The job posting for the next Baltimore Police Commissioner closed this past Friday and today, city hall told WMAR 2-News it has dozens of applicants interested in a job itself described in the ad as “a challenging position.”
Mayor Catherine Pugh's office says it has “north of 40” applications.
Citing confidentiality, the city has refused to release any of the names of the law enforcement professionals interested in running the department.
We do know of one, Interim Commissioner Gary Tuggle has said he would like the chance to permanently lead the BPD.
He has been doing so for more than three months now while the city has only been entertaining applications since July
It was a bone of contention for Chief Judge James Bredar who raised the concern about a lack of permanent leadership in last month's consent decree hearing.
He did not mince words venting his frustration at the lack of a commissioner and the pace at which the city was moving.
It was a concern Baltimore City Solicitor Andre Davis had to address on that day.
"Some people thought no one would apply for this job, but people have,” said Davis in late July, “And people know it’s a challenge and we are gonna find the right person and as I said to the judge, to lead us out of the wilderness because we are in the wilderness."
Davis promised the judge the new commissioner will be in place no later than Halloween.
That only leaves about two months for the city to vet and choose the next commissioner.
City Hall did not respond to our request for an interview on this today but has said in the past the Police Executive Research Forum or PERF would help in that process, but only in an advisory role.
City officials also would not say how many of the applicants were from inside the department.
