What’s happening?
According to a report released by Baltimore’s inspector general on August 11, the Baltimore Police Department allowed an officer to stay on payroll with full benefits, salary increases, substantial overtime, and union protection for nearly three decades after being stripped of his enforcement powers for fatally shooting an unarmed Black teen in the early 1990s.
The officer, who the Baltimore Brew has identified as Edward T. Gorwell II., was indicted within weeks of the fatal shooting. His first trial in 1993 ended in a mistrial, and a second trial scheduled in 1999 was dropped.
In 2002, the police department permanently revoked his police powers but kept him on the payroll as a call taker.
What’s being done about this?
Police Commissioner Michael Harrison fired Gorwell on August 1—three months after Harrison and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott received the inspector general’s full report.
Anything else I should know?
The report notes that Gorwell’s duties were worth a salary of about $44,000. But between his regular salary and overtime, he received upwards of $125,000 in 2020.
You can read more here.
