Maryland lawmakers recommended on Monday nearly two dozen changes to state law aimed at holding police accountable to the public.
Officials say they hope the actions would improve law enforcement’s relationship with the communities they serve—if the recommendations become legislation and pass during the legislative session that begins this week.
The bipartisan group recommended several changes to police officers’ internal disciplinary process.
They suggested extending the time limit for filing a complaint against a police officer from 90 days to just over a year. They also recommended eliminating the requirement that complaints be notarized and cutting from 10 days to five the amount of time police officers can postpone facing disciplinary questioning while obtaining a lawyer.
Also among the recommendations is a requirement that police officers receive periodic psychological evaluations after traumatic events and tax incentives to encourage police officers to live in the jurisdictions they serve.
Lawmakers formed the group just after Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody sparked riots in Baltimore.
Del. Curt Anderson, a Baltimore Democrat and a chairman of the committee, said people across the state have expressed frustration with a perceived “me against them attitude” among police.
That’s something Anderson believes the recommendations could change if they become law.
“I don't think that when you have a culture that is shrouded in mysticism and darkness and people of the public don't know what's going on, can they have much trust in it,” he said. “We want to open it up and try to give members of the public the ability to trust in the process."
State Fraternal Order of Police President Vince Canales said the union will reserve judgment until the recommendations turn into legislation.
“At this point in time we're arguing that the bulk of what basically is an employee right and that the officers that are out here tasked with doing their job on a day to day basis are protected and provided the ability to defend themselves appropriately."