Effective 1/1/2025, all Professional Licensing applications (including Security Guard, Private Detective, Security System Technician, Special Police, Railroad Police, Security Guard Agency, Security Guard Employer, Private Detective Agency, Dual Agency, Security Systems Agency and Bullet Proof Body Armor) and application fees shall be submitted electronically in the Licensing Portal. Additional information, issued Advisories, training videos and a registration link for virtual training can be found on the Security Guard page at the following link: Security Guard
For additional information you may contact the Professional Licensing Unit at msp.professionallicensing@maryland.gov.
All applicants are REQUIRED to sign and date the FBI PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THEIR FINGERPRINTS
A special police officer is an individual at least 18 years old, who holds a commission granted by the Governor. Generally, a commission authorizes the officer to arrest individuals who trespass or commit offenses on the property described in the commission, exercise the powers of a police officer on the property described in the commission, and exercise the powers of a police officer in a county or municipal corporation associated with the property described in the commission, and direct and control traffic on public highways and roadways in the immediate vicinity of the property described in the commission.
Required Training
As of October 1, 2020, Maryland House Bill 1111 has taken
effect which requires the following training:
1) Unless exempt, an applicant for an initial
Commission shall complete a training course approved by the Secretary, in consultation
with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission, consisting of at
least 80 hours of instruction, including criminal law, constitutional
procedural requirements relating to search, seizure, and arrests and the
appropriate use of force.
2) An applicant for a renewal Commission shall
complete 12 hours of in-service training approved by the Secretary, in
consultation with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.
See House
Bill 1111 for exemptions to the above requirements at: House Bill 1111.
Direct
questions on the training requirements associated with House Bill 1111 to the
Police Training Commission website below: https://mdle.net/specialpolice.htm
Who Should Apply?
You may apply for the appointment of an individual as a Special Police Officer if you are:
- A municipal corporation, county, or other governmental body of the State, in order to protect property owned, leased, or regularly used by the governmental body or any of its units;
- Another state, or subdivision or unit of another state, that has an interest in property located wholly or partly in this State, in order to protect the property;
- A college, university, or public school system in the State, in order to protect its property or students; or
- A person that exists and functions for a legal business purpose, in order to protect its business.
The individual for whom the appointment is sought shall be:
- of good moral character, reputation and qualification; and
- at least 18 years old;
How To Apply
The Maryland State Police application for Special Police Commission can ONLY be completed through the Licensing Portal. The employer submits the application for each individual applicant seeking a commission. Please answer all questions accurately, completely and honestly. Once completed, the application will be submitted in the Licensing Portal.
Please allow 90 days for the completion of the application process. If the Licensing Division does not receive the renewal application, satisfactorily completed, by the expiration date, the applicant must begin as a new applicant and complete all requirements necessary for an initial application.
All original applications require FBI and CJIS fingerprint submissions. Additionally, applicants must upload a color passport style photograph of the applicant in the Licensing Portal. The photograph must be taken within the last 30 days.
Application Fees
Application fees will be collected electronically in the Licensing Portal.
Acceptable forms of payment include Visa and MasterCard.
The fee for an initial application is $100. The fee for a renewal application is $60.
For a complete list of MSP application fees, please see the Licensing Division Fee Schedule.
Application fees are non-refundable.
When Should I Renew?
Initial commissions expire three (3) years after its date of issuance and upon the end of the term of a commission, the commission is renewable for a three (3) year term if the employer of the special police officer:
- submits to the Maryland State Police a renewal application in the Licensing Portal;
- submits to the Maryland State Police a Livescan receipt of FBI fingerprints; and
- pays to the Maryland State Police a renewal fee of $60 where applicable, but a renewal fee may not be charged to a unit of the State.
The renewal process is the responsibility of the applicant and should be started no less than 90 business days from expiration of the commission. Timely renewal is the responsibility of the commission holder. The Licensing Division does not send out renewal reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
