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This week is National Police Week, a time meant to honor police officers and the sacrifices they make every day on the job, so the rest of us can live in peace. Police officers in Maryland probably haven’t been celebrating though, due to the recent actions of the Maryland legislature.
Last month, Maryland lawmakers repealed the Maryland Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights and passed the Police Accountability Act of 2021. This sweeping legislation, passed over Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto, will fundamentally alter policing in that state. The law has gone too far.
There is no question that policing in Maryland (and all states) could be improved. The real question is whether the act will actually improve the safety of Maryland citizens or is it simply an attempt to weaken the police force, regardless of how that will impact crime and communities?