<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" citation="COMAR 12.04.10.04" title_num="12" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="10" heading="Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Violation Levels.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Level One. The first level of violation category indicates a first sustained occurrence of a police officer's misconduct.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Level Two. The second level of a violation category indicates a second sustained occurrence of a police officer's misconduct within the time periods specified in §D of this regulation and during which a sustained level one violation was committed.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Level Three. The third level of a police misconduct violation category indicates a third sustained occurrence of a police officer's misconduct within the time periods specified in §D of this regulation and during which a sustained level one and level two violation was committed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Disciplinary Ranges.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The range of disciplinary penalties within the Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix includes:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A formal written counseling;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A letter of reprimand;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Loss of leave;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Suspension and loss of pay;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Demotion; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Termination.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A law enforcement agency shall determine the number of hours that constitutes a penalty day, based on a police officer's work schedule.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Additional Corrective Measures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In addition to the disciplinary penalties established within the Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix a law enforcement agency head, ACC or trial board following a determination to impose administrative charges, may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Refer the police officer to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Counseling;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>An employee assistance program;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Remedial training; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>Another police officer assistance program permitted by a law enforcement agency's policy;</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Suspend or remove a police officer from a take-home car program; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Suspend a police officer from secondary employment.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The options listed in §C(1) of this regulation may be independently imposed by police management in addition to any administrative charges imposed by an ACC or trial board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Violation Categories.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix includes six designated violation categories that represent a progression in the severity of police misconduct violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Category A Violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Category B Violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Category C Violation</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Category D Violation.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Categories and Descriptions
                  Level
                  Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors → Aggravating Factors
                
              
              
                
                  Category D: Conduct substantially contrary to the values of the law enforcement agency or that substantially interferes with its mission, operations, or professional image, or that involves a serious risk to officer or public safety, or intentionally violates law enforcement agency policy.
                  One: 1st Violation
                  5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                  to
                  Up to 15 Days Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Two: 2nd Violation in 60 Months
                  10 Days Loss of Pay
                  to
                  Up to 20 Days Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Three: 3rd Violation in 60 Months
                  GO TO CATEGORY E LEVEL 1</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Demotion or reduction in rank may also be considered as a part of the disciplinary penalty for Category D Violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Category E Violation.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Categories and Descriptions
                  Level
                  Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors → Aggravating Factors
                
              
              
                
                  Category E: Conduct that involves misuse of authority, unethical behavior (not involving false reporting or false statements), or an act that could result in an adverse impact on an officer or public safety or to the professionalism of the law enforcement agency or a violation of any misdemeanor.
                  One: 1st Violation
                  15 Days Loss of Pay
                  to
                  25 Days Loss of Pay up to Termination
                
                
                  Two: 2nd Violation in 60 Months
                  15 Days Loss of Pay
                  to
                  30 Days Loss of Pay up to Termination
                
                
                  Three: 3rd Violation in 60 Months
                  GO TO CATEGORY F LEVEL 1</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Demotion or reduction in rank may also be considered as a part of the disciplinary penalty for Category E Violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Category F Violation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>Special Circumstance Categories.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Categories and Descriptions
                  Level
                  Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors → Aggravating Factors
                
              
              
                
                  Driving Under The InfluenceCategory 1: Any off-duty driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs which would constitute a violation of law.
                  One: 1st Violation
                  15 Days Loss of Pay
                  to
                  Termination*
                
                
                  Two: 2nd Violation
                  30 Days Loss of Pay
                  to
                  Termination*
                
                
                  Three: 3rd Violation
                  Termination*
                
                
                  Category 2: Any on-duty or off-duty in a departmental vehicle driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs which would constitute a violation of law.
                  One: 1st Violation
                  Termination*
                
              
              
                
                  *Termination may be imposed as discipline unless prohibited by an Executive Order or superseding government policy.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Categories and Descriptions
                  Level
                  Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors → Aggravating Factors
                
              
              
                
                  Failure to Appear for Court and MVA HearingsCategory 1:Intentional or purposeful failure to appear for any properly summoned court appearance which is the result of action taken as a law enforcement officer. This category also includes MVA hearings.
                  One: 2 violations in 1 year
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Formal Written Counseling
                
                
                  Two: 2 additional violations in 2 years
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Note: The penalty cycle resets one calendar year from the date of the first violation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Categories and Descriptions
                  Level
                  Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors → Aggravating Factors
                
              
              
                
                  Departmental CollisionsCategory 1: Minor Damage* to Police Vehicle and/or Other Property or Vehicle*
                  One:1st Violation up to 12 months
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Letter of Reprimand
                
                
                  Two:2nd Violation within 0—24 months
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0—36 months
                  Letter of Reprimand
                  to
                  Up to 5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Category 2: Major Damage to Police Vehicle, Other Property, or Vehicle
                  One:1st Violation up to 12 months
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Up to 1 Day Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Two:2nd Violation within 0—24 months
                  Letter of Reprimand
                  to
                  Up to 3 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0—36 months
                  Letter of Reprimand
                  to
                  Up to 10 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Category 3: Injury to Law Enforcement Personnel or Civilian; If gross negligence or reckless operation of a police vehicle is involved in any collision that results in serious injury or death the disciplinary range shall increase up to and including termination.
                  One:1st Violation up to 12 months
                  Formal Written Counseling
                  to
                  Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Two:2nd Violation within 0—24 months
                  Letter of Reprimand
                  to
                  Up to 5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
                
                  Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0—36 months
                  Letter of Reprimand
                  to
                  Up to 14 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay
                
              
              
                
                  * Law Enforcement Agencies may establish a dollar amount as a guideline for determining the level of severity (minor vs major). ** Driver retraining may be imposed at any level but shall impose for three or more at-fault departmental collisions.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>Violations that Fall into More than One Violation Category.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Some acts of police misconduct may fall into more than one violation category depending on the category definition.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If an act of police misconduct falls into more than one violation category, an ACC, agency head, or trial board, as applicable, shall review the totality of circumstances related to the act and the violation category definition descriptions prior to choosing the category, level, and range.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>Violations not found in the Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix shall be assigned to a violation category based on the circumstances of the police misconduct and the violation category definitions.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>