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70-674: 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. Before 1920, the department was led by a multi-member Board of Police Commissioners. This board was led by a president. 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: Baltimore Police Department The first attempt to establish professional policing in Baltimore

140-462: A $ 48 million budget from the City — an increase of $ 15 million over a three-year span. Pomerleau was a believer in a military hierarchy and created a strict chain of command . He also introduced new riot control tactics: for example, distinguishing 'offensive' weapons ('chemical agents such as tear gas') from defensive weapons (nightstick, revolver). Pomerleau immediately recognized racial tension as

210-410: A Virginia couple for asking for directions to a major highway. The couple, released after seven hours in city jail, were not charged with any crime. They were initially taken into custody for trespassing on a public street. Their vehicle was impounded at the city lot, with windows down and doors unlocked, resulting in theft of several personal items. In 2007, the state of Maryland passed a law requiring

280-564: A century, since before the American Civil War , held the power to appoint Baltimore City's Commissioner of Police. In consultation with Baltimore's then progressive Republican Mayor (and former 1950s Governor himself), Theodore R. McKeldin , (1900-1974), [38th and 42nd Mayor, served 1943–1947, 1963-1967], he hired Pomerleau the following year of 1966 with a mandate and charge to "clean up" the Department. Although it seemed that

350-525: A court commissioner. All arrestees in Maryland are required to have an initial appearance before a court commissioner within 24 hours of their arrest. The exposure of these cases led to judicial and legislative action. In 2005, the Maryland Court of Appeals ordered all arrestees not charged within 24 hours to be released. On May 16, 2006, a Baltimore City police officer, Natalie Preston, arrested

420-654: A full-out armed confrontation in the Baltimore riot of 1861 . The U.S. military ran the police department until 1862, when they turned authority back to the state legislature. The department introduced call boxes in 1885, the Bertillon identification system in 1896, and radio communications in 1933. The first African American officer hired by the department was a woman: Violet Hill Whyte , in 1937. The first black male officers (Walter T. Eubanks Jr., Harry S. Scott, Milton Gardner, and J. Hiram Butler Jr.) were hired

490-422: A list of "hundreds of officers" who had allegations of misconduct that called their credibility into question. Commissioner James M. Hepbron was subject to a hearing on February 19, 1959, led by Jerome Robinson, Democratic State Delegate for the fourth district. Delegate Robinson had a long history of challenging wiretapping and search warrants, as he believed the practice unconstitutional, against Federal law and

560-597: A major challenge for the BCPD. Soon after his appointment, he asked officers to take crash courses in Black (now African-American) history. Pomerleau also lifted remaining job restrictions on African American officers from when the Department first tentatively recruited a limited number of "Colored" patrolmen in the 1930s, who were previously limited to foot patrols, quarantined in rank, barred from patrolling in "White" neighborhoods, and given limited specialty assignments. However,

630-493: A newly created public-private agency, the Baltimore Development Corporation and its powerful Trustees, which continued the major re-development of the " Inner Harbor " area where previous city agencies from the 1950s to 1970s left off, and soon expanded its reach and influence among its projects throughout the city. The controversies endured through six more mayoral administrations up to 2013, upon

700-789: A sergeant in 1938. After his discharge, Pomerleau worked for a construction company in Nevada, and then for the U. S. Border Patrol in California and Arizona. In 1942, after World War II began, he re-enlisted and served in the Military Police Corps of the United States Army . Pomerleau served in the Guadalcanal Campaign , the Battle of Tarawa , the Battle of Saipan , and Battle of Tinian . Pomerleau

770-572: A tie. Short sleeve uniform shirts are authorized for warmer months. The 8-point peaked cap is worn by all officers. Its cap device is the Maryland Coat of Arms; silver for those below the rank of Lieutenant, gold for Lieutenants, and gold with coloured detail for Captains and above. The hat has a chin strap; black for Police Officers and Detectives, blue for Sergeants and gold for Lieutenants and above. Captains and above have gold fretting on their visor. Police Officers have their badge number below

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840-412: A violation of the natural rights of the citizen. In the 90-day public hearing and investigation, Robinson stated that the commissioner "demonstrate[d] lack of a sense of propriety and in several respects a lack of comprehension on the part of the commissioner of the nature of his duties, the functions of the department, and the obligations to the citizenry" During the public hearing Hepbron incessantly left

910-909: A year of negotiations between the city and plaintiffs. The settlement provides for far-reaching reforms of the BPD's arrest and monitoring practices. The suit, which was filed in 2006, and amended in 2007, was brought on behalf of thirteen individual plaintiffs and the Maryland State Conference and Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP. In 2016, the United States Justice Department issued a 163-page report which "condemned many long-standing discriminatory enforcement practices by Baltimore police that allowed for illegal searches, arrests and stops of African Americans for minor offenses." The highly critical report also chastised

980-666: The Miami-Dade County police force, and generally could not get his way or institute his programs and policies. By 1964, he became a consultant for the Baltimore City Police Department sent by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) . The IACP then also sent Pomerleau in 1965 to investigate Baltimore during the heat of the earlier years of the civil rights movement , with rising fears of civil unrest in

1050-553: The " war on drugs ", as with other cities, adding to the stresses of several African American neighborhoods in East and West Baltimore already hollowed out by drug use. African American police officers were intensely disliked, as were white ones. In 1971, African American officers founded the Vanguard Justice Society , to represent their rights and interests. Throughout the 1970s, more African Americans advanced in

1120-436: The 1960s, race riots erupted in Baltimore and other cities. Some positive change was implemented under Commissioner Donald Pomerleau , appointed in 1966 after consulting for the International Association of Chiefs of Police in the city for two years and writing a damning report on the department. Pomerleau described the BPD as "the most corrupt and antiquated in the nation, and had developed almost no positive relationship with

1190-616: The Baltimore City Police Department in September 1981. In October 1981, Commissioner Pomerleau was hired by the Abacus Corporation , a nationwide private security and guard force agency which then received an expanded contract with the city and established "Abacus Security Services". The following month of November, Pomerleau created a private firm called "Baltimore's Best Security". This firm

1260-502: The Colt LE6946CQB. The espantoon is an ornate, straight wooden baton with a long swiveled leather strap designed for twirling. It is distinct to the city of Baltimore and has been in use for generations. Between 1994 and 2000, the espantoon was banned by commissioner Thomas Frazier in favor of the koga stick due to the perception that its twirling intimidated the citizenry. In 2000, Edward T. Norris became commissioner and lifted

1330-426: The automatic expungement of the record of one who is arrested, but then released without being charged, thereby eliminating the dilemma many such victims faced that would prevent them from passing a criminal background check if the record remained, but would not allow for a wrongful arrest lawsuit if the record were expunged. On June 23, 2010, a $ 870,000 comprehensive settlement was reached which culminated more than

1400-433: The ban on the espantoon to raise staff morale and instill a more aggressive approach to policing, although he did not make its use mandatory. Norris stated, "When I found out what they meant to the rank and file, I said, 'Bring them back.' ... It is a tremendous part of the history of this Police Department." Sergeants and below wear a navy blue shirt and pants, with a felt stripe down the pant leg, with any rank insignia on

1470-693: The bill become law without his signature. As of 2021, 60% of sworn BPD officers were racial or ethnic minorities, with both black and white officers making up 40% of the force. Female officers comprised 15% of the department. The department absorbed the City Park Police in the early 1960s. In 2005, the Housing Authority Police were disbanded and operations taken over by the Baltimore Police Department. Housing Authority officers had to reapply for jobs with

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1540-550: The charges against him. De Sousa resigned several days later. In 2021, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill to transfer full control of the department from the state to the city. The transfer is contingent on city voters' approval of a charter amendment. Mayor Brandon Scott plans to assemble a panel tasked with finding ways that funding could be shifted from police to other agencies. Though Gov. Larry Hogan publicly questioned Scott's plans, he let

1610-527: The city and lived at 4009 Keswick Road (off University Parkway ) in the southern lower neighborhood of Roland Park in North Baltimore. Soon after his appointment, Pomerleau made it easier for people to join the force, decreasing vacancies from 418 to 370 within six months. His first budget proposal included higher salaries and bigger pensions for patrolmen/officers, new vehicles (with a re-designed "friendlier" blue and white paint scheme, to replace

1680-417: The city and maintained loyalties to former leaders. The first BPD officer to die in the line of duty was Sergeant William Jourdan, who was shot and killed by an unknown gunman during the first city council elections on October 14, 1857. In 1861, during the U.S. Civil War , the police department was taken over by the federal government after police helped push pro-U.S. and pro-Confederate rioters into

1750-476: The city or a specialized unit. Officers in patrol units work 5 eight-hour shifts a week. As of 2024 , the department is administered by Police Commissioner Richard Worley . The Commissioner is head of the department. Under him are four Deputy Commissioners, heading the Operations, Public Integrity, Compliance and Administrative Bureaus. In addition, the rank of Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel generally serve as

1820-520: The city police, losing any previous seniority. In the 2010s, there has been discussion of merging the Baltimore Schools Police into the department as well. Promotion is possible after three years of service. Opportunities for advanced training are provided, including specialized firearms training, defense tactics, and job-related topics such as basic criminal investigation. Hash marks, one for every five years service, will be worn on

1890-536: The city's Negro community". Pomerleau oversaw many reforms, including the racial integration of the department by 1966, also partly a result of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and efforts by local black activists. However, the riot of 1968 broke out across the city's African-American neighborhoods in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Because few black officers held rank within

1960-515: The city's preexisting black-owned firms. The City Council , in late 1981, led by President Walter Orlinsky, accused Pomerleau and Schaefer of attempting to establish a "shadow government". The Council attempted to pass rules that would restrict the role of quasi-private agencies in city governance. This was the beginning of a 30-year controversy involving the use of a massive "slush fund" treasury, issuance of city-backed bonds for various "civic improvement" and commercial/residential "urban renewal" by

2030-524: The city. There had always been a large African American minority in Baltimore, which had been growing steadily and became a majority in the mid 20th century. The police department remained dominated by whites; traditionally mostly Irish Americans . During the Civil Rights Movement , trust between the department and the predominantly black city became increasingly strained, as African Americans pressed for fair treatment and social justice. In

2100-783: The civilian chief financial officer who oversees the Management Services Division. The main squad cars used by the department are the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and Chevrolet Caprice , along with Harley Davidson motorcycles. Newer versions of the Ford Taurus SHO and Chevrolet Caprice are being implemented. Some older Chevrolet Impalas are still in service. Unmarked Dodge Chargers, Chevrolet Cobalts and Impalas and assorted Kias are used by some command staff and specialized units. The older vehicle paint scheme

2170-469: The coat of arms, while Detectives and any supervisory rank has their title below the coat of arms. The current badge was designed in 1976. It is a shield, with "Police" written at the top, the Maryland state shield with the Battle Monument in the middle, and the words "Baltimore Maryland" and the officer's badge number at the bottom. An eagle is perched on top, holding a ribbon in its beak showing

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2240-469: The commanding officer of each district. In a similar fashion, apart from those serving as the Major's Executive Officer at the district level, Captains may also oversee a particular sub-division as well (Traffic, Tactical, Major Crimes). Lieutenants are tasked with being the shift commander within their respective districts. Some jobs are filled by non-sworn personnel as Directors and Coordinators; in particular,

2310-479: The decree for 30 days in order to allow review by the Trump Administration. On May 10, 2018, newly appointed Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa was charged in U.S. District Court with three misdemeanor counts of failing to file federal taxes for 2013, 2014 and 2015. Mayor Catherine Pugh initially expressed support for De Sousa, but a day later she suspended him with pay pending the resolution of

2380-562: The decree in early April 2017, with commitment from Mayor Catherine Pugh and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis to make the changes proposed. Pugh already had included $ 10 million in the city budget for this purpose. The city will also be required to invest in better technology and equipment, and "for the Police Department to enhance civilian oversight and transparency." He denied a Department of Justice request to postpone signing

2450-540: The department began its patrol rifle program, issuing Colt LE6920 rifles to selected members of the patrol division. The department's SWAT team (originally the Quick Response Team) carried a mix of weapons in its early years, including M1 carbines, M16 assault rifles, Colt 9 mm SMGs and Ruger Mini 14 rifles. In the early 2000s, SWAT rearmed with a mix of UMP40 sub machine guns and G36K assault rifles. In 2014, SWAT replaced their assault rifles with

2520-485: The department has now found itself transitioning back from black to white for the primary vehicle color. The stripes largely remained unchanged. The primary service weapon is the Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol , replacing the Glock 17 9mm pistol. Officers are also issued a Monadnock expandable straight baton, TASER 7 and pepper spray . Lethal and less-lethal Remington 870 shotguns are available for patrol. In 2014,

2590-481: The department's "zero tolerance" and "broken windows" policing, and found that the department's practices "regularly discriminated against black residents in poor communities". In April 2017, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar approved a consent decree signed by the Baltimore Police Department and former acting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta , rejecting an objection by new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions . In 2016, continuous aerial surveillance

2660-499: The department, the African American community was confronted by a white-dominated police department. In the latter part of the 20th century, restructuring of industry and railroads resulted in a massive loss of industrial jobs in Baltimore. These changes resulted in depopulation, unemployment and poverty; all serious challenges for the police department. Police community relations were severely strained in Baltimore during

2730-493: The department; Black officers were promoted to positions of district commanders and chief of patrol. In July 1974, officers joined other striking municipal workers for five days during the Baltimore police strike . In 1984, Mayor Donald Schaefer appointed veteran police officer Bishop L. Robinson as Baltimore's first black police commissioner. The department had previously long been dominated by ethnic Irish American and briefly by Italian Americans . Robinson had been

2800-695: The force's first Black officer to command the Eastern District and the Patrol Division. The department redefined several of its policies in effort to avoid the mistakes other departments made in the Watts riots of Los Angeles and Liberty City riots in Miami . The department began using computerized booking procedures and 911 emergency systems in 1985, and created the first ever 311 non-emergency system in 1996. CCTV cameras began to be used in

2870-439: The growing anti-Vietnam War movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was also accused of spying on and harassing members of Police Local 1195 for the purpose of union-busting. In 1976, The Maryland Senate issued a report stating that Pomerleau had used illegal spying methods, including wiretapping, surveillance, and illicit acquisition of credit reports. Pomerleau said he had done nothing illegal and that any spying

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2940-405: The head of a particular section or division across the entire agency (Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Neighborhood Services, etc.). The rank of Major is assigned to those who develop, implement, coordinate, and ultimately supervise the day-to-day activities of the department in notable areas of prominence (Special Operations, Homicide/Shootings, Communications, etc.), as well as to those who serve as

3010-576: The head of the city police was "an SS officer in a Chesterfield coat who is impatient with the Bill of Rights and intolerant of the constitutional liberties and prerogatives of the people" Alvin J. T. Zumbrun, former managing director of the Criminal Justice Commission , issued a statement against Robinson in the commissioner's defense. He described the charges brought against Hepbron "the utterances of an angry madman possessed with

3080-420: The hearing and/or refused to answer specifications against him. During the hearing, Robinson urged the commissioner to resign in the public interest. Robinson wrote, "it is obvious that he has outlived his position. His administration has produced continuing deterioration and the demoralization of the department". The charges against Hepbron included: Despite considerable evidence, Hebron denied to address he

3150-584: The high crime rate in the city of Baltimore , which in some years has been ranked among the highest in the nation. In the mid-2000s, Maryland State Delegate Jill P. Carter , daughter of local civil rights leader, Walter P. Carter , publicized numerous cases of the Baltimore City Police arresting people for seemingly minor offenses, detaining them at Central Booking for several hours. Many were released without charges. Some were reportedly detained at Central Booking for several days before seeing

3220-632: The left sleeve of the uniform as of 2015. In July 2016 the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel were intended to be eliminated as a streamlining and standardisation measure, with all affected personnel being appointed to the rank of Chief, a title formerly used only by certain civilian employees within the department. However, as of 2018 both Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel ranks are still in use. The Baltimore Police Department has 2,935 sworn and civilian personnel, including dispatchers , crime lab technicians, chaplains , and unarmed auxiliary police officers. Officers are assigned to one of nine districts in

3290-433: The long-time traditional "black and whites"), setting up of an analysis center, additional money for recruitment, and a school for continuous training of officers, following up on the police academy. He quickly equipped police with mace, helmets, walkie-talkies, and more vehicles with radio-contact communications and body radios for officers, phasing out the old green "call boxes" on a post, dotting city streets, after securing

3360-615: The mania to have the police commissioner removed at all costs." Zumbrun cited details of multiple instances where he believed Robinson had lied, citing instances as small as a phone call, office visit or passing informal greeting by Robinson to Zumbrun. While Zumbrun's evidence never addressed actual police violations of state law, Zumbrun continued to press for the expulsion of Robinson of the General Assembly of Maryland to Governor J. Millard Tawes . Donald Pomerleau Donald D. Pomerleau (August 31, 1915 – January 19, 1992)

3430-560: The new Commissioner came with a relatively liberal attitude toward race relations, urban poverty, and crime and many observers feel that he gradually turned more conservative and even autocratic as his tenure wore on, so that by the time of the Republican presidency of Richard M. Nixon in the 1970s, Pomerleau's attitudes and policies had come to resemble those of Nixon's "silent majority" rather than those that Governor Tawes and Mayor McKeldin expected. The new police commissioner moved to

3500-775: The next 10 years, the ISD spied on nationwide plus local affiliates of organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union , the American Friends Service Committee , and the Black Panther Party . Year after year from 1971 to 1978, Representative Parren Mitchell (from the 7th Congressional District ) called for Pomerleau's resignation because of alleged spying (and even possible harassment) on black-oriented organizations and associations especially those involved in

3570-586: The officer's rank. Badges are silver for those below Lieutenant, and gold for Lieutenants and above. BPD has experienced negative publicity in recent years due to several high-profile corruption and brutality allegations, including the 2005 arrest of Officers William A. King and Antonio L. Murray by the FBI for federal drug conspiracy charges. During the past generation, the Baltimore Police Department has faced criticism from local media, elected officials, and citizen advocacy groups. The criticism has pertained to

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3640-400: The percentage number of blacks on the force, and particularly the number of black promotions, remained low, during Pomerleau's tenure and only began to rise dramatically by the 1980s. Immediately after his appointment, Pomerleau created the "Inspectional Services Division" (ISD), an agency responsible for "active surveillance of individuals or groups outside the normal criminal behavior". Over

3710-737: The police department and its relations with the community. It found evidence of widespread unconstitutional and discriminatory police practices in the city, especially in poor, black neighborhoods. Following reporting from the investigation, the city, police department and the Civil Rights Division of DOJ negotiated a consent decree, including limits on when and how the [police] can engage individuals suspected of criminal activity. It orders more training for police on de-escalation tactics and interactions with youths, those with mental illness and protesters, as well as more supervision for officers. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar approved

3780-428: The retirement of long-time BDC head, M. Jay Brodie. It even became a matter for local humor as one time at an event, Mayor William Donald Schaefer , showed up with a long black cape draped and curled around his body and arm, topped by a black slouch fedora hat of the 1940s detective-style novels and cartoons or the old prime-time radio drama " The Shadow " with character "Lamont Cranston". Newspaper photographs flew around

3850-506: The same year, while the CitiStat system was introduced in 2000, enabling police to concentrate resources where they would be most needed or effective. During Martin O'Malley 's administration as mayor, the department was made up of 43% African American officers. Following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015, there was rioting in black neighborhoods. The city invited the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation of

3920-410: The sleeve and collar devices denoting district or unit. Lieutenants and above wear a white shirt with navy blue pants, with rank insignias on the collar. Nametags are worn above the right breast pocket, and sleeve patches are worn on both arms. Ties are worn with the long sleeve uniform shirt. Turtlenecks with BPD embroidered in gold letters at the collar may be worn with the long sleeve uniform in lieu of

3990-562: The use of racial slurs during roll call ) and African American residents (including degrading racial graffiti). Bishop L. Robinson and Edward J. Tilghman were two black police officers during this period; both later served as police commissioner. In 1962, Patrolman Henry Smith Jr. was the first African American officer to die in the line of duty; he was shot breaking up a dice game on North Milton Avenue . As with other American cities post-World War II suburbanization, encouraged by government programs, drew large numbers of white residents out of

4060-659: The wake of the Watts Riots in Los Angeles that year. Pomerleau declared that "the Baltimore City Police Department was amongst the nation's most antiquated and corrupt police forces which had practiced excessive force and had a non-existent relationship with Baltimore's large Negro (then Black, later African American ) community". To improve the Department and try to prevent future racial rioting, Maryland's 54th Governor , J. Millard Tawes , (1894-1979), [served 1959-1967], an Eastern Shore Democrat, whose Office had for

4130-578: The year after. They were all assigned to plainclothes duty to work undercover. In 1943, African Americans were allowed to wear police uniforms, and by 1950 there were 50 black officers in the department. African American officers at this point were barred from using squad cars, hit a ceiling in promotion and were limited to patrolling black neighbourhoods or assignments in the Narcotics Division or as undercover officers. They were subjected to racial harassment from both white coworkers (including

4200-584: Was a necessary countermeasure against 'subversive elements' in the Department. Journalists reported that Pomerleau had intimidated them using information from his spy network. Michael Olesker of The Baltimore Sun described meeting Pomerleau in the mid-1970s: "'Listen,' he said, 'I know where you've been, I know who you've talked to, and I know what you've been told.'" And he did." Pomerleau received constant support and praise from Mayor William Donald Schaefer and Governor Marvin Mandel . In 1976, Pomerleau

4270-533: Was acting illegally. Delegate Robinson cited 36 instances where the cases were dropped or defendants released because of planted evidence and other means of framing suspects. He called these offenses, "a creature of commissioner Hepbron". Robinson also cited the Green Spring Avenue assault by a police officer of a 15-year-old boy, countless shootings of unarmed auto-thieves, and illegal raids on properly licensed establishments. At one point Robinson stated

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4340-555: Was detectives showing Wilds what they thought was the correct answer. Wilds himself later said that he was coached to say that he first saw the victim's body at a certain Best Buy . On 4 October 2019, Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said she had begun the process of asking courts to throw out 790 convictions which depended on the testimony of 25 Baltimore police officers who she said were discredited. On 14 October 2019, Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said she had

4410-711: Was discharged in 1945. During the Korean War , Pomerleau served as a combat commander. He served as provost marshal at the Marine Corps School and University , retiring in 1958 with the rank of lieutenant colonel . Pomerleau became the Director of Public Safety in Kingsport, Tennessee . He assumed a similar position later in 1962 in the City of Miami-Dade County . But he was not well-respected or liked by

4480-616: Was disclosed. The program had private funding from John D. Arnold , and was contracted to Persistent Surveillance Systems Inc. Attorney Susan Simpson, working with the Undisclosed podcast, investigated the 2001 murder conviction of Adnan Syed for the 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee . She found that during a Baltimore police interview of witness Jay Wilds, when Wilds didn't know what to say a tapping sound would be heard, after which Wilds suddenly knew what to say. The podcast said that this tapping

4550-543: Was founded in its current form (with uniforms and firearms) in 1853 by the Maryland state legislature "to provide for a better security for life and property in the City of Baltimore". The state did not give the city the power to run its own police affairs. The early decades of the department were marked by internal political conflict over split loyalties. In 1857 the police were reorganized by Mayor Thomas Swann and new men were recruited; many came from Know Nothing gangs in

4620-461: Was in 1784, nearly 60 years after the founding of the colonial town and eight years after United States independence. The city authorized a night watch and a force of day constables to enforce town laws, particularly catching runaway slaves. Nightwatchman George Workner was the first law enforcement officer to be killed in the city; he was stabbed during an escape attempt by nine inmates at Baltimore City Jail on March 14, 1808. The department

4690-627: Was the commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department from 1966 to 1981. Pomerleau was born on a ranch near Medicine Lake, Montana , with an unusual western, rural upbringing for a future big-city police supervisor. After graduating from high school in Whitehall, Montana in 1933, Pomerleau joined the Marines and served in China from 1934 to 1937. He was discharged honorably from the Marines as

4760-530: Was the Advertising Club of Baltimore's "Man of the Year". Pomerleau was one of the longest serving police commissioners of Baltimore holding that post for a period of 15 years, the longest tenure since Charles Gaither who held the first posting of the newly created Office of Commissioner of Police at the last major re-organization and structuring of the BCPD from 1920–1937. Pomerleau retired from

4830-492: Was to create special quasi-private police force for maintaining security of public buildings. Members of this force would have more authority than those of ordinary private firms; however, they would not be subject to city personnel regulations. The creation of the company—and its immediate endorsement and announcement of a no-bid contract by Mayor Schaefer—provoked an outcry from Baltimoreans, who called it expensive and unaccountable and feared that it would be favored over some of

4900-417: Was white with blue and silver striping and a replica of an officer's badge on the front doors. A new black paint scheme with blue and yellow stripes is gradually being implemented. As of 2021 the introduction of Ford Interceptor Utilities began the retirement of Caprices, Impalas and Tauruses due to age, high mileage or general retirement from discontinued models. With the 2020-2022 Ford Explorer being delivered,

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