Marylanders - Are you fearful that police will not be able to recruit quality candidates?

[Anonymous]

Given the legislation that passed in MD on Saturday, are those of you who live in this fine state fearful that recruitment of quality law enforcement officers will suffer?

Maryland lawmakers passed legislation Saturday, becoming the first state to end its police Bill of Rights after the Democrat-controlled Legislature voted to override three of Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes.

The sweeping reform bills remove protections in police due process for alleged misconduct that critics say have impeded accountability and will now give civilians a role, The Baltimore Sun reported.

The reform package also increases the civil liability limit for officers from $400,000 to $890,000 and an officer convicted of using excessive force, causing serious injury or death could face 10 years in prison. It also sets a new statewide standard for what is deemed "necessary" force.

Within the reforms, officers will also be limited to daytime for "no-knock" raids, except for emergencies, and body cameras will be mandated by 2025.

Supporters of the bills call them "citizen-centered" and a necessary reaction to protesters who "demanded change" last year, but critics say the reforms go too far and are "anti-cop."

Hogan explained in his vetoes that he thought the bills would "further erode police morale, community relationships, and public confidence."

"They will result in great damage to police recruitment and retention, posing significant risks to public safety throughout our state," he wrote.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/maryland-to-end-police-bill-of-rights-after-democrats-override-gop-governors-vetoes

[Anonymous]

Of course we are.

Lines at the gun stores were up to 2 hours yesterday, according to friends who stood in them.

[Anonymous]

I work for a local Police Dept. I don’t think it will have much effect. Our Officers are already following the newer mandates requested regarding accountability.

[Anonymous]

If the only way to effectively recruit police officers is by giving them blanket immunity for wrong doing and excessive force, it would seem policing needs reform even greater reform, right?

They probably need to be paid more, and their relationship with the public needs to be reframed. So many officers seem to not understand that they are SERVANTS there to protect the people they are charged with policing. They are not occupiers, and we are not the enemy. We need to start recruiting people who want to serve, not people who are attracted to the power.

[Anonymous]

Right now the quality is so high

[Anonymous]

I’m not concerned for me, because living in a ‘nice’ neighborhood, cops are going to be here when we need them. Sadly it’s the places where they are needed the most that would suffer if they can’t hire enough.
But, it’s a valid point...why should anyone in their job get a free pass on stepping on people’s rights. Maybe Duncan Lemp would still be alive.
While I’d be quite happy being a detective, being a beat-cop shoveling crap all day long....forget about it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the only way to effectively recruit police officers is by giving them blanket immunity for wrong doing and excessive force, it would seem policing needs reform even greater reform, right?

They probably need to be paid more, and their relationship with the public needs to be reframed. So many officers seem to not understand that they are SERVANTS there to protect the people they are charged with policing. They are not occupiers, and we are not the enemy. We need to start recruiting people who want to serve, not people who are attracted to the power.

Do you understand that LE officers do not have "blanket immunity" and that they can be prosecuted and sued for wrong doing and excessive force?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the only way to effectively recruit police officers is by giving them blanket immunity for wrong doing and excessive force, it would seem policing needs reform even greater reform, right?

They probably need to be paid more, and their relationship with the public needs to be reframed. So many officers seem to not understand that they are SERVANTS there to protect the people they are charged with policing. They are not occupiers, and we are not the enemy. We need to start recruiting people who want to serve, not people who are attracted to the power.

Do you understand that LE officers do not have "blanket immunity" and that they can be prosecuted and sued for wrong doing and excessive force?

Do you understand how infrequently that actually happens, and the reasons why? The system and the culture is setup to prevent it.

[Anonymous]

I think they already recruit terrible candidates.

Maybe now there will be fewer people who are just looking for a legal way to unleash violence.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to recruit less qualified candidates than those hired now?

[Anonymous]

Concern trolling at its finest. This is 2004 Iraq War level message board conversation. Take a bow.

[Anonymous]

Having worked in the police disciplinary field the law enforcement officers bill of rights is the real problem. The ability to discipline police officers needs to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to recruit less qualified candidates than those hired now?

[Anonymous]

I mean we got pentagon cops gunning down people in Takoma so the less qualified still can find jobs apparently.

[Anonymous]

Nope. If you don't want to be a police officer now that it's slightly less difficult to investigate police misconduct, that's fine, you shouldn't be a police officer anyway.