Frederick H. Bealefeld III (born 1962 or 1963) is an American former police officer who served as commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department from 2007 to 2012. He also served as deputy commissioner of the department from January to July 2007.
Quick Facts Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, Preceded by ...
Frederick H. Bealefeld III |
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In office July 19, 2007 – August 1, 2012 |
Preceded by | Leonard Hamm |
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Succeeded by | Anthony Batts |
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In office January 29, 2007 – July 19, 2007 |
Commissioner | Leonard Hamm |
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Preceded by | Marcus Brown |
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Born | 1962 or 1963 (age 61–62) |
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Spouse | Linda (m. 1982 or 1983) |
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Children | 2 |
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Police career |
Department | Baltimore Police Department |
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Service years | 1981–2012 |
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Born to a family of police officers, Bealefeld graduated from Chesapeake High School in Anne Arundel County, and attended Anne Arundel Community College, however, he dropped out due to an injury preventing him from obtaining a lacrosse scholarship. He joined the Baltimore Police Department on May 11, 1981, being appointed deputy commissioner of the department on January 29, 2007. On July 19, 2007, following the resignation of Leonard Hamm, Bealefeld was appointed as commissioner of the department by Mayor Sheila Dixon, who revealed that she asked Hamm to resign because she was impressed by Bealefeld. Having served as commissioner for five years, Bealefeld announced that he would resign as commissioner on August 1, 2012, being replaced as commissioner by former chief of the Oakland Police Department Anthony Batts.
After dropping out from AACC, Bealefeld joined the Baltimore Police Department on May 11, 1981. He was the chief of the Criminal Investigation Division until Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department Leonard Hamm promoted Bealefeld to deputy commissioner to replace Marcus Brown, who left for the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, on January 29, 2007.[1][4][2]
Following Hamm's resignation on July 19, 2007, Mayor of Baltimore Sheila Dixon was expected to name Bealefeld acting commissioner, however other potential candidates included Errol Dutton, deputy commissioner for administration at the Baltimore Police Department, Jesse B. Oden, head of the Baltimore housing division, Antonio Williams, the chief of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County police department, Barry W. Powell, former deputy commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, and Eddie Compass, the former superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department.[2] Dixon picked Bealefeld as acting commissioner the same day and revealed that she asked Hamm to resign because she "wasn't feeling that drive like I wanted to" and was impressed with Bealefeld. She also revealed that Bealefeld had been the de facto commissioner for a few months.[5]
Bealefeld announced that he would resign as commissioner on August 1, 2012, to spend more time with his family. While he was commissioner, gun crime reduced by 24 percent and, in 2011, Baltimore had its lowest homicide rate in 35 years.[6][3] On August 28, 2012, Mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the appointment of Anthony Batts, the former chief of the Oakland Police Department, as commissioner to replace Bealefeld.[7]