# Subdivision 1. Organization and Administration Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted. ## Subdivision 1. Organization and Administration ### Sec. 18-134. Purpose of Division Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-134 (2026) This Division provides for the operation of the County Police Department. ### Sec. 18-135. Departmental functions; coordination Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-135 (2026) (a) The Police Department functions shall be as follows: (1) The protection of life and property. (2) The preservation of peace and order. (3) The prevention of crime. (4) The arrest of all violators of the law. (5) The enforcement of this Code and all other laws and ordinances. (6) The prompt service of all summonses and court papers as required by law. (b) In carrying out such functions all members and employees of the Police Department shall coordinate their efforts in such manner as will tend to establish, maintain and promote the highest standards of efficiency. ### Sec. 18-136. Composition of Department Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-136 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-137. Reserved Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-137 (2026) ### Sec. 18-138. Training of police officers Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-138 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-139. Compensation of police officers Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-139 (2026) (a) The Police Department shall be the primary law enforcement agency for the County. (b) The Chief of Police and sworn police officers of the Police Department shall receive such salaries and allowances as authorized by the approved Classification Plan(s) and Salary Plan(s). ### Sec. 18-140. Bond and oath required Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-140 (2026) (a) Each police officer shall take an oath before any person duly qualified to administer the oath that the officer will well and faithfully perform the duties imposed on the officer by law. (b) Each police officer, immediately upon taking the oath prescribed, shall report to the Chief of Police and thereafter shall at all times be under the Chief's supervision and orders. ### Sec. 18-141. Reserved Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-141 (2026) ### Sec. 18-142. Police officers; powers and duties Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-142 (2026) (a) The Chief of Police is the commanding officer and administrative head of the Police Department. By virtue of authority vested in him, he shall issue from time to time orders setting forth the authority, responsibility and duties of the various ranks and positions established within the Department. (b) Members of the Department shall exercise full police authority on all land, water, and air within the territorial limits of the County. (c) While under suspension, as directed, sworn police officer employees of the Department shall not wear the uniform, shall be deprived of all police powers and privileges, and shall not be permitted to represent themselves as employees of the Department. ### Sec. 18-142.01. Hazardous structures Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-142.01 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-143. Departmental administration and discipline Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-143 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-144. Assignment of employees; transfers Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-144 (2026) (a) The Chief of Police shall create and maintain such bureaus and divisions as are necessary for the proper functioning of the Police Department subject to approval by the County Executive. He shall assign by order competent police and civilian employees of any rank or classification which he deems proper to command and administer these bureaus and divisions. (b) The Chief of Police shall assign commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers, and officers to such duties as he deems proper for the efficient functioning of the Department, unless such assignments are otherwise established in accordance with law. (c) All employees of the Department shall be subject to transfer from one area to another or from one bureau or division of the Department to another, at the direction of the Chief of Police, unless such direction is otherwise limited in accordance with law. ### Sec. 18-145. Uniforms and equipment Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-145 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-146. Civilian employees; powers and duties Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-146 (2026) 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. ### Sec. 18-146.01. Drug Analysis Laboratory; establishment; administration; duties Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-146.01 (2026) (a) There shall be within the executive branch of Prince George's County the County Drug Analysis Laboratory. (b) The Laboratory shall be a part of the County Police Department and administered by the Chief of Police. (c) The Laboratory's duties shall include the chemical analysis of materials and substances referred to it by any court within the County, the State's Attorney, the County Attorney, or any Federal, State, County, or Municipal law enforcement agency located in this County. (d) The County Executive, or his designee, is empowered to prescribe regulations for the Laboratory respecting its personnel, location, and operation. ### Sec. 18-146.02. Law Enforcement Activities Tort Claims Report Prince George's County, Md., Code § 18-146.02 (2026) 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.