Code of Maryland Regulations
Title 12 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Subtitle 04 - POLICE TRAINING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION
Chapter 12.04.10 - Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix
Section 12.04.10.04 - Uniform State Disciplinary Matrix
Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024
A. Violation Levels.
B. Disciplinary Ranges.
C. Additional Corrective Measures.
D. Violation Categories.
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category A: Conduct that has or may have a minimal negative impact on operations or professional image of the law enforcement agency. |
One: 1st Violation |
Formal Written Counseling to Letter of Reprimand |
Two: 2nd Violation in 24 Months |
Formal Written Counseling to Up to 1 Day Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
Three: 3rd Violation in 24 Months |
GO TO CATEGORY B LEVEL 1 |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category B: Conduct that has or may have a negative impact on the operations or professional image of law enforcement agency; or that negatively impacts relationships with other officers, agencies, or the public. |
One: 1st Violation |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
Two: 2nd Violation in 36 Months |
1 Day Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay to Up to 3 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
Three: 3rd Violation in 36 Months |
GO TO CATEGORY C LEVEL 1 |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category C: Conduct that involves a risk to safety or that has or may have a pronounced negative impact on the operations or professional image of the law enforcement agency or a member, or on relationships with other officers, agencies, or the public. |
One: 1st Violation |
2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay to Up to 4 Days Loss of Pay |
Two: 2nd Violation in 48 Months |
3 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay to Up to 5 Days Loss of pay |
|
Three: 3rd Violation in 48 Months |
GO TO CATEGORY D LEVEL 1 |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category D: Conduct substantially contrary to the values of the law enforcement agency or that substantially interferes with its mission, operations, or professional image, or that involves a serious risk to officer or public safety, or intentionally violates law enforcement agency policy. |
One: 1st Violation |
5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay to Up to 15 Days Loss of Pay |
Two: 2nd Violation in 60 Months |
10 Days Loss of Pay to Up to 20 Days Loss of Pay |
|
Three: 3rd Violation in 60 Months |
GO TO CATEGORY E LEVEL 1 |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category E: Conduct that involves misuse of authority, unethical behavior (not involving false reporting or false statements), or an act that could result in an adverse impact on an officer or public safety or to the professionalism of the law enforcement agency or a violation of any misdemeanor. |
One: 1st Violation |
15 Days Loss of Pay to 25 Days Loss of Pay up to Termination |
Two: 2nd Violation in 60 Months |
15 Days Loss of Pay to 30 Days Loss of Pay up to Termination |
|
Three: 3rd Violation in 60 Months |
GO TO CATEGORY F LEVEL 1 |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Category F: Any violation of law, policy, rule or regulation which: foreseeably results in death or serious bodily injury; or constitutes a willful and wanton disregard of the law enforcement agency's mission, vision, and values; or involves any act or omission which demonstrates a serious lack of the integrity, ethics, or character related to an employee's fitness to hold their position; or involves egregious misconduct substantially contrary to the standards of conduct reasonably expected, to include those whose sworn duty is to uphold the law; or involves conduct which constitutes the failure to adhere to any condition of employment required or mandated by law, including any 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (Lautenberg) violations. |
One: Any Violation |
TERMINATION |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
Driving Under The Influence Category 1: Any off-duty driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs which would constitute a violation of law. |
One: 1st Violation |
15 Days Loss of Pay to Termination* |
Two: 2nd Violation |
30 Days Loss of Pay to Termination* |
|
Three: 3rd Violation |
Termination* |
|
Category 2: Any on-duty or off-duty in a departmental vehicle driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs which would constitute a violation of law. |
One: 1st Violation |
Termination* |
*Termination may be imposed as discipline unless prohibited by an Executive Order or superseding government policy. |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
||
Failure to Appear for Court and MVA Hearings Category 1: Intentional or purposeful failure to appear for any properly summoned court appearance which is the result of action taken as a law enforcement officer. This category also includes MVA hearings. |
One: 2 violations in 1 year |
Formal Written Counseling to Formal Written Counseling |
||
Two: 2 additional violations in 2 years |
Formal Written Counseling to Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|||
Note: The penalty cycle resets one calendar year from the date of the first violation. |
Categories and Descriptions |
Level |
Disciplinary Range Mitigating Factors - Aggravating Factors |
One: 1st Violation up to 12 months |
Formal Written Counseling to Letter of Reprimand |
|
Departmental Collisions Category 1: Minor Damage* to Police Vehicle and/or |
Two: 2nd Violation within 0-24 months |
Formal Written Counseling to Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
Other Property or Vehicle* |
Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0-36 months |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
One: 1st Violation up to 12 months |
Formal Written Counseling to Up to 1 Day Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
Category 2: Major Damage to Police Vehicle, Other Property, or Vehicle |
Two: 2nd Violation within 0-24 months |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 3 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0-36 months |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 10 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
Category 3: Injury to Law Enforcement Personnel or Civilian If gross negligence or reckless operation of a police vehicle is involved in any collision that results in serious injury or death the disciplinary range shall increase up to and including termination. |
One: 1st Violation up to 12 months |
Formal Written Counseling to Up to 2 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
Two: 2nd Violation within 0-24 months |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 5 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
Three**: 3 or more Violations within 0-36 months |
Letter of Reprimand to Up to 14 Days Loss of Leave or Loss of Pay |
|
* Law Enforcement Agencies may establish a dollar amount as a guideline for determining the level of severity (minor vs major). ** Driver retraining may be imposed at any level but shall impose for three or more at-fault departmental collisions. |