Police Accountability Board Members Appointed To Serve Howard County

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Seven individuals have been appointed to the recently established Howard County Police Accountability Board after they were confirmed by the County Council this week.

In addition to quarterly meetings, the board will meet with community youth representatives at least twice a year and appoint members to charging committees and trial boards. The board may receive complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public and review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by the charging committee.

The board also will be required to submit an annual report to the county that identifies any trends in disciplinary action against law enforcement personnel and makes policy recommendations that would improve police accountability. Complaints of police misconduct filed with the board will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency within three business days after it is received.

The appointed members are:

• Nellie Hutt, chair, at-large, an administrative law judge and trial attorney.
• Brenda McChriston, at-large, community advocate involved in Howard County’s Diversity Inclusion Committee and HCPSS Passport-to-the-Future program.
• Herman Charity, D1, retired HCPD lieutenant and state’s attorney’s office investigator.
• Arnettia Wyre, D2, an attorney and certified mediator and negotiator with 20 years.
• Ricardo Morales, D3, long-time Howard County resident active in community service.
• Paul Rivers, D4, spent nearly three decades with the U.S. Marshall Service and a former Marine active in veteran and mental health advocacy.
• James Gormley, D5, founding member of the Police Accountability Task Force and retired attorney with corporate and commercial compliance experience.

“I thank the inaugural members of this important board for their willingness to serve our community,” Howard County Calvin Ball said. “Howard County’s Police Accountability Board will ensure transparency and engage our residents as partners in accountability. Each of these members will help us build trust between the police department and our community.”

Ball included nearly $200,000 in his fiscal year 2023 budget to support the Police Accountability Board. Once fully operational, the board will review the outcome of complaint investigations to determine discipline and identify trends that could improve policing. The board also will accept and forward complaints from citizens for investigation by the police and sheriff’s departments. Local authority establishing the board had been approved by the County Council and was required under a state law adopted in 2021.

“The Police Accountability Board will review the outcome of complaint investigations to help identify trends that impact policing,” Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der said. “While the number of complaints against the HCPD remains low, we are open to review and committed to transparency.”

The Police Accountability Board is made up of seven voting members, two at-large and one from each of the councilmanic districts. Appointed members must be county residents, at least 25 years old and have a committed interest and active involvement in Howard County community service. Members will have to undergo a criminal background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement as a condition of appointment. Police and sheriff’s liaisons will facilitate any needed data, reports or written directives, or to assist with understanding relevant policies and procedures.