A Baltimore City Council committee voted Thursday on whether to approve Richard Worley’s nomination as police commissioner, the first step before a final council vote. The City Council Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee voted unanimously to approve Worley’s nomination.The hearing lasted three hours, and those who spoke had vastly different opinions of Worley.”I’m excited, I’m happy,” Worley said after the vote. “It’s a great vote of confidence that the council voted for me.”Worley presented his plan to the City Council with his vision and pillars, including community policing, crime reduction, recruiting more officers and boosting morale.City officials, including former Mayor Jack Young, former Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and current State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, spoke in favor of Worley.”He knows the department. He’s seen what works and what doesn’t,” Bates said.But some residents spoke out against his confirmation. Some said they are concerned after what they heard at the town hall meetings Worley hosted before this vote.”We heard a lot of the same responses, which is what Acting Commissioner Worley wants his officers to do, but he seems to be unable to get (what they’re) able to do or want to do,” citizen Dan Hellerbach said.”I really feel like this city is going to Hell with a whole can of gasoline poured on top. Something needs to be done. You really need to listen to us and this process shouldn’t be a rushed process,” citizen Tawanda Jones said.Worley spoke on some of the criticism.”A lot of the citizens who didn’t agree don’t know me. The public officials know how I am, they know that I’m in the community and community policing is my strong point,” he said. “If they don’t agree with me, they probably don’t know me, or if they didn’t vote for me, they don’t know me. Give me a year and see if those same people have the same opinion. I don’t think they will.”If the full City Council approves Worley’s nomination on Oct. 2, the Board of Estimates will then vote on his $285,000 contract at its next meeting on Oct. 4. The board was set to vote on Worley’s contract Wednesday, but deferred the vote so that it would take place after the City Council’s votes. At a June 8 news conference, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Michael Harrison would step down as commissioner and named Worley as acting commissioner.| 11 TV HILL VIDEO BELOW: Change of leadership at the Baltimore Police DepartmentVideo below: Harrison steps downVideo below: Worley steps up
A Baltimore City Council committee voted Thursday on whether to approve Richard Worley’s nomination as police commissioner, the first step before a final council vote.
The City Council Rules and Legislative Oversight Committee voted unanimously to approve Worley’s nomination.
The hearing lasted three hours, and those who spoke had vastly different opinions of Worley.
“I’m excited, I’m happy,” Worley said after the vote. “It’s a great vote of confidence that the council voted for me.”
Worley presented his plan to the City Council with his vision and pillars, including community policing, crime reduction, recruiting more officers and boosting morale.
City officials, including former Mayor Jack Young, former Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke and current State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, spoke in favor of Worley.
“He knows the department. He’s seen what works and what doesn’t,” Bates said.
But some residents spoke out against his confirmation. Some said they are concerned after what they heard at the town hall meetings Worley hosted before this vote.
“We heard a lot of the same responses, which is what Acting Commissioner Worley wants his officers to do, but he seems to be unable to get (what they’re) able to do or want to do,” citizen Dan Hellerbach said.
“I really feel like this city is going to Hell with a whole can of gasoline poured on top. Something needs to be done. You really need to listen to us and this process shouldn’t be a rushed process,” citizen Tawanda Jones said.
Worley spoke on some of the criticism.
“A lot of the citizens who didn’t agree don’t know me. The public officials know how I am, they know that I’m in the community and community policing is my strong point,” he said. “If they don’t agree with me, they probably don’t know me, or if they didn’t vote for me, they don’t know me. Give me a year and see if those same people have the same opinion. I don’t think they will.”
If the full City Council approves Worley’s nomination on Oct. 2, the Board of Estimates will then vote on his $285,000 contract at its next meeting on Oct. 4. The board was set to vote on Worley’s contract Wednesday, but deferred the vote so that it would take place after the City Council’s votes.
At a June 8 news conference, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Michael Harrison would step down as commissioner and named Worley as acting commissioner.
Loading…
| 11 TV HILL VIDEO BELOW: Change of leadership at the Baltimore Police Department
Video below: Harrison steps down
Video below: Worley steps up
