Status Of Bel Air Police Chief Prompts Emergency Meeting

BEL AIR, MD — The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners will hold an emergency work session Wednesday to discuss the status of the town's police chief, who has been on administrative leave for three weeks.

Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore was placed on leave Jan. 29 after he was served with a protective order. The case has since been dismissed in Harford County Circuit Court.

His estranged wife, Tamara Moore, filed the petition for a protective order Jan. 28 in response to what she called a "disciplinary matter" involving their teenage son that occurred Dec. 13 in Jarrettsville at the house where she and the teen live.

When confronted by his father about the disciplinary matter, the 17-year-old "argued back and pushed Charles [Moore]," according to the protective order petition, which said wrestling ensued and Charles Moore "choked" the teen, at which point their elder son intervened.

Charles Moore's attorney told Patch the older son "physically restrained the [younger] brother from beating up his dad." He said the police chief suffered visible injuries, including a black eye.

Tamara Moore withdrew her petition for the protective order Feb. 4 in Harford County Circuit Court and consented to a divorce, for which her husband filed in 2016.

Both the protective order and divorce filings have since been sealed by a judge.

The Bel Air town commissioners voted in an emergency session Feb. 6 that Chief Moore would remain on leave "until all investigations, both internal and external, resulting from the temporary protective order have been concluded or until the Town of Bel Air feels enough information has been gathered to make an informed decision," according to a statement issued by the town.

In response to Tamara Moore's claims in the protective order filing, the Harford County Sheriff's Office referred an investigation into alleged child abuse and domestic violence to the Baltimore County Police Department, according to The Dagger, since Chief Moore is on the board of directors for the Harford County Child Advocacy Center, which could present a conflict of interest.

Related:

• Police Chief Files For Divorce, Wife Drops Protective Order
• Bel Air Police Chief Had Black Eye From Fight With Son: Attorney
• Bel Air Leaders Extend Police Chief's Leave
• Police Union Condemns Bel Air's Response To Claims Against Chief
• Bel Air Police Chief Placed On Administrative Leave

The commissioners in Bel Air will open the emergency work session at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday before going into closed session to "discuss an employment matter related to the status of the administrative leave of Chief Charles Moore," according to the agenda.

The session will be closed for two reasons, the agenda says:

• "Public discussion of names, incidents and allegations could violate an individual’s rights and/or protections regarding due process and/or confidentiality under the law."
• Public discussions of the names, incidents and allegations "could violate the terms and conditions of the order of the Circuit Court of Harford County issued on February 4, 2020, at the conclusion of the hearing on the protective order sought against Chief Charles Moore."

Since Jan. 29, Deputy Chief of Police Richard J. Peschek has been serving as acting chief of the Bel Air Police Department.