Fitzgerald Withdraws Name From Consideration For Baltimore Police Commissioner

RadioonFire.com - Joel Fitzgerald has withdrawn his name from consideration to be Baltimore's police commissioner.

Word of his withdrawal came first from police in Fort Worth, Texas, where Fitzgerald remains chief. Fitzgerald said in a statement that it was support from Fort Worth that first led him to consider staying.

"Their support never wavered, and may have intensified," Fitzgerald said. "There is literally nowhere I go in this city of almost 900,000 residents where someone doesn't approach me to say first, 'Hey Chief, your Eagles stink, and by the way, you're still needed and loved here in Fort Worth.'"

Fitzgerald was expected to make a visit to Baltimore this past weekend, but canceled after his son fell ill. In a statement, Mayor Catherine Pugh said it was his son's health that weighed on his mind.

“After a lengthy discussion with Chief Joel Fitzgerald, I respect his decision to withdraw his candidacy for Baltimore Police Commissioner in order to devote his full attention to his son who is now facing a second brain surgery tomorrow to remove a mass that was discovered late last week," Pugh said. "Our fervent prayers are with him and his family during what is unquestionably a troubling and stressful period for them."

Gary Tuggle will remain interim commissioner, and Pugh said details on the renewed search will follow. Baltimore has been without a permanent commissioner since May, when Darryl De Sousa resignedshortly after federal prosecutors charged him with tax crimes. De Sousa served only a few months on the job after succeeding Kevin Davis last January.

Source WBAL