Montgomery County’s Police Accountability Board Seeks Applicants for the County’s Administrative Charging Committee

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County’s Police Accountability Board (PAB) is seeking applicants to fill two civilian vacancies on the newly established Administrative Charging Committee (ACC). Members must be able to demonstrate through professional or lived experience the ability to balance effective oversight, perform objective analysis of an investigation report, and practice procedural fairness. An active police officer must not be a voting member of the ACC. ACC members must meet all qualifications mandated by State law and Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) regulations while serving on the ACC, including consenting to a criminal background check, and signing an agreement to maintain the confidentiality of matters and information considered by the ACC until final disposition. Each member must complete training on matters relating to police procedures from the MPTSC before serving. Member eligibility requirements are subject to change. Members must reflect the racial, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, and cultural diversity of the County. Members must be Montgomery County residents. Members will be required to file a public financial disclosure statement before appointment and annually thereafter.

Note: If you applied to the PAB or ACC between April 6, 2022 – April 27, 2022, your application has been provided to the PAB for further consideration. You need not apply again.

The ACC is composed of five voting members, including the Chair of the PAB or another member of the PAB appointed by the Chair, two civilian members appointed by the County Executive, and two civilian members appointed by the PAB. The ACC must: (1) review the findings of each law enforcement agency’s investigation forwarded by the agency to the ACC; (2) review any body camera footage that may be relevant to the matters covered in the complaint of misconduct; (3) authorize a police officer called before the ACC to be accompanied by a representative; (4) if the ACC determines that a police officer should be administratively charged, recommend discipline pursuant to the disciplinary matrix; (5) if the ACC determines that a police officer should not be administratively charged, determine if: (A) the allegations against the police officer are unfounded, including situations where existing departmental policy fails to properly address the situation for which the officer was charged; or, (B) the police officer is exonerated; (6) issue a written opinion for each complaint describing in detail the ACC’s findings, determinations, and recommendations; and (7) forward the written opinion to the director of the appropriate law enforcement agency, the accused police officer, and the complainant.

Members will serve three-year terms, initially staggered. The annual salary for each member is $16,000. Civilian members are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for in-person meetings attended. The ACC must meet at least one time each month or more frequently if needed. ACC meeting dates and times will be determined. Some ACC meetings may be held virtually

Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members must complete training on the Maryland Open Meetings Act, basic parliamentary procedure, and required training developed by the MPTSC. The deadline for application is August 31, 2022. To apply please click “Apply for Committee” below to complete the online form and provide a letter of interest and resume.