On February 25, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judiciary Committee in support of HB 885 – Public Safety – Police Accountability – Investigation Records Relating to Unfounded and Exonerated Complaints.
This bill would allow for law enforcement officers with exonerated or unfounded claims, following a police misconduct investigation, to be expunged from a personnel record.
MACo has not opposed multiple proposals to promote accountability for law enforcement agencies and officers, including the broad, landmark Maryland legislation enacted in 2021. Each county is currently acting in good faith to facilitate the mandated reforms to advance those policy goals, at substantial local expense. Counties are allies and functioning partners in ensuring officer accountability.
At the same time, staffing shortages have created complications across many sectors. However, few pose as dire and as immediate a threat to public safety as shortages in law enforcement personnel. Vacancies, in conjunction with the percentage of employees eligible for retirement, paint an even more disturbing picture of the breadth of this crisis. The provisions of HB 885 could help not only recruit more officers into the profession, but also keep qualified officers in the field.
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