MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

PUBLIC SAFETY

[photo, State Police, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland] In Maryland, public safety is the responsibility of the Department of State Police, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Military Department, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and local public safety agencies. At the same time, safeguarding public safety also is a vital duty of the Department of the Environment, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

State Police, City Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, May 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

The Department of State Police is charged to safeguard the lives of all Marylanders, protect property, and assure equal protection under the law to all. This includes: preserving the public peace; detecting and preventing crime; enforcing State and local laws; apprehending and arresting criminals and those accused of breaking the law; maintaining public order; ensuring traffic safety and flow; cooperating with other law enforcement agencies; and investigating deaths of inmates from the Division of Correction when murder is suspected. Further, the Department is responsible for laws governing the sale of handguns, licensing and oversight of private detective agencies; certification of private detectives and security guards; registration of eavesdropping and wiretapping devices; and inspection of some commercial vehicles.

Other executive departments maintain police departments. The Maryland Capitol Police of the Department of General Services provides security at State buildings in Annapolis and Baltimore, and may enforce laws and make arrests within 1,000 feet of those buildings and grounds. The Natural Resources Police Force of the Department of Natural Resources is the State's oldest law enforcement agency, with statewide jurisdiction to enforce conservation, boating and criminal laws. Moreover, the Department of Transportation supervises two police forces, the Maryland Transit Administration Police, and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

Local departments of public safety may concern animal control, corrections (detention centers), emergency services, fire, and police.

With a county or municipality, the Department of State Police may enter into an agreement to provide some or all local police functions. In some counties, the Sheriff serves to enforce the laws.

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