Posted on 05/25/22
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt is calling a vote to remove her from her position, 'a minor distraction'.
Monday night, Baltimore County's Fraternal Order of Police voted to call on the County Executive to remove Chief Hyatt saying they'd lost all faith and confidence in the chief.
"No one abstained and no one voted no," said FOP President Dave Folderaeur.
Folderaeur estimates about 150 union members attended Monday night's meeting and cast a vote of no confidence.
The union has more than 1,700 members.
"I'm not going to be distracted by a very small fraction of the department," said Chief Hyatt on Tuesday.
In a letter to the county executive, FOP members cited Hyatt's lack of accessibility to officers and her inability to bring down crime in the county.
"The chief needs to self-reflect on her leadership or her lack of leadership. The cops don't feel heard and don't feel supported," said Folderaeur.
Hyatt admits last year was a difficult year for the department's crime fight but insists the homicide rate has dropped 50% this year and clearance rates are on the rebound.
On Tuesday, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski insisted he remains confident in Hyatt's ability to lead.
Hyatt attributes the FOP action to a small group of critics within the union but vows to keep an open mind and an open door.
"I need to continue to find ways to improve how we communicate with employees and, in a large agency, it's not always easy to do," Hyatt said.