Statewide Law Enforcement

Statewide Law Enforcement Authority 

I. POLICY

It is the policy of the Field Enforcement Bureau to severely limit extra-jurisdictional enforcement authority to those circumstances as defined in Section III of this Chapter.

II. BACKGROUND

Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure, Section 2-102 grants limited statewide jurisdiction to law enforcement officers. This directive explains the circumstances under which agents may conduct criminal investigations and make arrests outside of the Field Enforcement Bureau’s (FEB) jurisdiction, and the actions they must take as a result.

III. AUTHORITY FOR EXTRA - JURISDICTIONAL ENFORCEMENT

Law enforcement agents of the Field Enforcement Bureau may make warrantless arrests and conduct criminal investigations, outside of the normal purview of the Bureau, anywhere in the State of Maryland when the agent is acting in accordance with these regulations and at least one of the following conditions exists:

A. When participating in a joint investigation with officials from other state, local or federal law enforcement agencies, at least one of which has local jurisdiction.

B. While rendering assistance to another police officer.

C. While acting at the request of a local or state law enforcement officer.

D. When an emergency exists.

For the purposes of extra-jurisdictional enforcement, an emergency is defined as “a sudden or unexpected happening or unforeseen combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action to protect the health, safety, welfare or property of a person from harm or an unlawful act”. In the event an agent acts as the result of an emergency, when feasible, the agent should make attempts to turn over the emergency and any subsequent investigation to the local or state law enforcement agency which would otherwise have jurisdiction.

The law specifically prohibits officers/agents from enforcing provisions of the Maryland Vehicle Law beyond their sworn jurisdiction.

IV. CANCELLATION

None.