By Tashi McQueen,
AFRO Political Writer,
tmcqueen@afro.com
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison and Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced Harrison’s sudden departure on June 8.
“Over the last few weeks – I’ve been in conversations with our mayor about my future and about the future of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD),” said Harrison, during a news conference in City Hall. “In those conversations, it became convincing to me that this was the most opportune time for me to pass the torch and the mayor shares that vision that this is the right time.”
Effective immediately, Richard Worley is the new acting Baltimore Police commissioner.
During a live-streamed news conference, Harrison said he will remain accessible to Worley and Scott until he is fully sworn in.
“On behalf of all Baltimoreans, I want to extend thanks to Commissioner Harrison for his leadership over the past four-and-a-half years,” said Scott in a statement. “In that time, we’ve taken meaningful strides to tackle many of our public safety goals and lay out a vision for the future of our great city.”
According to the year four review released by BPD, violent crimes have gone down from 10,653 in 2019 to 9,060 in 2022.
Harrison was sworn in on March 12, 2019 as the 41st commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, according to the BPD website. For nearly 30 years, Harrison served in the New Orleans Police Department. He was also a part of the Louisiana Air National Guard for eight years.
During Harrison’s time, he partnered with the Mayor’s office to implement the Group Violence Reduction Strategy throughout the western and southwestern districts. He also increased proactive community involvement and data dashboards.
Worley is no stranger to the work that has been done under Harrison’s command.
“Deputy Commissioner [Richard] Worley has proven his commitment to our city time and time again. As a fellow son of Baltimore and an experienced public servant, it is clear that he is the right person to lead this department into the future,” said Scott.
Many community leaders and legislators published reactions to the sudden news.
“Under Commissioner Harrison’s leadership, the Baltimore Police department made tremendous progress on much needed reforms, improving operations, and evolving the way policing happens in our city. We are disappointed to hear today’s news and thank him for the partnership for a safer city,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee. “The GBC was proud to work with the Commissioner. The GBC’s Board of Directors and members will be ready and willing partners to ensure Acting Commissioner Richard Worley and the Baltimore Police Department.”
Councilwoman Odette Ramos (D-District 14) also weighed in on the change in leadership.
“I am sorry that Commissioner Harrison will be leaving the Baltimore City Police Department. Commissioner Harrison believed in transparency and accountability, as a member of the Public Safety and Government Operations Committee, I saw this firsthand,” said Ramos. ‘I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Baltimore City Comptroller Bill Henry issued a statement on the departure.
“Thanks to Commissioner Harrison’s dedication and hard work, we have a substantially better managed police department. As a veteran of federal policing consent decrees, his knowledge and leadership were indispensable in the monumental progress BPD has made towards emerging from our own consent decree,” said Henry. “I appreciate his service to the City of Baltimore and I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Tashi McQueen is a Report For America Corps Member.
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