Frederick County Accepting Applications For Police Accountability Board

The deadline to apply is May 20th.

Frederick, Md. (KM) – Applications are being accepted from citizens who want to serve on Frederick County’s Police Accountability Board.

The panel will review public complaints about misconduct by police officers, and ensure transparency and accountability where police misconduct has been alleged.

No active police officers or their families can serve on the board, and those who have been convicted of or received probation before judgment for an offense with a penalty more than two years incarceration are also prohibited from serving.

The deadline to apply is May 20th.

The 11-member Police Accountability Board will manage the complaint process for the Frederick Police, the Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments in Brunswick and Thurmont. It will also appoint members of charging committees and trial boards. All members are required to undergo training from the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission, and other training  which may be necessary, and will be subject to Frederick County’s Ethics Law.

The county says members on the Police Accountability Board should reflect the racial, gender and cultural diversity of the county. It should include representatives  from communities that have  experienced  a higher frequency of interaction with law enforcement, such as African-Americans, Latino, the LGBTQ community, 1st- or 2nd-generation immigrants, people with disabilities and health concerns, and those who have experienced homelessness.

For more information or to apply for membership, go on line to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/PoliceBoard.

The County Executive will appoint the members of the Police Accountability Board who will be confirmed by the County Council.

State law requires each county in Maryland  to have a police accountability board in operation by July 1st, 2022.

By Kevin McManus