Sec. 2-540. Composition of Trial Boards
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.
Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-540 (2026)
Sec. 2-540. Composition of Trial BoardsLinkCopy Citation
A trial board for each law enforcement agency shall:
(a)
Consist of three (3) members to include:
(1)
An actively serving or retired administrative law judge or a retired judge of the District Court or a circuit court appointed by the County Executive pursuant to the process described below in subparagraph (b) of this section;
(2)
A civilian appointed by the Board, who is not a member of the ACC or the Board; and
(3)
A police officer of equal rank to the police officer accused of misconduct appointed by the chief of the law enforcement agency for which the accused police officer was employed at the time of the alleged misconduct pursuant to the process described below in subparagraph "C" of this section.
(A)
A representative selected by the head of the law enforcement agency and the accused officer shall meet prior to the scheduling of the trial board to select the officer of equal rank and up to four (4) alternate officers of equal rank by using an Excel spreadsheet with a randomization function or the agencies current computer randomized selection process.
(B)
The accused officer may strike one (1) officer of equal rank for just cause, to be determined by the representative selected by the head of the law enforcement agency, who may also strike an officer of equal rank for just cause.
(C)
The officer of equal rank chosen by this method shall serve as the pick of the head of the law enforcement agency for the trial board of the accused officer.
(D)
The alternate officers are to be used, in order of pick, as the replacement pick of the head of the law enforcement agency in the event that the officer of equal rank or any of the previous alternates are unable to serve on the trial board due to documented injury, illness, work schedule conflict, or other valid reason that is determined to be excusable by the head of the law enforcement agency.
(b)
Panel of Judges.
(1)
The County Executive shall establish a roster of ten (10) judges who shall be an actively serving or retired administrative law judge, or a retired judge of the District Court or a circuit court.
(2)
The County Executive Office will maintain the list of the judges and assign in numerical order as the request is received by the law enforcement agency for an upcoming trial board matter.
(i)
If both the law enforcement agency and the police officer(s) alleged to have committed misconduct in the applicable trial board agree to pass over the next available name on the panel list, then the County Executive Office will provide the next available name on the list.
(ii)
The ability to pass over the next name on the panel list, at the agreement of the law enforcement agency and the accused officer(s), is allowed only once.
(3)
The County Executive shall use reasonable efforts to consistently maintain a panel of ten (10) judges. Notwithstanding, a law enforcement agency is still required to choose from the available panel of judges even if the number of panel members falls below ten (10).
(4)
Prior to serving on a Trial Board, all Trial Board members must complete the required training by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. Trial Board members must also complete other training that may be required.