The Commission may appoint park police officers as necessary to provide protection for the activities and property of the Commission.

The park police: possess all the powers and authority vested by existing law in the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County police; are responsible to and under the supervision of the Commission; and shall exercise supervisory jurisdiction over the park system. The park police shall: prevent crime; apprehend criminals; enforce the criminal and motor vehicle laws of the State; enforce park regulations; and perform other related duties that the Commission imposes.

The park police have concurrent general police jurisdiction with the Montgomery County and Prince George’s County police: within the parks and other areas under the jurisdiction of the Commission; within buildings under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and on the portion of all roads and sidewalks immediately adjacent to property under the jurisdiction of the Commission. The park police have jurisdiction off park property that may be provided by any reciprocal agreement entered into under § 2–105 of the Criminal Procedure Article. A reciprocal agreement shall specify the circumstances under which a park police officer may make arrests off of park property. Notwithstanding § 2–105 of the Criminal Procedure Article, a reciprocal agreement may allow arrests in emergency or nonemergency situations.

The Montgomery County and Prince George’s County police have the same general police jurisdiction and responsibility for the apprehension of criminals and detection of crime within the parks and other areas and buildings under the jurisdiction of the Commission as they have elsewhere in their respective counties.

In Prince George’s County, the county planning board may appoint a deputy chief of the county division of the park police. The deputy chief has the same jurisdiction, powers, and authority as park police officers appointed by the Commission. The deputy chief shall serve at the pleasure of the county planning board. The county planning board shall set the compensation of the deputy chief.