Calvert County Police Accountability Board Meeting - May 29, 2026

The Calvert County Police Accountability Board (PAB) met on May 29, 2026, at 6:30 PM. All nine members were present (eight in person, one virtual). The meeting covered complaint disposition, updates from the chair and sheriff, outreach efforts, and a detailed presentation from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office on first-quarter operations and initiatives.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: The agenda was approved unanimously by motion and second, with no additions or deletions.

Discussion Items

• Chair Update: Chair Justice reported attending a three-day Baltimore City police accountability summit, which included breakout sessions and collaboration with other counties. She noted Calvert County received an official citation from Delegate Malcolm Ruff for outstanding service.
• Disposition of Public Complaint: The board had previously voted to request clarification from the sheriff's office on a public complaint. The agency responded that no misconduct investigation was opened because no policy violation was identified after an internal review. The board also sought clarification from Wayne Silver, who supported the agency's handling. Following discussion, a motion to administratively close the matter passed unanimously.
• Body Worn Camera Recommendation: The board initially recommended that the sheriff's office remind officers of the importance of activating body worn cameras per policy 11-703. The sheriff responded that a reminder had already been given and training has been incorporated into the two-week academy follow-up. The board voted to amend the recommendation to state that the sheriff's office has already done so. Motion passed unanimously.
• Complaints Report: Chair Justice presented statistics for complaints received November 20 to May 19: 18 total complaints, 3 not eligible, 14 reviewed by the ACC, 12 pending, and 1 administrative charge. The board noted that only 0.03% of calls for service (over 58,000) resulted in complaints, which was attributed to the sheriff's office's accountability.
• Outreach Efforts: Chair Justice reported contacting multiple organizations (Concerned Black Men, Concerned Black Women, NAACP, Democratic and Republican central committees) with limited responses. The Republican committee was busy with candidates; the Democratic committee received a handout. The board discussed placing flyers at libraries, community centers, churches, the county fair, and town council meetings (North Beach, Chesapeake Beach). A member volunteered to arrange presentations at town council meetings. The goal is to increase public awareness of the board's role.
• Monthly/Quarterly Meeting with Sheriff: The PAB and ACC met quarterly with the sheriff's office to discuss concerns and maintain collaboration.
• Sheriff's Presentation: Sheriff and commander presented first-quarter highlights and operational data. Key points included:
  • Community Engagement: Eagle Scout awards, high school job fairs, second Citizen Police Academy (next in March), DARE graduation, and completion of a School Resource Officer program with a deputy in every school.
  • Training: Two deputies graduated from Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), with plans for all deputies to attend; new deputy class on Field Training Officer (FTO) rotation.
  • CALEA Accreditation: The on-site assessment was completed with a favorable report. The sheriff will be interviewed by the CALEA panel in July for final certification. Accreditation is valid for three years.
  • Operations: 29,623 calls for service, 1,160 traffic citations, 6,043 warnings, 62 DUI arrests, 420 traffic accidents. The sheriff noted road safety concerns on Route 231 due to high traffic and lack of turn lanes; state budget cuts delayed improvements.
  • Detention Center: Daily average of 153 inmates, 423 new intakes in the quarter. The facility is fully staffed. Mental health services remain a challenge, with a statewide backlog of about 300 beds for individuals awaiting placement. The center is contracting with the health department for mental health care.
  • Teen Mobbing Issue: The sheriff addressed recent incidents at North Beach. Meetings are underway with stakeholders to find alternatives for youth. A meeting at the library was scheduled for the next evening. The sheriff noted issues with parents dropping children off and leaving. The next First Friday event (July 4) will see increased presence; potential curfew or parental accompaniment may be considered.
  • Traffic Stop Question: A board member asked about multiple deputies at a single traffic stop. The sheriff and commander explained officer safety, unpredictability of stops, potential for further investigation (warrants, canine, supervisor), and the use of license plate readers to track stolen vehicles and violent crime from outside the county. They emphasized that safety of deputies and citizens is paramount, and that optics are secondary.
  • Out-of-County Complaints: Chair Justice noted that 50% of reviewed complaints this year came from non-Calvert County residents. The sheriff remarked that their office enforces the law consistently, which may contrast with practices in other jurisdictions.

Key Outcomes

• Complaint Closed: The public complaint was administratively closed with no further action.
• Recommendation Amended: The body camera recommendation was amended to acknowledge the sheriff's office had already issued a reminder.
• Outreach Next Steps: Flyers will be distributed at libraries, community centers, churches, and the county fair. A member will arrange presentations at North Beach and Chesapeake Beach town council meetings.
• Future Meetings: The next PAB meetings are scheduled for August 26, 2026, and December 2, 2026.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned unanimously at approximately 7:30 PM.