Public hearings scheduled for BPD Commissioner nominee

BALTIMORE (WMAR) — The Baltimore City Council has scheduled two hearings as part of the confirmation process of Joel Fitzgerald, who has been nominated to be the city's next Police Commissioner.

Council members will hold the first hearing on Saturday, January 5, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. City leaders say Fitzgerald will not be in attendance, and the hearing will be reserved for public comment and community input only.

Anyone wishing to submit written testimony for the first hearing can do so by emailing councilpresident@baltimorecity.gov.

The second hearing will be held on Monday, January 7, this time with Fitzgerald present to answer questions from the Executive Appointments Committee. The public is welcome to attend the second hearing for purposes of listening and observing only.

Two community meet and greets with Fitzgerald have also been arranged for those wishing to personally speak with him. They will take place in between the two hearings, on Sunday, January 6.

The first will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Jewish Community Center located at 5700 Park Heights Avenue. A second session will be held later that afternoon from 2 to 3:30 at the Morgan State University Business Center at 4200 Hillen Road.

City Council President Jack Young says prior to the hearings, on January, 1, he plans to publicly release a report detailing the findings of a background visit to Fort Worth, Texas, where Fitzgerald is currently Chief of Police.