Baltimore, Md. (Nov. 30, 2023) -- The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) announces Phase 1 of its structural re-organization initiative, effective Dec. 3, 2023. Phase II will be announced at a later date.

In order to increase Departmental capacity, enact more efficient policing and continue to build a successful community policing program, the Department has created several new positions, in addition to reimagining the structure of some of its bureaus.

Additionally, new Command positions and several promotions will help the BPD be both strategic and tactical with its leadership vision while restoring the community’s trust.

Operations will now be led by two Deputy Commissioners – one will oversee the Patrol and Community Policing Bureau, the other will manage the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

The Patrol and Community Policing Bureau includes four Lieutenant Colonels and a Deputy Chief and the Criminal Investigation Bureau includes three Lieutenant Colonels and a Deputy Chief.

There is also now a Deputy Commissioner of the Compliance and the Public Integrity Bureau.

Other structural changes include a new Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau, a Chief of Compliance and a Chief of Personnel Services under the Administrative Bureau. 

“When I moved into this position, I identified several significant organizational changes that could greatly streamline our processes and improve the day-to-day work of the Department. My team and I developed a comprehensive plan for the organization that ensures an increased focus on community policing, allows for necessary support and mentorship of commanders, and enhances opportunities for professional members within the Executive Team,” said Commissioner Richard Worley. “We must use our resources in the most efficient, smartest way possible while making Community Policing our top priority.”

The BPD is pleased to announce two new Deputy Commissioners, four Lieutenant Colonels, three Majors and one Captain. Building this capacity from within allows the Department to capitalize on existing strengths, institutional knowledge and experience. These roles will increase accountability and help leadership support their personnel, focus on building community relationships and allow more time for members to focus on their primary law enforcement tasks.

“I am extremely proud of each of these promotees,” said Commissioner Worley. “I have worked with many of them for several years and believe they embody the best in modern law enforcement. I find their commitment, professionalism and dedication to be both commendable and inspiring. They are truly deserving of this distinction.”

The following promotions go into effect Dec. 3, 2023:

Colonel Monique Brown has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Patrol & the Community Policing Bureau.

Colonel Monique Brown is a 23-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and was previously assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division, where she serves as the Chief. She is locally and nationally recognized for her commitment to bridging relationships through community engagement, partnership, youth and police reform. Her work includes implementing the Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS), community policing and youth diversion strategies. She has chaired and served on numerous boards where she has utilized her lived experiences to be a catalyst for collaborative solutions for reducing violence. Colonel Brown received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and is pursuing her graduate degree in Management from Strayer University. She is featured in “Charm City,” a documentary film about Baltimore City that highlights the positive actions undertaken by groups and individuals, optimistically offering humanity as a common ground.

Colonel Kevin Jones has been promoted to the rank of the Deputy Commissioner of Criminal Investigation Bureau.

Colonel Kevin Jones has served with the Baltimore Police Department for 27 years and previously served as the Deputy Chief of Patrol for the past two years. His prior assignments include the Northwest District, Northern District, Western District, Southwest District, Southeast District, Violent Crime Impact Division, Operational Intelligence Section and Human Resources. He has earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of Baltimore County.  He has earned a certificate from the University of Maryland University College in criminal justice leadership. He is also a graduate of the 2019 cohort of the Greater Baltimore Committee’s leadership program.

Major Ettice Brickus has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Area 2.

Major Ettice Brickus is a 23-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and is a proud resident of the City of Baltimore. Her most recent assignment was the Commanding Officer of the Recruitment and Applicant Investigations Section, as well as the Commanding Officer of the Administrative Duties Division. Previous assignments include Patrol District Commander, Patrol Operations/Vice, Command Investigations, Management Services, Information Services, Records Management, Central Records and Certified Police Instructor. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Law Enforcement and Correctional Administration from Baltimore City Community College, a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Management from The Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Education degree and a Graduate Teaching Certificate from The Johns Hopkins University, and a Criminal Justice Leadership Certificate from University of Maryland University College. She is also an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in Leadership (NOBLE) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Lastly, she is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Policing (SMIP), Session 85.

Major Steve Hohman has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Special Investigations Division.

Major Steve Hohman joined the Baltimore Police Department in 1999.   Upon graduation from the Police Academy, he was assigned to Patrol in the Eastern District.  He served as a Detective in the Organized Crime Division and the Homicide Section and the Southern District Detective Unit and Homicide Section as a Sergeant.  He was assigned as a Shift Commander in the Northeastern District and Unit Commander of the Eastern and Northeastern District Detective Units as a Lieutenant.

In January 2015, Major Hohman was appointed to the rank of Captain and was assigned as the Executive Officer of the Southwestern District.  He served at the rank of Major as the commanding officer of the Special Investigation Section, Robbery-Homicide Section, Northeastern District and the Performance Standards Section.

Major Hohman was raised in Northeast Baltimore and is a graduate of Calvert Hall College High School.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College. 

Major Guy Thacker has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of Area 3.

Major Guy Thacker most recently served as the District Commander of the Eastern District. He has served within the Baltimore Police Department for 30 years. Prior to this promotion he was the Captain/Executive Officer in the Eastern District since his appointment in November 2020. Major Thacker was first assigned to the Eastern District as a Patrol Officer in 1993 before becoming a member of SWAT in 1994. Upon getting promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he was assigned to Northeast District Patrol, Southern District Operations, and then returned to SWAT. He then served as a Lieutenant in the Central District before becoming the Captain of the Eastern District.

Major Thacker earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Towson State University in Political Science and Public Administration. He earned his Master’s Degree in Management and Police Executive Leadership from Johns Hopkins University and a Public Safety Leadership Certificate from the University of Maryland University College. Major Thacker is the recipient of Baltimore Police Department’s Bronze Star, four Police Commissioner Commendations, one Life Saving Commendation, two Unit Citations as a member of SWAT, 18 Letters of Commendation, a New York City 9/11 Rescue and Recovery Commendation and a Hurricane Katrina Rescue and Recovery Commendation.

Major Robert Velte has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of GVU and the Anti-Crime Section Division.

Major Robert Velte is a 28-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and a graduate of The University of Baltimore with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice. During his tenure he has served as a patrolman in the Northwest and Southern Districts, as well as a detective in the CID Anti-Crimes section. Upon his promotion to Sergeant, he served as a frontline supervisor in the Northeast District and as a CID supervisor in the Anti-Crimes section. As a lieutenant he was tasked with being the Western District’s Operations and District Detective Unit commander, before being promoted to the rank of Captain and serving as the Western District’s Executive Officer. At the rank of Major, Lieutenant Colonel Velte assumed the role of District Commander in the Southern District, and the Commander of the Anti-Crimes section in CID. Throughout his career he has received numerous awards and recognitions, most notably the Silver Star for valor, and the Legion of Merit.

Captain Jai Etwaroo has been promoted to the rank of Major in the Eastern District.

Captain Jai Etwaroo joined the Department in 2010.  He has previously served as the Executive Officer for the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Commander of the Performance Standards Section, shift commander in the Northern District, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, the Chief of Patrol’s Office, the Use of Force Assessment Unit and Northeastern District.

Captain Etwaroo earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Louisville, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a certificate in criminal justice leadership from the University of Maryland University College.  Captain Etwaroo most recently attended the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) Session 88. He is also a graduate of the University of Louisville’s Southern Police Institute’s 144th Administrative Officers Course.   

Captain Jennifer McGrath has been promoted to the rank of Major in the Southwest District.

Captain Jennifer McGrath previously served as the Executive Officer of the Southwestern District. Born in Lancaster, Pa., she joined the Baltimore Police Department in January 2002. Her first assignment was Southwest District where she field-trained and served as a Patrol Officer, Drug Detective and Intel Detective. Past assignments include Central District Patrol Sergeant, Human Trafficking and Vice Unit Sergeant, Task Force Officer Homeland Security Investigations (anti-trafficking), Western District Patrol Lieutenant, Western District DAT, DDU, BCIC Commander, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, and most recently Shift Commander in the SWD.

Captain Paul A. Sinchak has been promoted to the rank of Major of the Central District.

Born in Arlington, Va., and raised in Anne Arundel County, Captain Sinchak is a 15-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department. He is currently assigned to the Central District as the Executive Officer.  His previous assignments have included the Chief of Patrol's Office, Westside Initiative, Central District, Southwest District, Tactical Section’s Bomb Squad, K9 Unit, Mobile Metro Unit, and Underwater Recovery Team. He has earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology & Sociology from Towson University, as well as a Certificate in Leadership from the University of Maryland University College. During his tenure he has received numerous recognitions, including the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and lifesaving awards. 

Lieutenant Jeffrey DiPaola has been promoted to Captain and Chief Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff.

Lt. Jeffrey DiPaola is a dedicated officer who has served with the Baltimore Police Department for 18 years. He has worked in various roles, such as Northwest District patrol, a Detective in the Violent Crimes Impact Section/Division, and a SWAT team member and team leader for eight years. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and assigned to the Southwest District. Later, he oversaw the SHIELD unit in the Criminal intelligence section. In 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He served as the midnight shift commander in the Northwest District before being assigned to the office of the Police Commissioner as the Executive Protection Unit Commander. Captain DiPaola is a recipient of two Commendation awards, two-unit citations and 12 letters of commendation. He is also a recent graduate of the 21^st-century policing leadership program. 

“As we continue to drive down violence and improve the way we police in Baltimore through our Consent Decree, those chosen for leadership within BPD have one of the most important responsibilities in our city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “We have made significant progress so far, but there is still significant work to be done, and these leaders being promoted will be tasked with seeing those reforms through. I have worked with many of them for years and take personal pride in their growth and development. I congratulate them on their new positions and urge them to always uphold what is best for the residents of Baltimore who they serve in their work."

Several Departmental moves will also be enacted:

Deputy Commissioner Brian Nadeau will become the Deputy Commissioner of the Public Integrity & Compliance Bureau.

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Callaghan will now oversee Area 1.

Lieutenant Colonel John Herzog will now oversee Citywide Investigations.

Major Jonathan Amey will move to the Performance Standards Section.

Major Jeffrey Featherstone will move to the District Detective Section.

Major Dwayne Swinton will become Major of the Northeast District.

Captain Alberto Colon will become Captain of the Central District.

Captain Daniel Popp will become Captain of the Southwest District.

All Phase 1 structural and command changes go into effect Dec. 3, 2023.

Please see the revised organizational chart here.

Also see: BPD announces Phase 2 of organizational changes and command promotions

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BPD Mission Statement

The Baltimore Police Department is dedicated to upholding the Constitution and enforcing laws in a fair, impartial, and ethical manner. We commit to creating and maintaining a culture of service that builds trust and legitimacy in all communities, values the sanctity of human life, and provides for the safety and well-being of all.

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