Division 5. Police Department

This Division provides for the operation of the County Police Department.

The Police Department shall be headed by a Chief of Police who shall be responsible for all law enforcement in the County, except where otherwise specified by State law, the County Charter, or any municipal charter. The Police Department shall consist of such sworn and nonsworn personnel as are provided in the approved Classification Plan and the approved Annual Budget.

Each sworn police officer member of the Police Department shall receive training at a police training school approved and authorized by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission and as required by the County Executive and Chief of Police, prior to routine assignment in any capacity in which the officer may carry a gun or make an arrest.

In the event of an emergency situation constituting an immediate threat to individual human life, property, or the public safety due to a hazardous condition of a building or structure, and if, in addition, the time necessarily consumed in applying for a judicial warrant authorizing entry, or if the amount of time required to locate the owner of such building or structure could readily intensify such threat, or if the said owner refuses to cooperate in making safe such building or structure, then, and in that event, any sworn police officer of the Prince George's County Police Department shall have the right, without permission or warrant, to make an emergency entrance into such building or structure for the purpose of abating or eliminating the dangerous condition existing therein in a manner that will preserve human life, protect the rights of all property owners involved, and minimize the costs of such abatement or elimination of the dangerous condition. The reasonable cost of making safe such a hazardous structure shall be the burden of the owner of said property. In the event that the owner of said property fails to make payment within thirty (30) days of the receipt of a bill demanding payment by the County of all monies expended by the County in abating or eliminating a hazardous structure or dangerous condition in an emergency situation, the County Attorney shall take such actions as necessary to recover such costs from the owner of the premises. Such action of the County Attorney may include, but need not be limited to, initiating those steps necessary to establish a tax lien against said property.

The Chief of Police shall establish written rules and regulations for the administration and discipline of the members of the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall promulgate a General Order Manual containing such rules and regulations. The Chief of Police shall maintain a copy of the General Order Manual and all current amendments thereto.

The Chief of Police shall establish regulations in accordance with other legal requirements concerning the wearing and use of uniforms and equipment intended for use of the members of the Police Department. Uniforms and equipment intended for use by members of the Police Department shall conform to established specifications and standards.

Civilian employees of the Police Department shall include all employees that have not been sworn in as peace officers of the County in all bureaus and divisions. The conduct of these employees shall be governed by the rules and regulations adopted for the administration and discipline of the Department and Subtitle 16 of the Code. They will not possess police powers and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them from time to time.

On or before December 31 of each year, the County shall report to the County Council, and subject to Section 2-1246 of the State government article, to the County delegations of the House of Delegates and the Senate of Maryland, on the total number of settlements of tort claims involving law enforcement activities in the County and the total expenditures made in the preceding fiscal year for those settlements.

All members of the Police Department shall treat as confidential the official communications and business of the Department.

All members of the Police Department shall refrain from making personal contacts with persons who are engaged in unlawful activity or who are under investigation by a law enforcement agency when such contacts would present an appearance of impropriety, unless necessary to do so in the performance of their duty.

It shall be the duty of every member of the Police Department to promote good public relations by giving assistance when it is requested, by the impartial administration of the law, and by clean, sober, and orderly habits. Every member of the Police Department shall furnish his or her name and identification number to any person who requests this information.

Members of the Police Department shall be punctual in attendance to all calls, requirements of duty, court appointment and other circumstances where time is specified.

Uniformed members of the Police Department, when encountering other uniformed members of this or any other police department, the Governor, officers of the National and State Guard, officers of the United States Army, Navy and Marine Corps shall render the salute in the prescribed manner. This rule shall not apply to plainclothesmen from any bureau or division. They shall only be recognized by uniformed officers when circumstances permit, of which they shall be the judge and shall so indicate by first rendering the salute in the prescribed manner to the uniformed officer, who shall return the salute.

Members of the Police Department shall not communicate in any way whatsoever, directly or indirectly, in any manner or form, any information which may enable persons guilty of criminal or quasi-criminal acts to escape arrest or punishment or dispose of or secrete any money or valuables, the proceeds of crime, or to destroy any evidence which would establish guilt.

Members of the Police Department shall not be concerned, directly or indirectly, in making any compromise or arrangements between suspected violators of the law and persons who are alleged to have suffered by their acts.

Members of the Police Department shall not smoke while in uniform in view of the public, or while engaged in any business with the public. They shall not appear in public places with unlighted pipes, cigars or cigarettes in their mouths. Smoking in storerooms and garages shall not be permitted at any time. No member of the Police Department shall unnecessarily loiter in any private or secluded place for the purpose of smoking.

Members of the Police Department shall not in any way participate in any business which might interfere with proper and efficient performance of police duty.

Members of the Police Department shall not by threat or in any manner, directly or indirectly, use their position for the purpose of influencing the lawful business, profession or occupation of any person. They shall not allow any lawful business, profession or occupation of persons to be influenced by their position or acts, to the extent of extending to them privileges that are not enjoyed by all patrons. This rule shall especially apply to business places serving food and drinks.

Members of the Police Department shall make complete typewritten detailed reports on all cases requiring a report, on the prescribed form, before leaving the station upon completion of their tour of duty.

Members of the Police Department shall report promptly, in writing, to their superior officers any injuries to their persons or any damage to the County property in their charge, irrespective of whom or where such injury or damage occurs. Such report shall be in full detail, giving the names and addresses of all witnesses. If a member of the Department is injured to such an extent that he is physically unable to make such report, his superior officer shall promptly make the report.

When an accident occurs as a result of any defect in public property, or where it appears or is alleged that the County may in any manner be held responsible or liable for an injury to a person or damage to property as a result of such accident, policemen shall make a careful and thorough investigation and report all facts in connection therewith, together with the names and addresses of all witnesses. Such report shall be made promptly and in writing.

Members of the Police Department attending race tracks, either on or off duty, shall not patronize these establishments by visiting the betting windows while in uniform. They shall not display, exhibit or carry, in any manner visible to the public, paraphernalia such as programs, scratch sheets, newspapers, etc., usually displayed by other patrons.

No member of the Police Department shall, without proper authority, release any prisoner in his charge or, through neglect or design, suffer any prisoner in his charge to escape.