List of commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department
Since 1920, the Baltimore Police Department has been led by a single commissioner. Prior to this, it was led by a multi-member board of commissioners.
Commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department
Presidents of the Board of Police Commissioners
Before 1920, the department was led by a multi-member Board of Police Commissioners. This board was led by a president.
Order | Name | Tenure start | Tenure end | Mayor(s) served alongside/under | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | Charles Howard | 1850 | 1861 | [1] | ||
Department under United States Military control (June 1861–March 29, 1862) | [1] | |||||
2nd | Nicholas L. Wood | March 29, 1862 | 1864 | [1] | ||
3rd | Samuel Hindes | 1864 | November 15, 1866 | [1] | ||
4th | James Young | November 15, 1866 | March 1867 | [1] | ||
5th | LeFevre Jarrett | March 1867 | March 14, 1870 | [1] | ||
6th | John W. Davis | March 14, 1870 | March 15, 1871 | [1] | ||
7th | William H. B. Fusselbaugh | March 15, 1871 | March 15, 1881 | [1] | ||
8th | George Colton | March 15, 1881 | March 15, 1887 | [1] | ||
9th | Edson M. Schryver | March 15, 1887 | March 15, 1897 | [1] | ||
10th | Daniel C. Heddinger | March 15, 1897 | May 7, 1900 | [1] | ||
11th | George M. Upshur | May 7, 1900 | May 2, 1904 | [1] | ||
12th | George R. Willis | May 2, 1904 | May 4, 1908 | [1] | ||
13th | Sherlock Swann | May 4, 1908 | May 2, 1910 | [1] | ||
14th | John B. A. Wheltle | May 2, 1910 | April 4, 1912 | [1][2] | ||
15th | Morris Ames Soper | April 4, 1912 | December 31, 1913 | [1][3] | ||
16th | James McEvoy | December 31, 1913 | December 28, 1914 | [1] | ||
17th | Daniel C. Ammidon | December 28, 1914 | March 22, 1916 | [1] | ||
18th | Lawrason Riggs | May 1, 1916 | 1920 | [1] |
Police commissioners since 1920
Order | Name | Tenure start | Tenure end | Mayor(s) served alongside/under | Notes | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19th | Charles D. Gaither | 1920 | 1937 | First solo police commissioner after disestablishment of board of commissioners | [1] | ||
20th | William P. Lawson | 1937 | July 31, 1938 | [1][4] | |||
— | Stephen G. Nelson (interim) | July 31, 1938 | September 23, 1938 | [4] | |||
21st | Robert F. Stanton | September 23, 1938 | 1943 | [1][5] | |||
22nd | Hamilton R. Atkinson | 1943 | 1949 | [1] | |||
23rd | Beverly Ober | 1949 | April 7, 1955 | Died in office. | [1][6] | ||
— | Fred L. Ford (interim) | April 7, 1955 | 1955 | [6] | |||
24th | James M. Hepbron | 1955 | 1961 | [1] | |||
25th | Bernard Schmidt | 1961 | 1966 | [1] | |||
26th | Donald Pomerleau | 1966 | 1981 | [1] | |||
27th | Frank Battaglia | 1981 | 1984 | [1] | |||
28th | Bishop Robinson | 1984 | 1987 | [1] | |||
29th | Edward J. Tilghman | 1987 | 1989 | [1] | |||
30th | Edward V. Woods | 1989 | 1993 | [1] | |||
31st | Thomas C. Frazier | 1994 | October 1, 1999 | [1][7] | |||
John E. Gavrilis, Elbert Shirley, and Robert Smith rotated as interim police commissioners | October 1, 1999 | 2000 | [7] | ||||
32nd | Ronald L. Daniel | February 7, 2000 | March 29, 2000 | [1][8] | |||
33rd | Edward T. Norris | 2000 | 2002 | [1] | |||
34th | Kevin P. Clark | 2002 | 2004 | [1] | |||
35th | Leonard Hamm | 2004 | 2007 | [1] | |||
36th | Frederick H. Bealefeld III | 2007 | 2012 | [1] | |||
37th | Anthony Batts | September 27, 2012 | July 8, 2015 | [9][10][11] | |||
38th | Kevin Davis | July 8, 2015 | January 19, 2018 | Interim commissioner from July 8, 2015, to October 19, 2015. | [12][13][14] | ||
39th | Darryl De Sousa | January 19, 2018 | May 15, 2018 | Interim commissioner from January 19, 2018, to February 26, 2018. | [14][15][16] | ||
— | Gary Tuggle (interim) | May 15, 2018 | 2019 | [1][17] | |||
40th | Michael S. Harrison | March 12, 2019 | June 8, 2023 | [18] | |||
41st | Richard Worley | June 8, 2023 | — | Interim commissioner from June 8, 2023, to October 2, 2023. | [19][20] |
Board of Commissioners membership (1850–1920)
Timeline
Time period | President | Other members |
---|---|---|
1850–1861 | Charles Howard |
|
June 1861–March 29, 1862 Department was under United States Military control. Board members appointed by the military authorities. |
| |
March 29, 1862–1864 | Nicholas L. Wood |
|
1864–November 15, 1866 | Samuel Hindes |
|
November 15, 1866–March 1867 | James Young |
|
March 1867–March 14, 1870 | LeFevre Jarrett |
|
March 14, 1870–March 15, 1871 | John W. Davis |
|
March 15, 1871–March 15, 1875 | William H. B. Fusselbaugh |
|
March 15, 1875–March 15, 1877 |
| |
March 15, 1877–April 12, 1878 |
| |
April 12, 1878–March 15, 1881 |
| |
March 15, 1881–August 5, 1884 | George Colton |
|
August 5, 1884–February 25, 1886 |
| |
February 25, 1886–June 25, 1886 |
| |
June 25, 1886–March 15, 1887 |
| |
March 15, 1887–January 23, 1888 | Edson M. Schryver |
|
June 25, January 23, 1888–December 1, 1894 |
| |
December 1, 1894–March 27, 1896 |
| |
March 27, 1896–March 15, 1897 |
| |
March 15, 1897–May 7, 1900 | Daniel C. Heddinger |
|
May 7, 1900–March 23, 1904 | George M. Upshur |
|
March 23, 1904–May 2, 1904 |
| |
May 2, 1904–May 4, 1908 | George R. Willis |
|
May 4, 1908–May 2, 1910 | Sherlock Swann |
|
May 2, 1910–April 4, 1912 | John B. A. Wheltle |
|
April 4, 1912–May 6, 1912 |
| |
May 6, 1912–December 31, 1913 | Morris Ames Soper |
|
December 31, 1913–December 28, 1914 | James McEvoy |
|
December 28, 1914–March 22, 1916 | Daniel C. Ammidon |
|
March 22, 1916–May 1, 1916 |
| |
May 1, 1916–1920 | Lawrason Riggs |
|
List of members by name
The following is a list of all of those who served as members of the former board of commissioners. Periods as board president are also noted in itallics:[1]
- Daniel C. Ammidon (April 4, 1912–1920) –president December 28, 1914 – March 22, 1916
- Alfred J. Carr (June 25, 1886–January 23, 1888)
- James E. Carr (March 1867–March 15, 1871)
- C. Baker Clotworthy (May 2, 1910–April 4, 1912)
- George Colton (March 15, 1881–March 15, 1887) -president March 15, 1881 – March 15, 1887
- John W. Davis (1850–1861; March 14, 1870–March 15, 1871) –chair March 14, 1870 – March 15, 1871
- J. D. Ferguson (August 5, 1884–February 25, 1886)
- Edward H. Fowler (May 7, 1900–March 23, 1904)
- John Gill Jr. (January 23, 1888–March 15, 1897)
- Clarendon I. T. Gould (December 28, 1914–March 22, 1916)
- William H. B. Fusselbaugh (March 1867–March 15, 1881) -president March 15, 1871 – March 15, 1881
- William H. Gatchell (1850–1861)
- Harry Gilmor (March 15, 1875–April 12, 1878)
- Daniel C. Heddinger (March 27, 1896–May 7, 1900) –president March 15, 1897 – May 7, 1900
- James R. Herbert (April 12, 1878–August 5, 1884)
- Samuel Hindes (March 29, 1862–November 15, 1866) -president March 29, 1862 – November 15, 1866
- Charles D. Hinks (1850–1861)
- Charles Howard (1850–1861) -president 1850–1860
- LeFevre Jarrett (March 1867–March 14, 1870) –president March 1867–March 14, 1870
- William W. Johnson (March 15, 1897–May 7, 1900)
- Thomas Kelso (June 22, 1861–March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- John R. Kelso (June 22, 1861–March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- John C. Legg (December 1, 1894–March 27, 1896)
- James McEvoy (December 31, 1913–December 28, 1914) –president December 31, 1913 – December 28, 1914
- John Milroy (March 15, 1875 – March 15, 1877; April 12, 1878 – June 25, 1886)
- John T. Morris (May 7, 1900 – May 2, 1904)
- Thomas W. Morse (March 15, 1871 – March 15, 1875)
- Alfred S. Niles (May 6, 1912 – May 1, 1916)
- Columbus O'Donnell (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- James H. Preston (May 2, 1904 – May 4, 1908)
- John W. Randolph (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- Lawrason Riggs (March 22, 1916 – 1920) –president May 1, 1916–1920
- Joseph Roberts (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- John Q. A. Robson (February 25, 1886 – December 1, 1894)
- Peter Sauerwein (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- John B. Seidenstricker (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- Archibald Sterling Jr. (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- Edson M. Schryver (March 15, 1887 – May 7, 1900) –president March 15, 1887–March 15, 1897
- Thomas J. Shryock (March 23, 1904 – May 4, 1908)
- George A. Solter (1910–1914)[21]
- Morris Ames Soper (April 4, 1912 – December 31, 1913) –president May 6, 1912–December 31, 1913
- Peter E. Tome (May 4, 1908 – May 6, 1912)
- Michael Warner (June 22, 1861 – March 29, 1862 appointed by military)
- George R. Willis (May 2, 1904 – May 4, 1908) –president May 2, 1904–May 4, 1908
- John B. A. Wheltle (May 4, 1908 – May 6, 1912) –president May 2, 1910–1912
- Nicholas L. Wood (March 29, 1862 – November 15, 1866) -president 1850–1860
- George M. Upshur (May 7, 1900 – May 2, 1904) –president 1900-1904
- William T. Valiant (November 15, 1866–March 1867)
- James Young (November 15, 1866–March 1867)
Mayors that served as ex-officio members
- John Hanson Thomas Jerome (1850–1852)
- John Smith Hollins (1852–1854)
- Samuel Hinks (1854–1856)
- Thomas Swann (1856–1860)
- George William Brown (1860–1861)
- John L. Chapman (1862–1867)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an Society, Baltimore Police Historical. "Commissioners". Baltimore Police Museum. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "New Police Board Men Learn Ropes". The Baltimore Sun. April 8, 1912. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "New Boards In Charge". The Baltimore Sun. May 7, 1912. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Lawson Quits Police Post 'Temporarily,' Until Sec Fraud Charges Are Heard". The Baltimore Sun. July 31, 1938. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved January 12, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Ames, C. Delano (September 23, 1938). "The Cops and Their New Commissioner". The Evening Sun. p. 33. Retrieved March 23, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Ober Funeral Arranged For Tomorrow". The Baltimore Sun. April 8, 1955. pp. 33, 44. Retrieved December 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Hermann, Peter (September 25, 1999). "Commissioner emphasizes his successes". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hermann, Peter; Shields, Gerald (March 30, 2000). "Daniel quitting as police chief; Mayor says the two could not agree on how to get job done; Daniel held post 57 days; Friction with mayor, outside consultants leads to resignation". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Baltimore police commissioner expected to be former Oakland chief - Baltimore Sun". The Baltimore Sun. August 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Why can't Baltimore solve its crime epidemic? - Baltimore Post-Examiner". Baltimore Post Examiner. March 13, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Graham, David A. (July 8, 2015). "Baltimore's Mayor Fires Her Police Commissioner". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Handore, Pratik (May 3, 2022). "Is Kevin Davis Based on a Real Person? Where is He Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Cassie, Ron (October 20, 2015). "Kevin Davis Confirmed as New City Police Chief". Baltimore Magazine. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ a b Rector, Kevin (January 19, 2018). "Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis fired by Mayor Pugh, citing rising crime". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Darryl De Sousa Confirmed As New Baltimore Police Commissioner". WOLB Talk 1010. February 27, 2018. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to File Tax Returns". www.justice.gov. March 29, 2019. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Herring, Vanessa (May 15, 2018). "Acting BPD Commissioner Gary Tuggle says it's 'business as usual'". WBAL. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jessica (March 12, 2019). "Michael Harrison sworn in as Baltimore's 41st police commissioner". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Price, Lilly (June 8, 2023). "Who is Richard Worley, the new acting Baltimore Police commissioner?". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Emily (October 2, 2023). "City Council confirms Richard Worley as Baltimore Police Commissioner". The Baltimore Banner. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "George A. Solter". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. November 11, 2005. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.