OCEAN CITY, Md. — Both the Worcester County Sheriff's Office and Ocean City Police Department want to purchase armored personnel carriers, but those plans might have to change after the Maryland General Assembly voted this week to ban the purchase of armored vehicles by police agencies.
On Monday, the Maryland House of Delegates passed the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 — Surplus Military Equipment and Investigation of Deaths by Police Officers, which would ban local police agencies from purchasing armored vehicles and other equipment from federal surplus programs.
The bill is one of several pieces of legislation this session aimed at reforming law enforcement. It now heads to Gov. Larry Hogan, who hasn't indicated whether he plans to sign the bill.