SENATE PASSES MEASURE ALLOWING A.G. TO PROSECUTE POLICE-INVOLVED DEATHS

The state Senate has passed a measure giving Maryland’s Attorney General the power to prosecute officers in police-involved deaths. Currently all police-involved deaths are reviewed by the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division but prosecution decisions are ultimately left to county prosecutors. The Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association opposes the bill saying they’re elected by voters and should retain prosecutorial powers. Attorney General Anthony Brown says the measure would eliminate the perception of bias or conflict of interest on the part of local prosecutors.