The same Baltimore City employee topped the list of overtime earners in each of the last three years: Police Officer Albert Marcus.
He made $173,791 last year, significantly raising his base salary of $70,176. Only three city employees took home more than he did: State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy, Finance Director Edward Gallagher — and Marcus' boss, Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld.
Marcus has made more than the mayor in each of the past three years.
He did not return several messages left with the homicide section, where he's now assigned. But the head of his unit, Maj. Terrence P. McLarney, sang his praises and said Marcus' extra shifts don't affect his performance as a homicide detective.
"Marcus hums like a bird," McLarney said. "He loves to put the uniform on. He's a good cop. He works very hard."
Much of Marcus' extra work is not connected with investigating murders. The 35-year veteran scouts out opportunities for additional pay working secondary jobs with the Orioles and the Ravens — payments for which the teams reimburse the city.
Known as "Mad Dog" from his days as a drug cop, Marcus also has a reputation for dressing sharply — The Sun featured him in a 2001 fashion column.
"I always wear double-breasted suits, and really expensive ties," he said in a 2001 interview. "I wear hats — a black hat or blue dress hat in wintertime and a lighter hat in summer — and I usually have custom-made shirts with French cuffs. Also, I get my shoes shined every day. If you don't have shined shoes, you might as well not even put on a suit."
This year Marcus is again projected to be the top overtime earner in the police department, making $93,681 in overtime by working 1,964 extra hours, according department figures. City data for the budget year that ends today is not yet available.