Annapolis Officers Want Police Chief Removed: Why Mayor Still Supports City's Top Cop

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Nearly two-thirds of officers want the Annapolis police chief removed from his post.

The chief has no plans of resigning, and the mayor still supports the city's top cop.

The union on Thursday voted 54–30 to impose a vote of no confidence upon Annapolis Police Department Chief Edward Jackson and his command team.

The union, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, called the vote "a resounding rebuke of the current leadership of the department and is a direct result of a litany of concerns raised by our members on the force."

The union said it filed unfair labor practice charges against Annapolis Police, alleging that two officer suspensions violated state and federal whistleblower and union relations laws.

The Baltimore Banner and The Capital later reported that the officers who were suspended broke the chain of command and went straight to the mayor, reporting that a deputy chief was improperly using his department vehicle while working from home. The deputy chief is working remotely because his daughter is awaiting a heart transplant, The Banner said, noting that the chief suspended the officers for unauthorized use of department technology.

Union leaders are also frustrated with the Annapolis Police Department's failure to maintain its Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Accreditation, known as the "gold standard in public safety."

"The loss of CALEA accreditation, unlawfully retaliating against our members for raising issues with management, and the overall us-versus-them mentality of the leadership staff have adversely affected morale and diminished our members' confidence in their command," the union said in a Thursday press release. "Our members have spoken; it's time for the mayor to listen. We call for the immediate removal of Chief Jackson and his leadership team."

Jackson pointed to a recent vote of confidence from the Caucus of African American Leaders of Anne Arundel County as a testament to his leadership.

"I will continue to focus on our law enforcement efforts in the city and make Annapolis one of the safest cities you'll find anywhere," Jackson said in a Friday statement. "We have made great strides in crime suppression, community policing, community engagement, and assisting formerly incarcerated individuals to transition to civilian life. I'm extremely proud of the work our officers have done here."

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley nominated Jackson to serve as chief in 2019, and the City Council confirmed him.

Buckley said he has "complete confidence in Chief Ed Jackson's integrity, professionalism and leadership of the Annapolis Police Department."

"From top to bottom our police force is staffed with highly-trained professionals who are in neighborhoods each and every day doing their jobs by helping people, and preventing and solving crime," Buckley said in a Friday press release. "I know that when they come to work each day their goal is to do a great job and work for the residents of this city. Public safety is their highest priority. I believe their professionalism, the leadership and vision of Chief Jackson, and the community policing model they are delivering together will continue to bring great outcomes for our community."

Buckley said some of Jackson's accomplishments include:

• A homicide clearance (solved) rate of over 90%, compared to the national average of 52%.
• Illegal firearms seizures with more than 130 weapons removed from the streets of Annapolis in the past two years
• A recent gun turn-in initiative which saw an additional 53 firearms voluntarily handed in to police
• A Re-entry Program which has assisted dozens of residents to find employment over the past two years to help reduce recidivism rates in the city of Annapolis
• Establishing Community Outreach as a stand alone division
• Establishing the Cold Case Unit and the Body Worn Camera Unit
• Ensuring compliance with the Police Accountability Act
• Establishing the Special Enforcement Action Unit
• Creating the Inspections Unit - to audit compliance and policy adherence
• Giving all officers a say on policies before changes are made, so that they can participate in policy making
• Establishing a new command structure to support career development and advancement within Annapolis.

"There is nothing about the UFCW's 'no confidence' vote that can detract or take away from these, and many other, outstanding achievements delivered under Chief Jackson's watch – including many changes requested by union members such as upgraded equipment, changes to uniforms and grooming standards, and revised work arrangements during Covid to keep our officers safe," Buckley said.

Related: No-Confidence Vote Planned Against Annapolis Police Chief