The Caroline County Commissioners convened on May 27, 2025, for a meeting focused on legislative updates and public hearings, particularly concerning police accountability measures. The session began with discussions about the transparency of trial boards and Administrative Charging Committees (ACCs), noting that while these bodies are generally open to the public, they often transition to closed sessions due to the sensitive nature of personnel matters.

Following procedural introductions, the commissioners moved into the second reading and public hearing of Legislative Bill 2025-006. This bill aims to establish a Police Accountability Board, define its structure, and outline the roles and responsibilities of the ACC and trial boards. The public hearing was officially opened after a motion was passed, although no members of the public signed up to speak.

Commissioners reviewed written comments received from the Police Accountability Board, the ACC, and Chief Bakehorn, who represented several law enforcement chiefs. Key recommendations included amendments to the bill that would limit the ACC's ability to take disciplinary action on violations discovered outside the scope of a complaint. Instead, such findings would be referred back to the relevant law enforcement agency for further investigation.

Additional suggestions from the Police Accountability Board included allowing board members to attend meetings remotely and clarifying the appointment of alternate members. The ACC also proposed amendments to ensure that their rules and procedures would require approval from the county commissioners, aligning their governance with that of the Police Accountability Board.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to consider these recommendations as the commissioners work towards finalizing the legislative bill. The next steps will involve further discussions and potential revisions based on the feedback received during the public hearing.