Amid the grave discourse stirred by the grand jury indictment of two Anne Arundel County police officers, Chief of Police Amal E. Awad has issued a statement affirming the department's support for the accused officers, echoing adherence to the due process afforded by the law. The officers in question, Corporal K. Schnell and Corporal E. Vasquez, face charges of Misconduct in Office following an investigation by the Maryland Office of the Attorney General linked to a deadly accident that occurred on December 7, 2023, in Pasadena, Maryland.
In a post shared on social media by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Chief Awad confirmed that last Friday, the news of the indictment reached her desk, after which an exhaustive examination of evidence was carried out by her and the department’s executive command staff they concluded—according to their review—there was no overt behavior by the officers that contravened criminal laws. As the legal proceedings take their course, she reaffirmed that "an indictment is merely an accusation and not a finding of guilt." She emphasized that the presumption of innocence remains until proven otherwise.
Statement from Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal E. Awad on the Indictment of Two Anne Arundel County Police Officers
— Anne Arundel County Police Department (@AACOPD) December 7, 2024
On December 6, 2024, I was made aware that two Anne Arundel County
police officers, Corporal K. Schnell and Corporal E. Vasquez, were indicted
and issued… pic.twitter.com/yfx3JtTtH8
For updates on this case, follow the Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Attorney General's Office. As charges against officers spark varied public reactions, the judicial process plays a critical role in shaping trust in law enforcement.
