well well well, if you do "control F", and then enter the search term "metal", on this link, it does indeed appear that the AA county parks are a no no for metal detectors :
https://www.aacounty.org/department...-and-publications/ParkRulesandRegulations.pdf
However, that would not apply to other forms of county land, nor city land, nor state land, etc... And yes, "schools" are not part of "parks", are they ? The O.P's lady cop seemed to indicate that they ARE under the same jurisdiction. If so, that's strange. I know at least in CA, that all the schools are NOT "parks", nor administered by the same agency.
But assuming for the moment that in AA county they are administered by the same dept, and therefore, "no md'ing at schools in AA county". Ok then, what are we to make of surfmaster & ChrisMD that have apparently discovered that it's a non-issue ?
The quickest way for someone to MAKE IT AN ISSUE, is to rush to the powers-that-be and "seek clarification".
For me, personally speaking, I go by the test of reality. Ie.: if no one cares, then no one cares. But to each his own! Follow your own caution level & risk assessment when & if there is true verbiage like this.
Where it says metal detectors isn't in the County Code Tom, which is the the first part of the document. The no metal detectors is found in the facility user rules and guidelines, which isn't county code or law. Already spoke to a county police officer on this, and they can't enforce the facility user rules and guidelines. They could cite me for destruction of property if I did indeed destroy property and had evidence, but not for having a metal detector.
EDIT: Here is a cut and paste from your recent post which more succinctly outlines my take and thoughts on the issue:
My county, Anne Arundel County, MD, doesn't prohibit metal detecting in the County Code, but they do in a document titled "Facility User Rules and Guidelines".
The County Code specifically says:
§ 14-2-104. Destruction of property.
(a) Applicability. This subsection does not apply to construction projects or maintenance
performed on park land or structures.
(b) Prohibitions. A person may not:
(1) tamper with, mar, deface, remove, or destroy an official sign;
(2) damage, use without authority, or remove an installation, fixture, equipment, or vehicle in or
from the park;
(3) cut, pull up, burn, carve, or in any manner mutilate, misuse, or damage any tree, shrub, plant,
grass, or flower on park grounds; or
(4) intentionally destroy, injure, deface, remove, or disturb soil, rocks, or mineral formations
unless incidental to a permitted activity.
(1985 Code, Art. 19, § 2-104)
For me personally, whenever I see language like that, which doesn't specifically mention metal detectors, I have at it. And I don't take the Facility user rules and guidelines as law, or else it would be written into County Code. If it was specifically mentioned in County Code, then it would be a red light for me.
I've detected almost every Park in Anne Arundel county the past 4 years. In front of police, in front of Parks employees, in front of LOPs, soccer moms, etc. Even pulled my director out at Kinder Farm Park right in front of the Park Directors office, who asked me what I was up to. I told him I was looking for a ring, which was true, I was looking for a ring from a Craigslist ad from someone who lost one while visiting out of state. No issues.
Parks employees ask me all the time if I've found anything good. Metal Detecting isn't listed in the prohibited activities signs at any of the parks. One local detectorist pitched a royal fit about me detecting on a school yard about 3 years ago, even called the cops (our school properties fall under Parks). Police man came out, was really chill, and agreed with me on the County Code vice an internal document created in a vacuum. This police man stated he viewed metal detectors like tobacco, county parks are full of people smoking and dipping even though it is prohibited in the Facility User Rules and Guidelines, and they don't enforce it unless it is backed up by county code and the mention of tobacco in county code only cites prohibition if there is a fire hazard.
Beyond that I've never had anything even remotely close to a dust up. I'm sure many might not agree with me, but personally I don't believe whoever wrote that in the user rules and guidelines has the right or authority to put it off limits without a code or law to back it up.
And my metal detecting doesn't damage the grass any more than a bunch of kids with soccer cleats on does, or the park employee driving across the fields leaving tire ruts. So I don't take any language stating anything about disturbing grass/dirt/rocks/whatever as a red light. I do know that I'd be willing to get cited over it, and take it to court and fight it that way if it came to that. They'll have to prove I damaged something (which I'm sure no matter what they'd try to come up with something, but I dig perfect plugs or I don't dig in parks). Could someone push the subject and get it written into code/law? Sure, but I'd be a thorn in their side all the way up until it happens at every County meeting and after.
I know this is a sensitive topic, and the only right answer is that individuals do what they are comfortable doing in accordance with how they interpret the laws. I will say, I bet the same people that really pitch a fit against any perceived violations of either written or unwritten metal detecting rules/ordinances/commentary/what have you are the same people that bust the speed limit day in and day out, whether it's 1 over or 10 over or more. But ultimately we all determine our own morality and which way our moral compass points.
EDIT: Here is the link to my Counties' Code, and the document titled "Facility User Rules and Guidelines":
https://www.aacounty.org/departments...egulations.pdf