Charles County PAB Meeting: Law Enforcement, ACC, and Annual Report (Oct 22, 2026)

The Charles County Police Accountability Board (PAB) convened on October 22, 2026, for its quarterly law enforcement phase and regular business meeting. Discussion topics included case submission delays to the Administrative Charging Committee (ACC), the statutory definition of police misconduct involving a member of the public, and preparation of the 2026 annual report.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting agenda and the minutes from the July 23, 2026, meeting were approved unanimously.

Law Enforcement Phase (Quarterly Reports & Q&A)

• La Plata Police Department (Chief Norris): Reported no major updates. A new internal matrix for body-worn camera policy violations has been established to track and address non-compliance.
• Charles County Sheriff's Office (CCSO): Announced Captain Anthony Celia will assume leadership of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) effective December 12, 2026. No trial boards were held or scheduled.
• Case Delays & ACC Communication:
  • PAB members questioned why some cases are submitted to the ACC beyond prescribed timeframes. CCSO and La Plata cited criminal proceedings and declination letters from the State's Attorney's Office as primary causes. An example was given of a complaint from April 2025 that required over a year to receive a declination before the internal investigation could proceed.
  • CCSO noted other delays stemmed from difficulty contacting complainants—case 25TAC055 required seven months to make contact—and extended officer leave (FMLA).
  • The PAB recommended that law enforcement proactively share status updates with the ACC regarding any mitigating factors causing delays.
• Statutory Ambiguity & Public Interest Cases:
  • PAB members asked why certain high-profile incidents (e.g., a "Buffalo Wild Wings case") were not promptly referred to the ACC. CCSO responded that they must assess whether a case legally qualifies; not all incidents of public interest meet the statutory definition for ACC referral.
  • Legal counsel (Mr. Spencer) noted that the statute's language regarding "involving" a member of the public versus "filed by" a member of the public (Sections 3-102, 3-103, 3-104) is a recurring statewide issue leading to trial board dismissals, and recommended it for inclusion in the annual report.
• Off-Duty Conduct: Law enforcement clarified that off-duty misconduct must have a nexus to the officer's status (e.g., asserting police authority or using a police vehicle) to be considered police misconduct under the accountability act.
• Trial Board Appeals: Legal counsel reported that a circuit court affirmed a trial board's decision to terminate an officer after over 13 months, and another appeal remains pending before the appellate court for several months.

Discussion Items (PAB Business Session)

• Unfinished Business: Ms. Picker reported that a draft public information pamphlet is being developed with county graphic design staff. Chairman Johnson reported speaking to the County Commissioners for three minutes and 25 seconds but stated the presentation did not achieve its goal of advancing the previous annual report's recommendations.
• 2026 Annual Report Planning:
  • Content: The board agreed to include the statutory ambiguity of "involving a member of the public" and the need for an independent legal team to present ACC cases at trial boards. Ms. Smith proposed including the circuit court affirmation of a trial board decision as a positive data point, along with the lengthy timeline for appeals.
  • Data & Website: Board members advocated for a more user-friendly PAB website with prominently displayed ACC statistics and case outcome data, to be coordinated with county IT.
  • State-Level Advocacy: Ms. Smith inquired about the feedback loop for annual report recommendations. PAB Attorney Mitchell explained there is no statutory requirement for a response from the County Commissioners or State Delegation. The board agreed to continue pursuing state-level recommendations through the Baltimore-led statewide PAB working group and the county's legislative proposal process.

Key Outcomes

• Approved agenda and July 23, 2026, meeting minutes.
• Confirmed inclusion of statutory clarity recommendations (involving member of the public definition) and independent trial board counsel requests in the 2026 annual report.
• Law enforcement agencies agreed to enhance communication with the ACC on case status delays.
• The board will work with county IT to improve website transparency and finalize a public informational pamphlet.
• The board voted to move into closed session for legal advice, concluding the public meeting.