Caroline County PAB strikes demotion-timeline language from report, urges legislative follow-up on exoneration

The Caroline County Police Accountability Board voted to remove a sentence from its draft report that called for a fixed timeline governing officer demotions and then accepted the amended report at a special meeting focused on exoneration and the disciplinary matrix.

The chair opened the session noting the meeting was convened specifically to address the public record and the report. A committee member argued exoneration must be prioritized, saying, “if you did no wrong, then there shouldn't be something on your record for that.” The board discussed asking delegates and the state senator to take up exoneration language in the General Assembly.

Ed Smith, a board member and legislator, said portions of the disciplinary matrix read like legislative action items and urged clarity before the PAB forwards recommendations to commissioners and legislators. “If we have clear-cut legislative action items in this report, I think we should be updated when and if we can support those efforts,” Smith said.

Sheriff Baker challenged how the report described demotion authority and timelines, asserting that the ACC can impose demotions and raising concern that the report’s language might imply the ACC controls a statutory timeline for how long a demotion lasts. “The ACC absolutely has the authority to demote an officer,” the sheriff said during the debate, adding that the central question was how long any demotion should remain effective.

After extended discussion, Ed Smith moved to strike the line calling for a timeline intended “so an officer is not demoted the next day.” The motion was seconded and members voted in favor; the chair announced the line would be stricken. The board then moved to accept the amended report and authorized the chairman to sign the accompanying letter; the motion passed unanimously.

County counsel described a parallel effort to draft a county ordinance intended to reduce the likelihood that the ACC will summon an officer unnecessarily. Counsel said the proposed ordinance would require the ACC to first request that the law enforcement agency conduct further investigation and to submit written questions that the chief or sheriff would serve on the officer with 15 days to file a written response before the ACC could require the officer to appear. Counsel characterized the steps as an attempt to preserve officers’ rights while ensuring the ACC has sufficient information before asking an officer to attend.

The board identified next steps as following up with legislators about exoneration language and finalizing the amended report for submission to the county commissioners. The meeting closed after members confirmed the amended report and authorized the signatory process.