Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
Interior Nat Harbor

Public Integrity Unit (PIU)

Overview

Established in 2018, the Public Integrity Unit (PIU) is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards among public officials in Prince George’s County.

The PIU investigates and prosecutes crimes that undermine public trust in government, including:

  • Bribery involving elected or appointed officials
  • Theft and misconduct by government employees
  • Police misconduct, including excessive force and brutality
  • Other offenses that compromise government integrity

The Unit also plays a key role in advancing transparency and accountability. It has supported efforts to improve access to police disciplinary records and has contributed to legislative initiatives in Annapolis aimed at increasing public oversight of law enforcement.

Staffed by experienced prosecutors with federal and state litigation backgrounds, the PIU brings significant expertise to complex and high-impact cases involving public officials and law enforcement.

Do Not Call Policy

The State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) maintains a formal policy governing the use of law enforcement officers as witnesses in criminal prosecutions. This policy ensures that all testimony presented in court meets the highest standards of credibility and integrity.

Officers Who Will Not Be Called as Witnesses

The SAO will not sponsor testimony from officers when there is evidence that the officer has:

  • Made a material misstatement under oath, in an affidavit, or in a probable cause statement
  • Engaged in dishonesty that impacted the charging or prosecution of a case
  • Been convicted of an impeachable offense or a crime committed in an official capacity
  • Demonstrated bias or prejudice (including racist, homophobic, or other discriminatory conduct)

Discretionary Review

In cases that do not clearly meet the criteria above, the SAO will evaluate the totality of the circumstances to determine whether an officer’s testimony is appropriate. This includes situations where an officer has been acquitted of an offense, but concerns remain regarding credibility.

Do Not Call List

The SAO maintains a “Do Not Call List” consisting of both active and former law enforcement officers whose conduct meets one or more of the criteria outlined above. Officers on this list will not be called to testify on behalf of the State.

Explore the list: DO NOT CALL LIST