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| Sweeping Maryland police reform measure hits stumbling block | Sweeping Maryland police reform measure hits stumbling block |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A sweeping bill that deals with how police are hired, trained and disciplined in Maryland hit a stumbling block late Monday night over whether the legislation should require local jurisdictions to include civilians on boards that review complaints against police officers. | A sweeping bill that deals with how police are hired, trained and disciplined in Maryland hit a stumbling block late Monday night over whether the legislation should require local jurisdictions to include civilians on boards that review complaints against police officers. |
| The Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee voted last week to let local lawmakers decide whether civilians should participate on the hearing panels. The bill authorizes local jurisdictions to place up to two voting or nonvoting members on the boards, but it does not require them. | |
| Several senators from Baltimore said Monday night that the bill does not go far enough. They argued that the legislation should mandate that two civilians serve on the panels and they wanted an amendment that would require two civilians on the board in Baltimore. | Several senators from Baltimore said Monday night that the bill does not go far enough. They argued that the legislation should mandate that two civilians serve on the panels and they wanted an amendment that would require two civilians on the board in Baltimore. |
| After several minutes of debate, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) suggested that the bill go back to committee. | After several minutes of debate, Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) suggested that the bill go back to committee. |
| Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County), the chairman of the committee, recommitted the measure to Senate Judicial Proceedings, raising questions about whether the bill could survive the action with just days left in the session. | |
| “It’s a setback,” said Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden (D-Baltimore), who added that he was confident that the issue could be resolved before session ends next week. | |
| [Proposed police reform in Maryland draws strong praise, sharp criticism] | [Proposed police reform in Maryland draws strong praise, sharp criticism] |
| McFadden, a member of Judicial Proceedings, tried to explain to his colleagues that the bill allows the mayor and city council to put two voting members on the panel. | McFadden, a member of Judicial Proceedings, tried to explain to his colleagues that the bill allows the mayor and city council to put two voting members on the panel. |
| Sen. Catherine E. Pugh (D-Baltimore), who chaired a legislative workgroup over the summer that made recommendations to the General Assembly, said the two voting civilians on the panel are “absolutely necessary” to repair confidence and trust in the police department. | |
| “This is one of the things we must have,” she said. | “This is one of the things we must have,” she said. |
| The workgroup was created by Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and the riot and protests that followed in Baltimore. | |
| In addition to requiring the civilian members, the panel recommended periodic psychological evaluations of officers, annual reporting of police-involved shootings and other changes to how police are hired, trained and disciplined. | |
| Pugh said Monday that she pushed for an amendment offered by Sen. Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore) because she was surprised to learn that the bill did not include two voting civilians. But, later, she said she would be “okay” with the bill as long as it provided Baltimore the right to include them. | |
| Zirkin and Miller said they did not know when the bill would be brought back to the Senate floor. A version of the bill has passed the House. The two bills, which are slightly different, would have to be reconciled before the 90-day session ends Monday night. | |
| “I’m hopeful that this amendment doesn’t turn out to be a killer amendment on the bill,” Zirkin said. “It definitely slows things down at a time when time is definitely of the essence if you want to get legislation.” | “I’m hopeful that this amendment doesn’t turn out to be a killer amendment on the bill,” Zirkin said. “It definitely slows things down at a time when time is definitely of the essence if you want to get legislation.” |
| Miller said the Senate committee came up with a compromise acknowledging that the dynamics of Baltimore are different from those in other parts of the state. | Miller said the Senate committee came up with a compromise acknowledging that the dynamics of Baltimore are different from those in other parts of the state. |
| “This is a very important bill and the question is: Do you do what’s best for the entire state and move forward in a very dramatic fashion or do you exercise the privilege of speaking out loud and hard and jeopardizing the entire process?” Miller said. | |
| Miller said he did not plan to meet with the Baltimore delegation to accept the compromise. | Miller said he did not plan to meet with the Baltimore delegation to accept the compromise. |
| “If they can’t see the folly of their ways, let them take the consequences,” he said. | “If they can’t see the folly of their ways, let them take the consequences,” he said. |