§ 3–303
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Pub. Safety § 3-303 (2026)
Title 3. Law Enforcement
Subtitle 3. Special Police Officers
§ 3–303LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The following entities may apply for the appointment of special police officers for the following purposes:
(1)
a municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body of the State, in order to protect property owned, leased, or regularly used by the governmental body or any of its units;
(2)
another state, or subdivision or unit of another state, that has an interest in property located wholly or partly in this State, in order to protect the property;
(3)
a college, university, or public school system in the State, in order to protect its property or students;
(4)
a person that exists and functions for a legal business purpose, in order to protect its business property; or
(5)
a person that holds a valid license as a security guard agency under Title 19, Subtitle 3 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article, in order to protect property owned or leased by its clients.
(b)
The applicant for a commission shall be at least 18 years old.
(c)
(1)
This subsection does not apply to an applicant for an initial commission who, within 5 years prior to application, has:
(i)
completed a basic training course for police officers approved by the Secretary in consultation with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission;
(ii)
completed a basic training course for police officers similar to the course described in item (i) of this paragraph in another state or for the federal government;
(iii)
separated from a law enforcement agency in good standing; or
(iv)
completed training approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission for a special police officer at a State institution of higher education.
(2)
An applicant for an initial commission shall complete a training course approved by the Secretary in consultation with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission consisting of at least 80 hours of instruction, including instruction on:
(i)
criminal law;
(ii)
constitutional procedural requirements relating to search, seizure, and arrest; and
(iii)
the appropriate use of force.