Posted on 06/22/23
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore City, MD — Former Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison may be out of office, but he remains on the city’s payroll. At a press conference inside city hall Thursday, Mayor Brandon Scott confirmed Harrison is still cashing city checks two weeks after he abruptly announced his resignation.
“His salary is something that’s public information,” said Scott.
And yet, how long that salary will continue, apparently isn’t.
“Will he be paid until the end of his contract?” questioned a FOX45 reporter.
“He will be paid in accordance with the contract and how he's leaving the city of Baltimore. We cannot discuss a personnel matter in public about someone's contract. We cannot do that, it’s an HR issue,” Scott responded.
According to Harrison’s contract, if Harrison’s fired without “just cause” the city will pay the remaining 8 months of his 5-year contract, totaling about $180,000. But if Harrison resigns, he’s required to give a 90-day notice and is “not entitled to severance pay.”
However, when asked to disclose the exact terms of Harrison’s exit, “He told me when he came here that he wanted to hand it off to someone here, local, homegrown, within the police department. That is the decision that was made and we're going to keep saying that because it’s the truth,” said Scott.
The mayor refused to take follow-up questions. So, FOX45 emailed the following questions to the mayor’s office:
For clarity, was Harrison asked to resign or did he resign on his own accord?
If it was Harrison‘s decision to leave, why do it 8 months before his contract ended?
As of the time this article was published, we have not received a response.
“That's why taxpayers don't trust politicians,” said taxpayer advocate, David Williams.
Williams argues because Harrison’s salary is paid with public dollars, how long he’s paid and for what services should be public as well.
“This is transparency 101,” said Williams, “You're talking about someone who isn't working anymore and is just sitting at home getting a salary, and a very generous salary at that.”
The questions linger as Harrison’s wife posts a cryptic image on social media, a photo of Harrison smirking over a chess board with a caption that reads, “no caption needed.”
“In other words, he made the chess move,” said Political analyst John Dedie.
However, Dedie says he’s skeptical of the move's timing and who truly made it.
“I think Mayor Scott had a hand in this,” he said, “You have an election coming up next year. In many ways, having him leave early and bringing in a new person, you're kind of hitting the reset button.”
The appearance of a fresh slate brought by a new face to public safety in a city still plagued by violence.