CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

COUNTY COUNCIL

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

Elected at large by the voters to four-year terms, the County Council consists of five members. Every two years, the Council chooses the Chair and Vice-Chair (County Charter, Art. 2, sec. 201).

County Administration Building, 200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton, Maryland, May 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
Effective July 1, 2022, the General Assembly required each Maryland county to have a Police Accountability Board (Chapter 59, Acts of 2021). In Cecil County, the County Council on behalf of the County Executive established the Police Accountability Board in July 2022, effective September 26, 2022 (Bill no. 2022-08).

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 three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Police Accountability Board consists of five members. The County Executive chooses the Chair (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE
In July 2022, the Administrative Charging Committee was formed by the County Council on behalf of the County Executive (Bill no. 2022-08).

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 to three-year terms by the County Executive with County Council consent, and two by the Police Accountability Board. One member serves ex officio. Annually, the Chair is chosen by the Committee (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 3-102 through 3-104).

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