Ramsey Passed Over for Chief's Job

Mayor Taps Acting Commissioner to Continue in Office

Charles H. Ramsey, shown in 2006, was one of two finalists for Baltimore police commissioner. (Bill O'leary - Twp)

Former D.C. police chief Charles H. Ramsey lost a bid to become chief of the Baltimore force yesterday when the mayor selected an in-house candidate instead.

Mayor Sheila Dixon announced that she plans to stick with Frederick H. Bealefeld III, a 26-year veteran of the Baltimore department. He has been running the force since the ouster of former commissioner Leonard Hamm in July. Bealefeld's challenge is to reverse a spike in homicides this year.

"Commissioner Bealefeld understands and is implementing my public safety plan focused on guns, better deployment and heavy enforcement in targeted areas," Dixon said. "It is working."

Ramsey, a former Chicago police commander who was the District's chief from 1998 until the end of last year, said he was disappointed that he didn't get the job. He and Bealefeld were the two finalists for the position.

"I don't know what's next," Ramsey said. "I'll continue with my consulting work."

Ramsey has been a consultant for the U.S. Capitol Police and the Washington-based Police Executive Research Forum. He said he wishes Bealefeld well.

"They've got a lot of problems up there," Ramsey said. "Time will tell whether they can put a dent in it. I hope they do."

Bealefeld's appointment is subject to City Council confirmation. He was deputy commissioner when he took over for Hamm on an acting basis. Before that, he was a chief of detectives, commander of the narcotics section and a supervisor of the homicide division.

Since July, homicides have begun to taper off, Baltimore officials said. As of yesterday, the city had 231 homicides this year, an 8 percent increase from the same point last year.