Under and by virtue of the authority contained in Title 3 of the Public Safety Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, the following rules, regulations and provisions are enacted, adopted and established.
A. 
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGENCY HEAD
A police chief, Sheriff, administrator, department head, an individual in an equivalent position, or designee; or an individual appointed, employed, or elected to manage, administer, or supervise a law enforcement agency, or a designee. An agency head includes an officer designated by the head of a law enforcement agency, or to act on behalf of the agency head.
AGENCY REVIEW
A thorough evaluation of the entire completed investigative file by the agency head. The agency review is not complete until the agency head determines that the investigative file is ready to be forwarded to the Administrative Charging Committee.
BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE
Any law enforcement agency audio/visual recording.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
A real or seeming incompatibility between one's private interests and one's official responsibilities in a position of trust.
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER
Good moral character and reputation means the possession of honesty and truthfulness, trustworthiness and reliability, and a professional commitment to the legal process and the administration of justice, as well as the condition of being regarded as possessing such qualities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
A governmental police force, Sheriff's office, security force or law enforcement organization of Wicomico County or a municipal corporation within Wicomico County that by statute, ordinance, or common law is authorized to enforce the general criminal laws of the state.
OFFICER
Any employee of a law enforcement agency who is authorized to enforce the general criminal laws of the state, County or a municipal corporation.
POLICE MISCONDUCT
A pattern, a practice, or conduct by a police officer or law enforcement agency that includes:
(1) 
Depriving persons of rights protected by the Constitution or laws of the state or the United States;
(2) 
A violation of a criminal statute; and
(3) 
A violation of law enforcement agency standards and policies.
B. 
Terms not specifically defined above that are expressly defined in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety Article, § 3-101 et seq. and any COMAR regulations promulgated under it shall have the same meaning given to them by those provisions.
A. 
Persons eligible to file a complaint of police misconduct. Unless otherwise authorized by state law, only a person, or the designee of such person, who experienced the alleged police misconduct may file a complaint of police misconduct.
B. 
A complaint of police misconduct, by an officer of a law enforcement agency, must be filed in accordance with the officer's internal agency policy. A complaint of police misconduct may be filed publicly by an officer of a law enforcement agency if an internal agency policy does not exist.
C. 
A complaint of police misconduct may only be filed, pursuant to this chapter, when the officer is acting or making the representation of acting on behalf of a law enforcement agency.
A. 
A complaint of misconduct must be submitted utilizing the complaint form.
B. 
A complaint of misconduct must be submitted to the headquarters of the law enforcement agency where the police officer against whom the misconduct is alleged is employed or, if being submitted to the Police Accountability Board, to the County Executive Offices.
C. 
A complaint of police misconduct may not be filed, under this chapter, for events preceding July 1, 2022. A claim of a pattern or practice of police misconduct may rely on events which occurred prior to July 1, 2022, upon the claim of the continuation of the pattern or practice on or after July 1, 2022.
D. 
A complaint of police misconduct must be filed within 45 days of the event unless otherwise provided for by Maryland law. A claim of a pattern or practice of police misconduct may rely on events up to three years prior.
Any member of the Wicomico County Police Accountability Board, Wicomico County Administrative Charging Committee, or the Trial Board shall abide by and fully comply with the Wicomico County Code of Ethics, Chapter 37 of the Wicomico County Code.
The County Executive shall advertise a vacancy on the Police Accountability Board, Administrative Charging Committee, or Trial Board on the Wicomico County website. An application to serve on a board can be made through either the online portal or the County Executive's office. Further, if there is more than one vacancy on more than one board, the County Council, at the regular Council meetings, shall notify the public of the vacancies until the vacancy is filled pursuant to the Code.