Maryland has passed a very sweeping police reform package despite Governor Hogan’s attempt to veto it, which the Assembly was able to override. Reforms in the Maryland legislation include:
– Eliminating access to military weapons for state and local police.
– Create a state-wide use of force policy.
– Enabling the Office of the Attorney General to conduct an independent investigation into alleged or potential police-involved deaths of civilians. For that, the bill would establish the Independent Investigative Unit in the Office of the Attorney General.
– Imposing restrictions on no-knock warrants.
– Amending Maryland’s Public Information Act to make disciplinary records and complaints publicly available.
– Regulating the use of body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies by 2023.
– Repealing and replace the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights. Maryland is the first state to repeal it.
– Making it mandatory for each county to have a police accountability board.
– Returning control of the Baltimore Police Department to the city.
For more info, CLICK HERE to see this article in The Hill.