Rawlings-Blake Names New Advisory Panel In Search For New Police Commissioner

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The search is on for a new Baltimore City police commissioner after Fred Bealefeld III announced his retirement last month.

On Sunday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake named a new advisory panel, which will conduct interviews and recommend finalists to Mayor Rawlings-Blake for consideration.

The advisory panel is chaired by Baltimore attorney Ken Thompson and co-chaired by Rawlings-Blake's chief of staff, Alexander Sanchez.

Washington, D.C. based nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum will assist the panel by conducting a national search, screening applicants and developing a candidate pool for panel interviews.

"Our crime fighting strategy has delivered significant results over the past two years. Homicides have decreased by 18 percent, reaching the lowest level since 1977. Shootings have decreased by 15 percent, and there has been a decrease in overall gun violence," Rawlings-Blake said in a press release. "These results are a product of continued investment in smart enforcement and strong partnerships with communities and state and federal criminal justice agencies. It is absolutely, critically important that our next police commissioner build on this progress."

In a letter to the advisory panel, Rawlings-Blake outlined her public safety strategy and priorities that must be implemented by the next police commissioner. That plan includes reducing violent crime, using smart technologies such as crime cameras, and developing strong relationships with local communities, businesses and organizations.

The remaining members of the advisory panel are Robert Bogomolny, University of Baltimore president; Ronald Daniels, Johns Hopkins University president; Phoebe Haddon, University of Maryland Law School dean; Michael Hankin, chairman of the Baltimore Waterfront Partnership; Yolanda Jiggetts, deputy chief for Public Safety, Operations; John  Luetkemeyer Jr., Baltimore Police Foundation co-chair; Chuck Wexler, executive director of Police Executive Research Forum; and Herman Williams Jr., chairman of Municipal Employees Credit Union.

Bealefeld  is set to leave his post Aug. 1