The Montgomery County Council has enacted a bill intended to improve law enforcement transparency and accountability through community policing.
From the press release:
The community policing guidelines created by Bill 33-19 require the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) to do the following: regularly initiate and engage in outreach activities with their communities; ensure cultural competency throughout the Department; emphasize the recruitment of candidates with ties to the County; increase community outreach initiatives and officers must attend community events on behalf of the Department; and provide adequate training in de-escalation tactics.
Bill 33-19 also requires MCPD to provide the County Executive and the Council with an annual report consisting of several pieces of information, including: demographics of the sworn police force; use of force statistics; officer suspension information; the number of youth referred to intervention programs by officers; and community policing efforts.
The bill further requires MCPD to designate a liaison to vulnerable populations, to make efforts to increase officer knowledge of the County’s diverse population; and to work with County departments, agencies and community-based organizations to incorporate mental health and positive youth development initiatives, among other requirements.
For more information:
Council enacts legislation aiming to increase transparency and accountability in community policing (Montgomery County Council Press Release)
