Anne Arundel County Council approves Police Accountability Board bill; opponents say new panel needs investigative power

After wrapping up final amendment discussions Monday night, the Anne Arundel County Council voted 7-1 in favor of adopting the structure of the county’s Police Accountability Board. This new board, which each county is mandated to create under the Maryland Police Accountability Act approved by the General Assembly last year, will review outcomes of police disciplinary matters considered by charging committees, and require regular reports of the disciplinary process and make policy recommendations. By law, the boards are to be in place by July.