SOMERSET COUNTY, MARYLAND

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

Elected to four-year terms by the voters, the Board of County Commissioners consists of five members, with one residing in each of the five County Commissioner Election Districts. From its members, the Board chooses the President for a four-year term.

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
Effective July 1, 2022, each Maryland county is to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Somerset County, the Board of County Commissioners established the Police Accountability Board in May 2022 (Resolution no. 1177).

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.

Appointed to four-year terms by the Board of County Commissioners, the Police Accountability Board consists of three to seven members. The Board of County Commissioners chooses the Chair (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
In June 2022, the Administrative Charging Committee was formed by the Board of County Commissioners (Resolution no. 1177).

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. Two are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, and two by the Police Accountability Board. One member serves ex officio. The Chair is chosen by the Committee (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

TRIAL BOARD
In July 2022, the Trial Board was formed by the Board of County Commissioners (Resolution no. 1177).

Three members constitute the Trial Board. One is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, one by the Police Accountability Board, and one by the Sheriff (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

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