ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is recruiting applicants from Councilmanic District 5 to serve a three-year term on the County’s Police Accountability Board. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 31st.
Howard County is home to the safest city in America due to our efforts to prioritize public safety and reinforcing public trust. Our Police Accountability Board ensures transparency and helps us engage residents as partners in accountability. I encourage residents from District Five who want to work with our Board to help ensure that we are safe and feel safe in Howard County to apply.
Comprised of seven voting members, two at-large members and one from each of the five councilmanic districts, Board member responsibilities include:
- Review the outcome of complaint investigations to determine discipline and identify trends that could improve policing.
- Accept and forward complaints from members of the public for investigation by the police and sheriff’s departments.
- Meet with community youth representatives at least twice a year and appoint members to Charging Committees and Trial Boards.
- Receive complaints of police misconduct filed by members of the public and review outcomes of disciplinary matters considered by the Charging Committee.
- Submit an annual report to the County that identifies any trends in disciplinary action against law enforcement personnel and makes policy recommendations that would improve police accountability.
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be a Howard County resident residing in Councilmanic District 5, 25 years of age or older, have a committed interest and active involvement in Howard County community service, and be able to attend the Board’s quarterly meetings. Members will have to undergo a criminal background check and sign a non-disclosure agreement as a condition of appointment. Additionally, an individual may not be a member of the Board if they are an active police officer, an employee of county government or the Sheriff’s Office, or have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor with the statutory penalty of more than two years.
Interested applicants should email Paul Thompson at [email protected] with the name of the board which they seek appointment, their home address and contact information. Included with the email, applicants should attach their resume and a brief letter explaining why they want to serve on the Police Accountability Board and how they meet eligibility requirements. Applicants are asked not to include their contact information, specifically their home address, phone number(s) and email address, on their resume and cover letter. Please note, applicants will receive an automated response to their email acknowledging receipt. Additionally, applicants should also complete a background check form with Human Resources here.
The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for consideration and then the County Council for appointment.
For more information about the Police Accountability Board, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/police-accountability-board or contact the Office of the County Executive at 410-313-2013.