Annapolis Mayor Names Emergency Personnel To Public Safety Team

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Mayor Gavin Buckley has announced the members who will serve on the city’s public safety team. They are police chief Edward C. Jackson, fire chief Douglas Remaley and Kevin Simmons, director of the newly created office of emergency management department.

The city will host a community meeting to introduce the new team to the public on Monday, July 29, at 7 p.m. at the “Pip” Moyer Recreation Center, 273 Hilltop Lane, Annapolis. The public is invited to attend. All three team members, along with Mayor Buckley, will be available to speak with residents.

The appointments will be official was confirmed by the city council. Buckley has convened a special city council meeting on July 31 at 3 p.m. in city council chambers for consideration of confirmation. Jackson and Simmons will be sworn in immediately if confirmed. Remaley will be sworn in on Aug. 26 when current Fire Chief David Stokes steps down.

“We wanted a team that would work well together and have a vision to serve this community,” Mayor Buckley said in a statement. “I believe we have found that team.”

Police Chief Edward C. Jackson, 60, began his career as a police officer in Baltimore City in 1983, moving up the ranks to colonel in 2004. He has been a program director and assistant professor in the criminal justice program at Baltimore City Community College. In 2018, he was rehired by the Baltimore Police Department as chief, office of the inspector general, to provide agency-wide oversight of administrative and operational practices for BPD. Jackson served as a member on the community oversight task force, charged with making recommendations for strengthening police accountability and police-community relations in Baltimore City. He is a PhD candidate at Capella University where he is completing his dissertation. He has a master of science in applied behavioral sciences from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Coppin State University. Jackson will be paid $161,288.

Fire Chief Douglas Remaley, 52, has worked his entire career for the City of Annapolis Fire Department, competitively moving up the ranks from firefighter/medic in 1986 to deputy chief in 2007. He retired in 2017 before being rehired as deputy chief, where he plans, directs and administers all programs in the fire department. Remaley has a master of science in management from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor of science in fire science from the University of Maryland. Remaley will be paid $158,252.

OEM Director Kevin Simmons, 61, has been a deputy fire chief for the City of Annapolis Fire Department since 2010, following a 27-year career with the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue. As deputy chief, he has overseen the office of emergency management and served as the city’s director of the office of emergency management. Simmons possesses a master of art in legal studies from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor of science in behavioral sciences from the University of Maryland. He has been the deputy fire chief and director of the office of emergency management division in the Annapolis Fire Department since 2010. Simmons will be paid $157,480.