Interim chief taking over at critical time

The Baltimore Sun

Police Commissioner Leonard D. Hamm's resignation leaves the Baltimore Police Department without a leader at an especially challenging time -- less than two months before the mayoral primary election, as the city struggles with a surge in homicides and shootings.

Mayor Sheila Dixon is expected to name Frederick H. Bealefeld III to temporarily take over the 3,000-officer department, according to sources, and he is a potential contender for the permanent job, which likely won't be filled until after the Sept. 11 primary.

Bealefeld, a 26-year veteran, was tapped to be deputy commissioner of operations in February and has been a visible and vocal member of the department ever since.

As the No. 2 man in the department, Bealefeld is frank, at times emotional, often expressing outrage at the seemingly senseless crime in the city.

"This is exactly what's happening in the city, all over the place," said Bealefeld in June when a 4-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet. "Just mindless, crazy shooting incidents that are occurring right now."

Previously, Bealefeld was chief of the Criminal Investigation Division, overseeing 300 detectives and employees who investigated cases of violence, property crime, sex offense and missing persons.

The interim chief will take over at a critical time. The city has had 177 homicides this year, putting Baltimore on pace to exceed 300 homicides for the first time since 1999. Nonfatal shootings are up more than 30 percent. Police morale is low, and the Fraternal Order of Police is set to begin contract negotiations soon.

Furthermore, the department is still adjusting to a drastic shift in policing strategies that took place when Dixon was elevated to mayor in January after Martin O'Malley became governor.

Dixon moved away from O'Malley's zero-tolerance policy, which had led to mass arrests for sometimes minor crimes, and moved to more foot patrols, community outreach and targeted enforcement of the city's most violent offenders.

Jeffrey Ian Ross, a criminologist at the University of Baltimore, said for a department used to a high turnover rate for its commissioner, the impact of replacing Hamm should be minimal. "Most large departments can operate reasonably well, sort of like on autopilot," said Ross. "I'm assuming that these people are reasonably capable and that they can manage the department in the interim."

"And nobody would really want to come here right now in terms of talent because they may find out that after the election ... the mayor doesn't want them," he added.

Ross said now that O'Malley is out of City Hall and in Annapolis, police chiefs across the country might be more willing to apply for the commissioner's job in Baltimore. "It's well-known in policing circles that O'Malley was a hands-on person with the Police Department," he said.

In addition to Bealefeld, other names circulated as potential commissioners include Errol Dutton, the deputy commissioner for administration; Jesse B. Oden, head of the housing division; Antonio Williams, the former schools police chief who is now chief of UMBC's police department; Barry W. Powell, a former deputy city police commissioner; and former New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass, who resigned shortly after Hurricane Katrina.

Bealefeld, 44, lives with his wife, Linda, and two school-age children in Harford County.

He comes from a long line of police officers. His great-grandfather, grandfather and great-uncle all worked for the department. And his younger brother, Charles, is a homicide detective.

Bealefeld graduated from Chesapeake High School in Anne Arundel County and attended community college.

Paul M. Blair Jr., president of Baltimore's Fraternal Order of Police, would not comment on Bealefeld or any other potential commissioner.

"This is our eighth commissioner in the last eight years," said Blair, referring to both permanent and interim commissioners. "I want to see who is in charge. You put someone in there who really wants to work with the rank and file and is concerned about morale and getting back on the right track, that could be a great move. If it's someone who wants to go with the status quo until after the election, we probably won't see any change."

Robert F. Cherry Jr., vice president of the union and a homicide detective, said he had "a lot of respect" for Bealefeld. "He did a tremendous job as district commander in Southern. He came up through the ranks," he said. "He's probably the hardest-working cop in the department. He's an excellent motivator."

But others are less complimentary.

"He's a good street cop," said Lt. Frederick V. Roussey, a former top union official, but "he was in way over his head as deputy commissioner."

sumathi.reddy@baltsun.com gus.sentementes@baltsun.com

Sun reporter Julie Bykowicz contributed to this article.

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