Baltimore Hires Former Oakland Chief As Police Commissioner

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has selected former Oakland (Calif.) Police Chief Anthony Batts as the city's next police commissioner, bringing in a leader who has been hailed as an innovator but who struggled to push his agenda at his last job.

Screenshot via Baltimore Sun.Screenshot via Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has selected former Oakland (Calif.) Police Chief Anthony Batts as the city's next police commissioner, bringing in a leader who has been hailed as an innovator but who struggled to push his agenda at his last job.

Batts, 52, spent nearly 30 years with the Long Beach (Calif.) Police Department—including seven as chief—before taking over the Oakland force in 2009. He resigned in October 2011 after butting heads with the mayor and City Council.

He'll start Sept. 27 and must be confirmed by the City Council.

Read the full Baltimore Sun story.

Related:

Oakland Chief Resigns, Citing Lack of Resources

Oakland Chief Tony Batts (podcast)

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