House Speaker Adrienne Jones and all 98 Democratic members of the Maryland House of Delegates called on Gov. Larry Hogan Tuesday to sign an executive order that would make several policing tactics illegal in the 18 law enforcement agencies under the state’s control.
In a letter sent to Hogan, the delegates urged him to ban chokeholds, require deadly force be used only to stop an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury and ban shooting at vehicles.
Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, a Howard County Democrat and chair of the House’s workgroup on police reform and accountability, said the aim is to turn best practices in policing into law.
"It's in the best interest of all the citizens that we have a uniform use of force throughout all the police departments," Atterbeary said.
Shareese Churchill, Hogan’s spokesperson, said he will give thoughtful consideration to the Speaker’s letter as well as "the conclusions and recommendations of the workgroup [Speaker Jones] has established to examine these serious issues."