2021 Maryland Statutes
Public Safety
Title 3 - Law Enforcement
Subtitle 3 - Special Police Officers
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, that has an interest in property located wholly or partly in this State, in order to protect the property;

        (3)    a college, university, or public school system in the State, in order to protect its property or students; or

        (4)    a person that exists and functions for a legal business purpose, in order to protect its business property.

    (b)    The applicant for a commission shall be at least 18 years old.

    (c)    (1)    This subsection does not apply to an applicant for an initial commission who, within 5 years prior to application, has:

            (i)    completed a basic training course for police officers approved by the Secretary in consultation with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission;

            (ii)    completed a basic training course for police officers similar to the course described in item (i) of this paragraph in another state or for the federal government;

            (iii)    separated from a law enforcement agency in good standing; or

            (iv)    completed training approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission for a special police officer at a State institution of higher education.

        (2)    An applicant for an initial commission shall complete a training course approved by the Secretary in consultation with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission consisting of at least 80 hours of instruction, including instruction on:

            (i)    criminal law;

            (ii)    constitutional procedural requirements relating to search, seizure, and arrest; and

            (iii)    the appropriate use of force.