The Caroline County Commissioners convened on May 27, 2025, to discuss several key issues, primarily focusing on the definitions and eligibility criteria for members of the police advisory committee. The meeting began with a review of the definition of "immediate family" related to active police officers. A motion was made to streamline the language by removing the term "immediate family" and substituting it with a detailed list of relationships, including spouses, parents, siblings, and step-relatives. This amendment aimed to clarify the eligibility of family members in relation to police officers serving on the committee. The motion passed unanimously.

Following this, the commissioners addressed the recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Community (ACC) regarding the removal of a clause that allowed current members of police fraternal organizations, such as the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), to serve on the committee. Concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest, particularly regarding local FOP members. Some commissioners expressed the need for transparency and ethical considerations, suggesting that local members should not serve to avoid any appearance of bias in decision-making.

A proposal was made to amend the language to specify that no current members of local police fraternal organizations could serve on the committee, while allowing for the grandfathering of existing members. This amendment was met with mixed opinions, with some commissioners advocating for the inclusion of retired officers, arguing that their experience could be beneficial to the committee's work.

Ultimately, the commissioners decided to amend the language to specify that members of local police fraternal organizations, including the Caroline County chapter, would not be eligible to serve on the committee moving forward. The existing members would remain in their positions until attrition occurred. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the importance of maintaining ethical standards while ensuring that the committee remains effective and representative.

In summary, the meeting highlighted the commissioners' commitment to refining the eligibility criteria for the police advisory committee, balancing the need for ethical governance with the value of experience from retired officers. Further discussions will likely continue as the county navigates these complex issues.