Section 3-302 – Governor to Appoint Special Police Officers

    The Governor may appoint and deputize as a special police officer each individual that the Governor considers qualified for a commission.

Section 3-303 – Entities Authorized to Apply for Appointment of Special Police Officers; Qualifications of Applicants

    (a)    The following entities may apply for the appointment of special police officers for the following purposes:         (1)    a municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body of the State, in order to protect property owned, leased, or regularly used by the governmental body or any of its units;         (2)    another state, or subdivision or unit of another state, […]

Section 3-304 – Applications for Commissions

    (a)    (1)    The employer of an applicant for a commission shall submit the application under this section.         (2)    A separate application is required for each individual applicant for a commission.     (b)    (1)    The employer of an applicant for a commission shall submit to the Secretary:             (i)    an application in the manner and format designated by the Secretary; and             (ii)    subject to paragraph […]

Section 3-305 – Investigations of Applicants

    (a)    (1)    The Secretary shall investigate the character, reputation, and qualifications of each applicant for a commission.         (2)    The investigation shall include an investigation of the applicant’s criminal record.         (3)    The Secretary shall conduct the investigation in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Secretary.     (b)    (1)    On completion of the investigation, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of the […]

Section 3-306 – Issuance of Commission

    (a)    The Governor shall issue a commission to each applicant approved by the Governor.     (b)    The commission shall indicate:         (1)    the term of the commission; and         (2)    the property that the commission is intended to cover or the purpose for which the commission is issued.

Section 3-307 – Scope of Commission

    (a)    Each special police officer shall protect and preserve peace and good order on the property described in the application for the commission.     (b)    A special police officer may:         (1)    arrest individuals who trespass or commit offenses on the property described in the application for the commission;         (2)    exercise the powers of a police officer on the property described […]

Section 3-308 – Liability for Wrongful Actions or Abuse of Powers

    (a)    The special police officer is responsible for:         (1)    any abuse of the special police officer’s powers; and         (2)    the exercise of the special police officer’s powers on property not within the special police officer’s jurisdiction.     (b)    The entity that requested the appointment of the special police officer is also responsible for:         (1)    any wrongful action that the special police […]

Section 3-309 – Oath

    (a)    Within 30 days after issuance of a commission and before performing the duties of a special police officer, each special police officer shall take the oath required by Article I, § 9 of the Maryland Constitution before the clerk of the circuit court where the commission is received.     (b)    The clerk of the court shall transmit […]

Section 3-310 – Uniform, Badge, Vehicle, Equipment, and Identification

    (a)    (1)    Unless a special police officer is on detective duty, the special police officer shall wear:             (i)    a uniform that is distinguishable from ordinary civilian clothing and that gives notice that the special police officer is a special police officer; and             (ii)    a distinctive police badge that properly identifies the officer as a special police officer.         (2)    The badge […]

Section 3-311 – Employee Status; Compensation

    (a)    Each special police officer is deemed to be an employee of the entity that requested the appointment.     (b)    A special police officer shall be compensated by the entity on whatever terms contracted for.

Section 3-312 – Term and Renewal of Commission

    (a)    An initial commission expires 3 years after its date of issuance.     (b)    (1)    At the end of the term of a commission, the commission is renewable for a 3–year term if:             (i)    before submitting an application for renewal, the special police officer has completed 12 hours of in–service training approved by the Secretary in consultation with the Maryland […]

Section 3-313 – Suspensions and Terminations

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a commission is suspended or terminates when the employer of the special police officer files written notice with the Secretary that states that the special police officer is suspended from or relieved of the duties of a special police officer.         (2)    The Governor may suspend or terminate […]

Section 3-314 – Immunity of State, Subdivision, or Municipal Corporation

    The State and any subdivision or municipal corporation of the State shall have the immunity from liability described under § 5-613 of the Courts Article unless the subdivision or municipal corporation requests the appointment of an individual as a special police officer and the request is granted as provided in this subtitle.

Section 3-315 – Prohibited Acts; Penalty

    (a)    An individual may not exercise or attempt to exercise any of the powers of a special police officer granted under this subtitle without a commission.     (b)    (1)    An individual may not exercise or attempt to exercise any of the powers of a special police officer granted under this subtitle if the individual knows of the suspension or […]

Section 3-316 – Regulations

    The Secretary may, as the Secretary considers necessary to carry out the purpose of this subtitle, adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of special police officers.