List of commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department

Last updated

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.

Contents

Commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department

Presidents of the Board of Police Commissioners

Morris Ames Soper (president of the Board of Police Commissioners, 1912-1913) Morris Ames Soper, U.S. District Court Judge.jpg
Morris Ames Soper (president of the Board of Police Commissioners, 1912–1913)

Before 1920, the department was led by a multi-member Board of Police Commissioners. This board was led by a president.

OrderNameTenure startTenure endMayor(s) served alongside/underRef
1stCharles Howard18501861 [1]
Department under United States Military control (June 1861–March 29, 1862) [1]
2ndNicholas L. WoodMarch 29, 18621864 [1]
3rdSamuel Hindes1864November 15, 1866 [1]
4thJames YoungNovember 15, 1866March 1867 [1]
5thLeFevre JarrettMarch 1867March 14, 1870 [1]
6thJohn W. DavisMarch 14, 1870March 15, 1871 [1]
7thWilliam H. B. FusselbaughMarch 15, 1871March 15, 1881 [1]
8th George Colton March 15, 1881March 15, 1887 [1]
9th Edson M. Schryver, c.1897.jpg Edson M. SchryverMarch 15, 1887March 15, 1897 [1]
10thDaniel C. HeddingerMarch 15, 1897May 7, 1900 [1]
11th George M. Upshur, c.1893 (cropped).jpg George M. Upshur May 7, 1900May 2, 1904 [1]
12th George R. Willis, c.1911.jpg George R. WillisMay 2, 1904May 4, 1908 [1]
13th Sherlock Swann, c.1910.jpg Sherlock SwannMay 4, 1908May 2, 1910 [1]
14thJohn B. A. WheltleMay 2, 1910April 4, 1912 [1] [2]
15th Morris Ames Soper, U.S. District Court Judge.jpg Morris Ames Soper April 4, 1912December 31, 1913 [1] [3]
16th James McEvoy, c.1914 (cropped).jpg James McEvoyDecember 31, 1913December 28, 1914 [1]
17thDaniel C. AmmidonDecember 28, 1914March 22, 1916 [1]
18th Lawrason Riggs, c.1906 (cropped).jpg Lawrason Riggs May 1, 19161920 [1]

Police commissioners since 1920

OrderNameTenure startTenure endMayor(s) served alongside/underNotesRef
19th Charles D. Gaither (1860-1947) (1).png Charles D. Gaither 19201937First solo police commissioner after disestablishment of board of commissioners [1]
20th William P. Lawson.jpg William P. Lawson 1937July 31, 1938 [1] [4]
Stephen G. Nelson.jpg Stephen G. Nelson (interim)July 31, 1938September 23, 1938 [4]
21st Robert F. Stanton (cropped).jpg Robert F. StantonSeptember 23, 19381943 [1] [5]
22nd Hamilton R. Atkinson, c.1927 (cropped).jpg Hamilton R. Atkinson19431949 [1]
23rd Beverly Ober.jpg Beverly Ober1949April 7, 1955Died in office. [1] [6]
Fred L. Ford (interim)April 7, 19551955 [6]
24thJames M. Hepbron19551961 [1]
25thBernard Schmidt19611966 [1]
26th Donald Pomerleau 19661981 [1]
27th Frank Battaglia 19811984 [1]
28th Bishop Robinson 19841987 [1]
29thEdward J. Tilghman19871989 [1]
30thEdward V. Woods19891993 [1]
31stThomas C. Frazier1994October 1, 1999 [1] [7]
John E. Gavrilis, Elbert Shirley, and Robert Smith rotated as interim police commissionersOctober 1, 19992000 [7]
32nd Ronald L. Daniel February 7, 2000March 29, 2000 [1] [8]
33rd Ed Norris Maryland State Police circa 2003 (1).jpg Edward T. Norris 20002002 [1]
34th Kevin P. Clark 20022004 [1]
35th Leonard Hamm (2007) (1).jpg Leonard Hamm 20042007 [1]
36th Frederick H. Bealefeld (1).jpg Frederick H. Bealefeld III 20072012 [1]
37th Anthony Batts September 27, 2012July 8, 2015 [9] [10] [11]
38th Kevin Davis (34530898564) (1).jpg Kevin Davis July 8, 2015January 19, 2018Interim commissioner from July 8, 2015, to October 19, 2015. [12] [13] [14]
39thDarryl D. De SousaJanuary 19, 2018May 15, 2018Interim commissioner from January 19, 2018, to February 26, 2018. [14] [15] [16]
Gary Tuggle (interim)May 15, 20182019 [1] [17]
40th Michael S. Harrison (47332535142) (1).jpg Michael S. Harrison March 12, 2019June 8, 2023 [18]
41st Lights Out Press Conference (53575617010) (Worley crop).jpg Richard Worley June 8, 2023Interim commissioner from June 8, 2023, to October 2, 2023. [19] [20]

Board of Commissioners membership (1850–1920)

Timeline

Board of Commissioners composition (1850–1920) [1]
Time periodPresidentOther members
1850–1861Charles Howard
  • John W. Davis
  • William H. Gatchell
  • Charles D. Hinks
  • mayor an ex-officio member
June 1861–March 29, 1862
Department was under United States Military control. Board members appointed by the military authorities.
  • Thomas Kelso
  • John R. Kelso
  • Columbus O'Donnell
  • John W. Randolph
  • Joseph Roberts
  • John B. Seidenstricker
  • Archibald Sterling Jr.
  • Peter Sauerwein
  • Michael Warner
March 29, 1862–1864Nicholas L. Wood
  • Samuel Hinds
  • mayor an ex-officio member
1864–November 15, 1866Samuel Hindes
  • Nicholas K. Woods
  • mayor an ex-officio member
November 15, 1866–March 1867James Young
  • William T. Valiant
  • mayor an ex-officio member
March 1867–March 14, 1870LeFevre Jarrett
  • James E. Carr
  • William H. B. Fusselbaugh
March 14, 1870–March 15, 1871John W. Davis
  • James E. Carr
  • William H. B. Fusselbaugh
March 15, 1871–March 15, 1875William H. B. Fusselbaugh
  • James E. Carr
  • Thomas W. Morse
March 15, 1875–March 15, 1877
  • Harry Gilmor
  • John Milroy
March 15, 1877–April 12, 1878
  • Harry Gilmor
  • James R. Hebert
April 12, 1878–March 15, 1881
  • James R. Herbert
  • John Milroy
March 15, 1881–August 5, 1884 George Colton
  • James R. Herbert
  • John Milroy
August 5, 1884–February 25, 1886
  • John Milroy
  • J. D. Furguson
February 25, 1886–June 25, 1886
  • John Q. A. Robson
  • John Milroy
June 25, 1886–March 15, 1887
  • John Q. A. Robson
  • Afred J. Carr
March 15, 1887–January 23, 1888Edson M. Schryver
  • Alfred J. Carr
June 25, January 23, 1888–December 1, 1894
  • John Gil Jr.
  • John Q. A. Robson
December 1, 1894–March 27, 1896
  • John Gil Jr.
  • John C. Legg
March 27, 1896–March 15, 1897
  • Jonh Gill Jr.
  • Daniel C. Heddinger
March 15, 1897–May 7, 1900Daniel C. Heddinger
  • William W. Johnson
  • Edison M. Schryver
May 7, 1900–March 23, 1904 George M. Upshur
  • Edward H. Fowler
  • John T. Morris
March 23, 1904–May 2, 1904
  • John T. Morris
  • Thomas J. Shryock
May 2, 1904–May 4, 1908George R. Willis
  • James H. Preston
  • Thomas J. Shryock
May 4, 1908–May 2, 1910Sherlock Swann
  • Peter E. Tome
  • John B. A. Wheltle
May 2, 1910–April 4, 1912John B. A. Wheltle
  • Peter E. Tome
  • C. Baker Clotworthy
April 4, 1912–May 6, 1912
May 6, 1912–December 31, 1913 Morris Ames Soper
  • Daniel C. Ammidon
  • Alfred S. Niles
December 31, 1913–December 28, 1914James McEvoy
  • Daniel C. Ammidon
  • Alfred S. Niles
December 28, 1914–March 22, 1916Daniel C. Ammidon
  • Clarendon I. T. Gould
  • Alfred S. Niles
March 22, 1916–May 1, 1916
May 1, 1916–1920 Lawrason Riggs
  • Daniel C. Ammidon
  • Edward F. Burke

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]

Mayors that served as ex-officio members

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References

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