Baltimore Police Commissioner Resigns

BALTIMORE, MD – Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa has resigned. The city's top cop had been suspended with pay last week after being federally charged with failing to pay taxes.

De Sousa, 53, issued a letter of resignation on Tuesday, according to the mayor.

He was charged with three misdemeanor counts of failing to file taxes Thursday, after investigators said he "willfully failed to file a federal tax return" for tax years 2013, 2014 and 2015, when he was a salaried employee of the Baltimore Police Department.

De Sousa made the decision to resign Tuesday morning, according to Jayne Miller, investigative reporter for WBAL.

Initially after the charges came down last week, he issued a statement accepting responsibility for his actions.

"I fully admit to failing to file my personal federal and state taxes for 2013, 2014 and 2015," De Sousa said in a statement. "While there is no excuse for my failure to fulfill my obligations as a citizen and public official, my only explanation is that I failed to sufficiently prioritize my personal affairs."

His twin brother told WBAL that during the years in question, De Sousa had been caring for their parents, who suffered from Alzheimer's.

Mayor Catherine Pugh suspended the commissioner with pay on Friday, which The Baltimore Sun reported was consistent with the repercussion for other officers charged with misdemeanor crimes.

Pugh said on Tuesday that she had accepted his resignation and plans to launch a national search for the next permanent commissioner.

"I want to reassure all Baltimoreans that this development in no way alters our strategic efforts to reduce crime by addressing its root causes in our most neglected neighborhoods," Pugh said in a statement. "As mayor, I will not let up in pursuing my top priority of making our city safe and our neighborhoods worthy of the lives of all residents."

Deputy Commissioner Garry Tuggle will serve as the interim police commissioner.

Tuggle issued the following memo to the members of the Baltimore Police Department on Tuesday.

"As I mentioned just the other day, my focus is on crime, the Consent Decree, and moving this agency forward," Tuggle said. "The sworn and civilian staff here have done a great job and the results of your hard work continues to show as we have seen across-the-board reductions in violent crime. We have a long way to go, but I know you are all up for the challenge. Thank you for your professionalism during these tough times. We will succeed because you all are the professionals who keep our agency moving forward."

• Baltimore Police Commissioner Faces Federal Charges
• Baltimore Police Commissioner Suspended

Photo of Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa courtesy of Baltimore Police Department.