Home Table of Contents

§ 3-209. Certification of police officers

West's Annotated Code of MarylandPublic SafetyEffective: July 1, 2022

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Public Safety (Refs & Annos)
Title 3. Law Enforcement (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 2. Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (Refs & Annos)
Effective: July 1, 2022
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-209
Formerly cited as MD CODE Art. 41, § 4-201
§ 3-209. Certification of police officers
Currentness
In general
(a) The Commission shall certify as a police officer each individual who:
(1)(i) satisfactorily meets the standards of the Commission; or
(ii) provides the Commission with sufficient evidence that the individual has satisfactorily completed a training program in another state of equal quality and content as required by the Commission;
(2) submits to a mental health screening by a licensed mental health professional;
(3) submits to a physical agility assessment as determined by the Commission;
(4) submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 3-209.1 of this subtitle; and
(5)(i) is a United States citizen; or
(ii) subject to subsection (b) of this section, is a permanent legal resident of the United States and an honorably discharged veteran of the United States armed forces, provided that the individual has applied to obtain United States citizenship and the application is still pending approval.
Certification terminated
(b) The certification of a police officer who fails to obtain United States citizenship as required by subsection (a)(4)(ii) of this section shall be terminated by the Commission.
Certification of other individuals authorized
(c) The Commission may certify as a police officer an individual who is not considered a police officer under § 3-201(f)(3) of this subtitle if the individual meets the selection and training standards of the Commission.
Certificate remains property of Commission
(d) Each certificate issued to a police officer under this subtitle remains the property of the Commission.
Conditions of continued certification
(e) As a condition of certification, a police officer shall submit to a mental health assessment every 2 years and an annual physical agility assessment to establish continuing fitness to carry out the officer's assigned duties as a police officer.
Cannabis use
(f) Prior cannabis use is not a disqualifier for certification as a police officer.

Credits

Added by Acts 2003, c. 5, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2003. Amended by Acts 2015, c. 305, § 2, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 8, § 5; Acts 2016, c. 519, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2018, c. 671, § 1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2019, c. 489, § 1, eff. October 1, 2019; Acts 2019, c. 490, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2021, c. 59, § 4, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 26, § 13.
MD Code, Public Safety, § 3-209, MD PUBLIC SAFETY § 3-209
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document