Maryland Training Directors Association Meeting March 19, 2014 Maryland Transportation Authority Police Lane Memorial Bridge Detachment Minutes Welcome and Introductions Bob Wagner Approval of Minutes Legislative Update Chief Dave Morris Mr. Tom Smith Presentation by Chief Morris (Riverdale Park and Maryland Chiefs legislative Committee) and Mr. Tom Smith (MPCTC). Chief Morris stated that there were 1,107 bills introduced by the senate this year and 1,553 introduced by the House. 153 of the Senate Bills and 229 of the House Bills were reviewed by the Maryland Chiefs and Sheriffs legislative committee. Several of the most pressing bills were discussed: Marijuana legalization was killed. Decriminalizations of small amounts are now a chargeable as a civil offense. Questions were raised regarding small amounts of marijuana inhibiting searches of vehicles. Several states were cited that have decriminalized or legalized marijuana. Colorado, HIDTA report indicates that traffic fatalities have decreased, however the DUI (Marijuana) has increased 114%. Mississippi decriminalized marijuana but it is still illegal to possess if in a vehicle. Discussion relating to canine narcotics searches, canines cannot detect the type or amount of narcotics will this decriminalization affect canine drug searches?
Hiring standards for law enforcement officers: MPCTC regulations do not state if the substance is legal or illegal those standards will not change. Agencies can establish their own drug standards, may be open to challenge in court. Electronic signature on search warrants: passed warrant is valid if electronically submitted and signed. LEOBR (SB 436) show cause relief order. If officer believes that evidence in the investigation was obtained illegally then the officer can request a show cause hearing. LEOBR (HB 598) Brady list: prohibits a law enforcement agency from terminating an officer solely on a sustained complaint of false statement alone. The underlying offense may be used if it qualifies for termination but not the false statement. Christopher s Law: introduced with amendments. This addresses Cultural diversity, CPR, Intellectual and Developmental disabilities training. The bill was introduced with amendments required for entry level training only and for in-service as required by the Commission. Probably will pass. HB 116 Law Enforcement Body Cameras: Bill has been amended to state law enforcement agencies may have officer s audio and video must be retained for 90 days. Agency can set policy as they see fit, does not compel agency to record. (Unfunded mandate) HB1200: eyewitness identification: as of January 2015 every law enforcement agency will be required to develop policy regarding eyewitness identification. Legislation that did not or will not pass: Fail to obey a 911 operator (no exemption for law enforcement officers) HB 37 Grooming standards for law Enforcement officers, agency could not establish gender specific grooming standards. HB 1188 Requirement for law enforcement agencies to test officers for drugs and alcohol when involved in a dept. accident, shooting or TASER deployment. Tom Smith from MPTC related that training records are public records and they often get requests for law enforcement officers training records. These records should be protected just as other academic records are.
Bob Wagner raised the issue of more involvement by the Training Directors Association on the legislative issue that will affect law enforcement. This was seen as an avenue to be heard as it is felt that TDA position would carry a lot of weight with legislators. Dennis Murphey MPCTC report: Michael Jackson has resigned his position as the director of the Leadership Development Institute. T. Bon is the acting director of the LDI. Police Entry level training, John Wisnewski with department of juvenile services. Charlie Lewis is the acting director of the entry level program. Train the Trainer: Ed Ontavaris FTO Russ Sharpe. Field Training Standards will be posted on MDLE.net. Question was asked regarding training being password protected. Suggestion to post on NLEARN or to just post raining objectives only and not the full lesson plan. New director of the Western Maryland Training Academy at Hagerstown Community College, Dave Simonetti he comes from MNCPPC New Training Director at WMATA Darryl Wigglesworth. MPTC Commission meeting April 12 th. Discussion regarding a situation regarding a student charged with a felony and the student was permitted to remain in the program. The issue raised is that the student was charged not convicted. FTO changes were reviewed by the commission and approved; they were sent to the Ag office for final wording and then will be posted and placed on July agenda for final approval. Most likely will be enacted in July pending approval. Committee established to look at Intellectual/ Developmental disabilities 3 forums being held across the state: 4/28 Wor-Wic 5/13 MDTA Hanover and 6/3 Hagerstown Public Library. Howard/Hartford/Montgomery County and Baltimore County have agreed to participate in discussion. These are not training programs just forums.
In-Service training reporting going well: Reminder that Dec. 31st is the cut-off for firearms qualification with no grace period, other in-service training- grace period until Jun 30. Train the trainer program: participants must be agency sponsored. Non agency personnel will be placed on the waiting list. The training commission is tightening the requirements for private vendors sponsoring training. Must have some agency sponsor or list of agencies that will be trained and the agency must route all testing and report all scores to MPTC. Discussion on Military Service exemptions: agency responsibility to make policy regarding military duty but must adhere to MPTC regulations regarding comparative compliance and entry level training requirements. Fitness Standards Committee Report Warner One phone conference call has taken place. A second meeting to take place at CCBC 3/20/14 from 10-12. This committee is exploring fitness standards for the entry level program. MPCTC representation has been requested to participate in the committee. Nominations for Secretary: Diane Salen nominated, accepted and approved. Cameras in training; Lt. Wagner, Howard County Howard County uses the cameras in the training environment. This has helped in the defensibility in wrongful termination law suits/complaints. Also used in remedial training for recruits for practical exercises. Two types of cameras were looked at the i-kam extreme camera that is mounted on a lightweight pair of glasses and the Go-Pro that is a stand-alone camera that can be mounted on various places on the officer s uniform or can be mounted on vehicles. Wor-Wic uses the cameras for driver training uses the Go-Pro camera and puts it on the officer s head to see where the officer is looking. Also used in driver training in Howard County. Prince George s County is conducting a study of camera use in the training environment. Good of the Order: Wor-Wic Corrections graduation taking place Mental Health first Aid in April
In custody death prevention in September. Keith Warner: Corrections graduation today Below 100 training scheduled Civilian forearms range master position announced. MDTA: Lateral officer class 5/28 entry level class Force on Force ATK $495 in July Montgomery County: Graduation 3/19/14 88 recruits in the class now In Service and Arrive Alive beginning. Anne Arundel: In-Service beginning Recruit class in session Defensive tactics class Nasal Narcan Program kicking off with full distribution to all patrol officers. This falls under the protocol of MIEMMS requiring the officer to receive training on the proper administration of the product. Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy Train the Trainer April 5 th Law Enforcement class July Corrections class. UMPD: Recruit class in session
Prince George s County Police Department 2 recruit classes in session, one will graduate in June, new recruit class to start in July. In-service just started that includes, combat casualty care kit, patrol shield. CVSA April 7-11 initial certification $1295 recertification $350. Howard County Lt. Wagner is retiring July 14 new recruit class will begin They are going through the handgun conversion from Sig Sauer to Glock. Revisiting Active Shooter Policy based on lesson learned from the Columbia Mall shooting. They had trained with Columbia Mall since 2007, this was very beneficial as the merchants in the mall knew what protocols to follow and utilized them. Montgomery County related a problem they were having with the Glocks where the slide would lock back after about six rounds, seems to be related to the rounds shifting inside the magazine. FBI: new agent class to begin in June Much of the training that was cancelled due to the sequester will be rescheduled including the National Academy. Human Trafficking training to be developed and rolled out in June, this will be a two hour training. Baltimore County: Recruit class in session New recruit class in July Active shooter exercise to take place at White Marsh Mall FTO School in May Just completed an Administrators school MOSHA Complaint filed indicating problems with the indoor range. A ventilation system upgrade is required.
MPCTC: Dennis Murphey 3/4 PEL Class with 18 started, they will graduate in August Will begin another class next week. More training on MDLE.net please forward to Dennis Murphey Motion to adjourn at 1228 hours.