1. A. To increase the likelihood of safely resolving a high-risk warrant service operation, a law enforcement agency shall ensure that a police officer conducting no-knock warrant service:

   1. (1) Successfully completes the minimum training requirements established in Regulation .06 of this chapter prior to service of a no-knock warrant; and
   2. (2) Adheres to the law enforcement agency’s internal policy and procedures.

2. B. Regardless of whether a judicial officer has authorized a police officer to enter a premises without knocking and announcing the police officer’s presence prior to entry, a police officer shall, based upon exigent circumstances existing at the time of the entry determine whether such an announcement:

   1. (1) Is reasonable;
   2. (2) Increases the risk or danger to the police officer and others; or
   3. (3) Inhibits the effective investigation of a crime by enabling the destruction or tampering of evidence.

Authority: Correctional Services Article, §2-109; Public Safety Article, §§3-207 and 3-208; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: September 21, 2020 (47:19 Md. R. 849)