitted for approval to the County Executive.
OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
In 2003, the Office of Homeland Security was created.
To protect communities, the Office of Emergency Management coordinates and integrates all actions necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover form threatened or actual natural hazards.
Public Safety Communications is an internationally accredited 9-1-1 Center.
OFFICE OF INTEGRITY, COMPLIANCE, & POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY
The Office of Integrity and Compliance since August 2022 has been known as the Office of Integrity, Compliance, and Police Accountability.
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly authorized each Maryland county to establish a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021; Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-101 through 3-104). In Prince George's County, the County Council established the Police Accountability Board in August 2022 (County Council Bill no. 21-2022).
ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
The Administrative Charging Committee was established in July 2022.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
In 1927, the Police Department was established under the Sheriff's Office. Prior to that, the Sheriff, deputies, and constables had been responsible for all law enforcement in the County. On June 1, 1931, the Department was restructured as a separate government agency under the Executive Branch.
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