Blog extra: Bealefeld's competition signed contract
Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III is profiled in today's Sun, in a piece exploring his challenges in trying to get the city and his own force to buy in to the city's progress. You can read the piece here, but I wanted to expand on one section that didn't make the final version: the city's pursuit of former DC Chief Charles Ramsey in 2007. It's not news that Ramsey was in the running, but in reporting this story I learned that Ramsey actually signed a contract to become Baltimore's 36th police commissioner.
Bealefeld had competition. Dixon’s advisors pressed her to go with a proven commodity, and, preferably, one who was black. Former Washington D.C. Chief Charles Ramsey sat for several interviews and generated a vocal backing, including Dixon’s chief of staff, Otis Rolley III, and O’Malley, at that point a key Dixon ally. City officials sought input from the mayors of New York, Chicago and Washington D.C., all who supported Ramsey’s selection.
Only two Dixon aides, Howard Dixon (no relation) and Sheryl Goldstein, were advocating for Bealefeld. His critics wondered why, as deputy commissioner running the department, Bealefeld hadn’t pushed harder on his policies then to curb the violence? (Bealefeld said it was his job to follow Hamm’s lead)
Ramsey’s appointment was imminent. In the blue-walled commissioner’s office overlooking the mouth of the Jones Falls Expressway, Bealefeld was hearing the whispers. Officers – working security at City Hall and city parking garages, monitoring cameras, even those on Dixon’s own security detail — were passing on news of Ramsey sightings. Ramsey and his key staff members were looking for housing in the area, and people were even stopping by police headquarters.
“Some guy calls up here one day and argues with the staff out there, ‘I want to speak with Chuck Ramsey,’” Bealefeld recalled. “He says, ‘Of course he’s here, I’m a friend of his, I know he’s the police commissioner.’ These are the calls I’m getting.”
Dixon said in a recent interview that she was turned off by some of Ramsey’s contract demands, and former aides say she wasn’t keen on the prospect that Ramsey might overshadow her. But she was also liking what she saw out of Bealefeld, who was deferential and kept her constantly updated with text messages and e-mails. And of course, perhaps most important, the crime wave was already showing signs of subsiding.
“He was focused like a laser beam,” said a former staff member. “No one got him that job. He got himself that job.”
Dixon had changed her mind. It was not as simple as that, however. Ramsey had already been offered the job by Dixon and sent a contract, which he signed. Dixon called him from her cell phone while Ramsey, who is now the Philadelphia police commissioner and declined requests for comment, was said to be infuriated but ultimately stood down.
Comments
Bealefeld is delusional. As is almost everyone who occupies an elected position in this city. He defends his out of control police officers with impressive sounding mgmt gadgets that have no impact. Sort of like Darryl Gates defending the Los Angeles Rampart division back in the day. It seems that one only has to be polite to the other power hungry to get along in this town.
Posted by: uche | April 2, 2010 11:43 AM
Kudos for Mayor Dixon on her careful selection of a Police Commissioner. She realized she had a diamond in the ruff (so to speak) in her own backyard. I am a african america male who happen to respect and love my police commissioner for his tenacity and vigilance when it comes to making Baltimore a safe place to live. The fact that is white is not an issue with most of the City residents. The fact that he is "homegrown" and knows us, our struggles and successes is what counts. Getting a black outsider does not equate to effective crime fighting. Most of my friends were tired of these outsiders coming into our City and destroying it. Commissioner Bealefeld belongs to us, he's a homegrown baltimorean and we know he acts on our behalf and not his own. We love you Commissioner and hopefully the next job you compete for is MAYOR!
Posted by: Justice4All1 | April 4, 2010 8:24 AM
I find it interesting that no one has taken issue with the comment "...and preferably, one who was black."
Does that mean that at the City's seat of power (i.e. the Mayor's office), race is a factor when considering a candidate for employment?
Gee whiz, and here I thought Title VII put a stop to all that!
Apparently some vestige of Lawrence Bell's "somebody who looks like you" paradigm is still alive at City Hall.
Posted by: DealWithReality | April 4, 2010 10:23 AM
Mr. Bealefeld needs to go away with his Mayor. He doesn't get Democracy and the Rule of Law. It is the job of Mr. Bealefeld and his officers to get the proof and facts to the State Attorney and then present them in the court and let the court make the decision. If Mr. Bealefeld wants to be the Police, Prosecutor, Judge, and Jury then there are many countries where he can move and do that. Just like the fairness that Mr. Bealefelds father-in-law got I'm sure in his criminal case. Also Mr. Bealefeld's recent criticism of the Mayor who is trying to repair a fractured and disheartened city by his mentor, Sheila Dixon, were inappropriate and he should be fired for those comments. After all, he reports to the Mayor!
Posted by: Bealefeld needs to Go with Shoe | April 4, 2010 11:29 AM
Reality is the new Mayor and her staff just like the old one, gave themselves raises while discontinuing vital services to the city of baltimore. Crime costs, so to solve crime, it will cost. Baltimore citiziens have conditioned themselves to accept certain crimes as if it is normal...good LUCK. I may not agree with everything the BCPD does, but at least they are not sitting on the sidelines. If they got more help from the people in Baltimore more crimes could be solved. This is not TV but real life, the funeral homes are filled with young african americans who want to be gangsters, sell drugs, our women and girls selling themselves for crack, clothes, a hairdo, their nails done. There is little morality left in "Beirut" which is what I call Baltimore. The people in charge are just CROOKS with degrees justifying filling their pockets at the expense of the city taxpayers.
Posted by: deltasweetiepi | April 6, 2010 8:46 AM