Mayor Picks Joel Fitzgerald For Police Commissioner Job: Reports

BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has reportedly selected Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald as the city's next police commissioner. Pugh plans to name Fitzgerald as the leader of the Baltimore Police Department, both The Baltimore Sun and WBAL confirmed Friday.

Fitzgerald is the "best choice to lead Baltimore City's crime fight," Pugh told WBAL. The mayor highlighted Fitzgerald's understanding of reform and community engagement.

While Pugh said that she would like to name Fitzgerald as the next police commissioner, The Baltimore Sun reports the city council must confirm him first.

Fitzgerald, who began his career with the Philadelphia Police Department, has been chief of the Fort Worth Police Department since 2015.

Fitzgerald has his Ph.D. in business administration from Eastern University in Pennsylvania and has been a police officer since 1992, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.

The NBC affiliate out of Fort Worth reported an interim chief has been named there with the departure of Fitzgerald.

Baltimore would be the fourth city where Fitzgerald has led a police department. Here is a history of where he has been chief, which is three cities in nine years:

• 2009 in Missouri City, Texas
• 2013 in Allentown, Pennsylvania
• 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas

Since January, there have been three people heading up the Baltimore Police Department.

Interim Commissioner Garry Tuggle has led the Baltimore Police Department since May.

He was appointed to the post after former Commissioner Darryl De Sousa resigned following charges that he failed to pay taxes.

Police Commissioner Kevin Davis was fired in January after Pugh said the city was "not achieving the pace of progress that our residents have every right to expect in the weeks since we ended what was nearly a record year for homicides in the city of Baltimore."

There were 343 homicides in Baltimore in 2017. The city achieved the infamous designation as "Most Dangerous City in America" by USA Today, based on the homicide rate per capita; Charm City led the nation in that category last year.

This is a developing story and may be updated.

• Baltimore Most Dangerous City In Nation: USA Today
• 230 More Police Officers Added To Baltimore Streets
• Baltimore Police Commissioner Resigns
• Baltimore Mayor Fires Police Commissioner Davis
• Murder Capitals Of America: Baltimore On The List

Photo of Dr. Joel Fitzgerald courtesy of Fort Worth Police Department.