Demand greater transparency in police misconduct investigations
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Demand greater transparency in police misconduct investigations!
Maryland ranks among the least transparent states with regards to police misconduct complaints. A large reason for that is Maryland’s current Public Information Act (MPIA).
Police on the Eastern Shore killed Anton Black, a 19-year-old Black teenager, and his family still hasn’t been able to find out the details of the officers’ investigations. That’s unacceptable.
Currently, if a Marylander files a complaint of police misconduct, they can’t find out how the department investigated the complaint. The problem is that the complaint is considered a “personnel record” under Maryland’s Public Information Act, and personnel records may never be disclosed.
The public should know how police misconduct is investigated, including whether body camera footage is reviewed and witnesses are being contacted, especially when police departments do not punish wrongdoing.
Changing this part of the MPIA is essential to make policing more transparent and ensure that Black and Brown Marylanders are protected.
Making policing transparent is one of five demands of the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability, a large, diverse statewide coalition of more than 90 organizations working to reimagine policing in Maryland.
Send a message to your legislators to demand they amend the MPIA and pass Anton’s Law (HB 120 and SB 178) during Maryland's 2021 General Assembly session. Pass a strong bill and reject amendments to weaken it.
Please take action now.
Message Recipients:
Maryland State Senators
