Bel Air Police Chief: Investigation Continues

BEL AIR, MD — After an emergency meeting at the Bel Air Town Hall, the town commissioners determined the police chief would remain on leave pending further review. The commissioners met Wednesday in closed session for about two hours to discuss the issue, then refused all comment to a Patch reporter at town hall.

Bel Air Police Chief Charles Moore has been on leave since Jan. 29, the day after he was served with a protective order.

His estranged wife, Tamara Moore, requested the order Jan. 28 and withdrew it Feb. 4 in Harford County Circuit Court. At the hearing where the order was dismissed, she and her husband consented to a divorce, for which he filed in 2016.

A judge has since placed both cases under seal.

The Bel Air commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday that Chief Moore would remain on paid administrative leave pending the completion of an internal review. Officials would not comment on what that entailed or who was conducting the review.

The Harford County state's attorney advised the commissioners and town administrator that an independent investigation by the Baltimore County Police Department "did not sustain any allegation of criminal conduct on the part of Chief Moore and that, as a result of further review of that report by his office, he would not be pursuing any criminal charges against Chief Moore," according to a statement from the town of Bel Air.

The Baltimore County Police Department, which initially said the investigation was still active Wednesday, later told Patch it had completed its review of Chief Moore and closed the case Feb. 14.

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
• Status Of Bel Air Police Chief Prompts Emergency Meeting

Wednesday's emergency meeting was the second in as many weeks for the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners about the police chief.

The 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.

This article has been updated to reflect the latest information from the Baltimore County Police Department.