1. A. Complaints Eligible for Mediation.

   1. (1) Complaints from the public that meet the eligibility requirements for the mediation process established by regulation pursuant to Public Safety Article, §3-207(d), Annotated Code of Maryland, may, subject to the agreement of the complainant, be handled outside of the formal PAB and ACC complaint process..

   2. (2) Complaints from the public handled through mediation shall be:

      1. (a) Tracked with other citizen complaints; and
      2. (b) Reported to the PAB.
2. B. Complaints Not Eligible for Mediation. A law enforcement agency shall complete a thorough investigation upon receipt of a complaint of alleged police officer misconduct, which is not eligible for mediation, as prescribed pursuant to Public Safety Article, §§3-102 and 3-103, Annotated Code of Maryland.

3. C. Upon completion of an investigation involving a member of the public, the law enforcement agency shall forward to the ACC the investigative files for the matter and any agency head recommendations within 3 business days of the date the:

   1. (1) Law enforcement agency completed its investigation and agency review; or
   2. (2) Agency head of the law enforcement agency completes the agency review and issues a written recommendation regarding the imposition of discipline consideration by the ACC.

4. D. Recommendation by Agency Head of the Law Enforcement Agency.

   1. (1) An agency head may include a written recommendation for the ACC to consider regarding the matter under investigation.

   2. (2) The written recommendation may include an agency head’s:

      1. (a) Opinion regarding whether the police officer should be disciplined;
      2. (b) Explanation of aggravating or mitigating factors or circumstances; and
      3. (c) Recommendation for a remedial measure, if the ACC determines not to impose administrative charges against the police officer.
   3. (3) If an agency head believes that discipline is warranted, based on the facts presented in the investigation, an agency head may make a specific recommendation for discipline in accordance with the Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix, as approved by the Police Training and Standards Commission under Public Safety Article, §3-105, Annotated Code of Maryland.

5. E. Except as set forth in §F of this regulation, for any alleged police misconduct involving a member of the public and a police officer:

   1. (1) The investigating unit shall complete its investigation and forward its findings to the administrative charging committee within 334 days after the filing of a complaint by a member of the public or initiation of a complaint by the law enforcement agency in the absence of a complaint by a member of the public;
   2. (2) The administrative charging committee shall review the administrative findings and make a determination or ask for further investigation within 30 days after receipt; and
   3. (3) The process of review and investigation by the investigating unit, through disposition by the administrative charging committee, shall be completed within 395 days after the filing of a complaint by a member of the public.

6. F. Where alleged police officer misconduct is the subject of a criminal investigation, an administrative charging committee or law enforcement agency shall file any administrative charges within 1 year and 1 day after the date of:

   1. (1) The investigating law enforcement agency’s timely determination that the matter is not related to criminal activity;
   2. (2) The disposition of all criminal charges filed against the police officer; or
   3. (3) The administrative charging committee’s or law enforcement agency’s receipt of timely notice that the appropriate prosecutorial authority declined to file criminal charges.

Authority: Public Safety Article, §§3-114, 3-207, and 3-208, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01—.07 adopted as an emergency provision effective September 6, 2022 (49:21 Md. R. 941); emergency provision expired effective December 27, 2022

Regulations .01—.07 adopted effective January 9, 2023 (49:27 Md. R. 1111)

Regulation .02B amended effective February 3, 2025 (52:2 Md. R. 68)

Regulation .04B amended effective November 10, 2025 (52:22 Md. R. 1096)

Regulation .06E, F adopted effective November 10, 2025 (52:22 Md. R. 1096)

Regulation .07B amended effective November 10, 2025 (52:22 Md. R. 1096)