Current Deputy Commissioner of the Operations Bureau Chosen To Be Elevated to Top Position, Will Focus on Continuing Public Safety Progress

BALTIMORE, MD. (Thursday, June 8, 2023) - Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced that he will nominate Richard Worley, currently Deputy Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department's (BPD) Operations Bureau, to serve as Baltimore's next Police Commissioner.

"Deputy Commissioner Worley has proven his commitment to our city time and time again. As a fellow son of Baltimore and an experienced public servant, it is clear that he is the right person to lead this department into the future," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "On behalf of all Baltimoreans, I want to extend thanks to Commissioner Harrison for his leadership over the past four-and-a-half years. In that time, we've taken meaningful strides to tackle many of our public safety goals and lay out a vision for the future of our great city. In the top position, Deputy Commissioner Worley will continue his hard work to make that vision a reality and I am excited to continue the partnership we've built so far."

"I want to thank Mayor Scott for his confidence in my ability to lead the Baltimore Police Department and take on this leading role in my hometown," said Acting Commissioner Worley. "I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue the progress this department has made over these past years, help carry out the Mayor's vision for public safety, and keep working alongside the brave men and women of BPD to build a safer Baltimore."

This announcement comes as current Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison officially noted he will be departing the role. Over the course of Commissioner Harrison's tenure with BPD, the department has made significant progress implementing recommendations from the Federal Consent Decree, taken record numbers of illegal firearms off of Baltimore's streets, and implemented a number of reforms that have improved Baltimore's application of law enforcement resources.

"Over the past four years, I have been blessed to serve the city of Baltimore and receive the support and confidence of the men and women of this Department, our elected leaders and the great people of Baltimore," said Commissioner Michael Harrison. "Not only am I immensely proud of the men and women of the BPD and what we have been able to accomplish, but I appreciate all of the prayers, kind words and encouragement from the many residents of our city and our supporters from across the country. To our Baltimore residents, neighbors and visitors, the opportunity to serve as your Police Commissioner is one that I will always cherish."

BPD's recent successes, which have worked in conjunction with Mayor Scott's broader public safety strategy as outlined in Baltimore's Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, have contributed to a 19% and 8% year-over-year decrease in homicides and nonfatal shootings respectively - the largest single-year decrease since 2014.

A Pigtown native, Deputy Commissioner Worley joined the BPD in 1998. He spent his first four years with the Department on patrol in the Western District. He was promoted to Lieutenant in the Western District in 2008 and was promoted to Major a year later. In 2018, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel as Chief of Patrol. In 2021, Deputy Commissioner Worley was assigned to a post as Chief of Detectives before being named to his current post in September 2022 as Deputy Commissioner of the Operations Bureau where he oversees Patrol, Criminal Investigation and several other units.

Following his nomination, Worley will serve as Acting Commissioner until he goes through the confirmation process within the Baltimore City Council.