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

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.
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 Lawson | 1937 | 1938 | [1] | |||
21st | Robert F. Stanton | 1938 | 1943 | [1] | |||
22nd | ![]() | Hamilton R. Atkinson | 1943 | 1949 | [1] | ||
23rd | ![]() | Beverly Ober | 1949 | April 7, 1955 | Died in office. | [1][4] | |
— | Fred L. Ford (interim) | April 7, 1955 | 1955 | [4] | |||
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][5] | |||
John E. Gavrilis, Elbert Shirley, and Robert Smith rotated as interim police commissioners | October 1, 1999 | 2000 | [5] | ||||
32nd | Ronald K. Daniel | February 7, 2000 | March 29, 2000 | [1][6] | |||
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 | [7][8][9] | |||
38th | ![]() | Kevin Davis | July 8, 2015 | January 19, 2018 | Interim commissioner from July 8, 2015 to October 19, 2015. | [10][11][12] | |
39th | Darryl D. DeSousa | January 19, 2018 | May 15, 2018 | Interim commissioner from January 19, 2018 to February 26, 2018. | [12][13][14] | ||
— | Garry Tuggle (interim) | May 15, 2018 | 2019 | [1][15] | |||
40th | ![]() | Michael S. Harrison | March 12, 2019 | June 8, 2023 | [16] | ||
41st | ![]() | Richard Worley | June 8, 2023 | — | Interim commissioner from June 8, 2023 to October 2, 2023. | [17][18] |
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)[19]
- 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
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Society, Baltimore Police Historical. "Commissioners". baltimorepolicemuseum.com. Baltimore Police Museum. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ "New Police Board Men Learn Ropes". Newspapers.com. The Evening Sun (Baltimore). 8 April 1912. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ↑ "New Boards In Charge". Newspapers.com. The Baltimore Sun. 7 May 1912. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- 1 2 "Ober Funeral Arranged For Tomorrow". The Baltimore Sun. April 8, 1955. pp. 33, 44. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
- 1 2 Hermann, Peter (25 Sep 1999). "Commissioner emphasizes his successes". Newspapers.com. The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ 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". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 2022-04-26. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Baltimore Sun (August 27, 2012). "Baltimore police commissioner expected to be former Oakland chief - Baltimore Sun". Baltimoresun.com. 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 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Graham, David A. (8 July 2015). "Baltimore's Mayor Fires Her Police Commissioner". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Handore, Pratik (3 May 2022). "Is Kevin Davis Based on a Real Person? Where is He Now?". The Cinemaholic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Cassie, Ron (20 October 2015). "Kevin Davis Confirmed as New City Police Chief". Baltimore Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- 1 2 Rector, Kevin (January 19, 2018). "Baltimore Police commissioner Kevin Davis fired by Mayor Pugh, citing rising crime". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ "Darryl De Sousa Confirmed As New Baltimore Police Commissioner". WOLB Talk 1010. 27 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ "Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to File Tax Returns". www.justice.gov. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Herring, Vanessa (15 May 2018). "Acting BPD Commissioner Gary Tuggle says it's 'business as usual'". WBAL. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Anderson, Jessica (March 12, 2019). "Michael Harrison sworn in as Baltimore's 41st police commissioner". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ↑ Price, Lilly (8 June 2023). "Who is Richard Worley, the new acting Baltimore Police commissioner?". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ↑ Sullivan, Emily (October 2, 2023). "City Council confirms Richard Worley as Baltimore Police Commissioner". Baltimore Banner. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ↑ "George A. Solter". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. 2005-11-11. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
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