Baltimore City Mayor Catherine Pugh has selected New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison to serve as Baltimore City Police Commissioner.

The Baltimore Sun reports:

Pugh said Harrison has “achieved clear, compelling and consistent results” in reducing violence while deploying “proactive and effective policing strategies that reflect 21st century, constitutional policing,” and would bring the “insight and sensitivity needed to reestablish essential trust and confidence of citizens in their police officers.”

A separate Sun article provides background on Harrison:

» Harrison has held the top police spot in New Orleans since August 2014, when he was appointed by former Mayor Mitch Landrieu. He was reappointed in May 2018 by Mayor LaToya Cantrell.

He has served the New Orleans Police Department since 1991 in roles including narcotics detective, commander of the department’s Special Investigations Division and commander of the city’s Seventh Police District, according to the New Orleans Police Department website.

Harrison will go before the City Council for nomination after community meetings for input are held. They are planned to occur within the next month. Harrison was selected after Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald withdrew from consideration due to family emergency.

For more information:

Baltimore police commissioner search: Michael Harrison of New Orleans is next pick, will serve in acting role (Baltimore Sun)

Who is Michael Harrison, Baltimore Mayor Pugh’s next pick for police commissioner? (Baltimore Sun)