Complaints About Officers Can Be Filed Through New Portal System

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — A new portal for filing complaints against county or municipal police officers in Montgomery County can be accessed now through the Montgomery County government website.

The newly formed Police Accountability Board will oversee complaints filed against the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, City of Gaithersburg Police Department, City of Takoma Park Police Department, City of Rockville Police Department, and Village of Chevy Chase Police Department and its officers.

Montgomery County's PAB was established after the passage of the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021. It is a repeal and replacement of the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.

A 9-person panel for Montgomery County's PAB was selected by the County Executive's Office and confirmed by the County Council last month.

One of the PAB's first tasks will be rounding out the Administrative Charging Committee, which will evaluate complaints that come from the public and hold hearings on complaints they find credible. The ACC consists of five members: Christopher Jennison and Andrea McCoy Johnson, who were both selected by the County Executive, the PAB Chairman Bishop Paul Walker or his appointee, and two others that have yet to be selected by the PAB members.

All members of either the PAB or ACC will handle the following tasks:

• Work with law enforcement agencies to review, provide policy advice and report on disciplinary matters stemming from public complaints about police misconduct.
• Hold quarterly meetings with the directors of one or more law enforcement agencies operating in the County who employ one or more police officers
• Appoint civilian members to the ACC and trial boards
• Review the outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by the ACC on a quarterly basis
• Advise the County Executive and Council on policing matters
• Refer each complaint of police misconduct filed with the PAB to the appropriate law enforcement agency within 3 days after receipt for investigation.

A complaint of police misconduct with a police accountability board shall be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agency within three days after receipt by the board. Those filing complaints will receive follow-up from the appropriate law enforcement agency conducting the investigation.