By Chris Cobb and Will Farrington
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski has turned to the public to help him hire a new police chief.
Olszewski, along with Press Secretary TJ Smith and Deputy County Administrative Officer Drew Vetter, held two town meetings last week — one in Dundalk on Tuesday and the other in Milford Mills on Thursday — and heard from about 150 residents.
It is the first time in county history that an executive has sought public input on the qualities and characteristics local residents want to see a new chief.
“This process is certainly unprecedented,” Olszewski said during the Dundalk hearing on Tuesday. “We’re really trying to change the process from having the county executive simply choose a new chief to reflecting the needs and desires of the community.”
Several residents who attended the public hearings urged Olszewski to hire a citizen of Baltimore County and not an outsider.
“We have good qualified people here in Maryland,” said Gloria Nelson, the president of the Turner Station Conservation Team, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of the Turner Station residential area in southeast Baltimore County. “We need a person who knows me and knows my community. Someone who is honest and will look to bring out the best in the community and his men.”
Resident David Perez of Owings Mill expressed his concerns about the issues the Latino community face regularly. He said on Thursday that he has frequently called police for help only to be told that the department cannot assist him.
“Five weeks ago, I called the police for people smoking weed,” Perez said. “Police said if my life was not in danger, then they don’t have to assist me. Another time I called about people fighting, and I was told the same thing. I called again and was wondering if they were waiting for someone to get killed before they did anything. Latin people are often a victim of robberies and are easy targets because many believe they won’t make a phone call.”
Others said the new chief must understand that Baltimore County has a diverse population.
“The person in charge needs to ensure that people of different races and colors are taken seriously,” said Dundalk resident Gary Vargas during the hearing on Tuesday. “They need to know what is going on and also make it easier for people who do not speak English not to be afraid to call the police.”
Olszewski stressed the importance of a chief who is willing to embark in communication within the community.
“I think it is important that our next chief is someone who values the sanctity of life, is committed to values of integrity, and holds themselves to a high moral standard,” Olszewski said.
Residents also said there is a racial gap between the department and the county.
“Baltimore County Police Department is almost 90 percent white,” said Lewis Price of Randallstown. “How can a majority African American community have a lack of diversity in the department?”
Many residents expressed this concern to Olszewski.
Shirley Supik of Windsor Mill said on Thursday she often wonders what happens to children during summer time when school is no longer in session.
“I believe a Police Athletic League center is more important than a rec center,” Supik said. “Police officers need to interact with children so they can develop trust. A relationship between the two can reduce the chance that child goes to jail in the future.”
Olszewski administration representatives will screen and select five to 10 candidates out of 50 applicants to be interviewed by an eight-member interview panel. The panel will interview the selected candidates and advise Olszewski on the potential strengths and weaknesses of each candidate.
“It is exciting to be able to include the community throughout this entire process,” Smith said.
Once a new chief is found, he or she will succeed Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan, who served in the job for 11 years between 1996 and 2007 before being reappointed in 2017. Sheridan will remain in his current capacity until he retires when the search is complete.
The Olszewski administration said in a press release that it expects to have a new police chief in place no later than June.