ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is recruiting applicants to serve a three-year term on the County’s Police Accountability Board. The Board currently has vacant positions representing Councilmanic District 1 (including Ellicott City and Elkridge) and Councilmanic District 2 (including western parts of Columbia). Applicants may also be eligible to serve on designated trial boards to review police disciplinary appeals. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 14th.
Howard County remains proud of our safety record and the enforcement efforts of our police in the community. However, our Police Accountability Board works hard to ensure our officers and command structure operate fairly and openly and are held responsible for their actions and decisions as appropriate. I encourage residents to apply who want to work with our Board to help advance that we are safe and feel safe in Howard County.
Comprised of seven voting members, two at-large members and one from each of the five councilmanic districts, Board member responsibilities include:
- Accept and forward complaints from members of the public for investigation by the police and sheriff’s departments.
- Meet with community youth representatives at least twice a year and appoint members to Charging Committees and Trial Boards.
- Receive complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public and review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by the Charging Committee.
- Submit an annual report to the County that identifies any trends in disciplinary action against law enforcement personnel and makes policy recommendations that would improve police accountability.
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be a Howard County resident residing in a relevant council district, 25 years of age or older, have a committed interest and active involvement in Howard County community service, and be able to attend the Board’s quarterly meetings. Members will have to undergo a criminal background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement as a condition of appointment. Additionally, an individual may not be a member of the Board if they are an active police officer, an employee of county government or the Sheriff’s Office, or have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor with the statutory penalty of more than two years.
The Police Accountability Board also designates appropriate individuals to serve on trial boards established when police officers subject to discipline request a review. Individuals eligible for trial boards are required to complete 16 hours of training before serving.
The names of eligible board applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for consideration. If approved, the appointment will be forwarded to the County Council for confirmation. For questions regarding the application process, please email ApplyBC@howardcountymd.gov.
For more information about the Police Accountability Board and its trial board procedures, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/police-accountability-board or contact the Office of the County Executive at 410-313-2013. For additional information about serving on any of our boards and commissions and to apply, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions.