Civilian Police Review Commission Bill To Be Introduced Tuesday

SILVER SPRING, MD — Montgomery County council member Hans Riemer is expected to introduce a bill on Tuesday that seeks to improve the public's trust in law enforcement.

If passed, Bill 14-19 would establish the county's first civilian police review commission. The 13-member board would develop best practices on policing matters and relay them to the council for review.

This comes on the heels of a police transparency bill signing, and amid a police investigation into a video that purportedly shows a white officer using a racial slur while talking to a group of black men.

"Montgomery County's Police Department is widely respected for its progressive leadership and dedicated and professional officers. Our public safety agencies do an excellent job of keeping us safe," Riemer — the bill's lead sponsor — said in a letter to colleagues. "But our police can only keep all Montgomery County residents safe if they have the full trust of everyone in our community. Recent events in our County and the growing national dialogue about the role and practices of police, particularly in communities of color, have put a sharp focus on trust, transparency and accountability."