Police Reform

February 8, 2021

LWVBCO supports police accountability reforms.  On February 9th, the Maryland House Judicial Proceeding Committee will hold hearings on three bills that could dramatically improve police practices in our State. 

HB151 Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights - Repeal and Procedures for Discipline. The Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights (LEOBR) is the state law that governs the process for police discipline in Maryland. It gives special rights to police officers that other state employees do not have, and it prevents communities from investigating misconduct that could lead to discipline. Because of LEOBR, it is very rare for complaints about police conduct to result in consequences.   

HB 139 Law Enforcement Officers - Use of Force. Maryland is one of only nine states without a statewide use of force law. This bill provides a clear definition of lethal and non-lethal force and the circumstances under which they may be used.

HB120 Public Information Act - Personnel Records - Investigations of Law Enforcement Officers (Anton's Law) . This bill would amend Maryland’s Public Information Act (MPIA) which prohibits disclosure of disciplinary files.  This would allow the possibility of investigating how a complaint of police misconduct was handled.

If you are represented by any of the legislators below, call or email their office. Tell them you are a constituent, and you support these bills!

(Click here to find out who represents you. Click on their name for contact info)

To learn more about the reforms to policing that LWVBCO and LWVMD are supporting, read our Issue Paper.