By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmqueen@afro.com
And
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer
msayles@afro.com
A 22-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), Jennifer McGrath, was recently promoted, despite being accused of electronic communication harassment and facing an internal affairs investigation.
According to charge documents a woman submitted, McGrath allegedly texted the woman several times despite being asked to stop. McGrath is allegedly dating the woman’s ex-husband. According to the documents obtained from the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County, McGrath threatened the woman in a series of text messages, citing her role with the Baltimore Police Department.
“I’m a captain. No one is going to believe you. I’ve already contacted my connections at internal affairs to let them know to throw your complaint out. You will never see your children again. If you keep trying to establish a relationship with your children, I will make sure you are locked up forever. I am powerful established, unlike you,”
Joshua Harris, chair of the Baltimore Police Accountability Board, Joshua Harris, commented on the matter.
“We know that the investigation is still pending, but if it is found to be true, that’s every civilian’s worst nightmare: to interact with an officer who has that way of thinking — of being so well-connected and so powerful, that they can say or do anything to you,” said Harris. “It is critical that we see the police department use policy and training to encourage culture changes within the department, which render any potential problematic thinking or actions on behalf of officers unacceptable.”
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley recently announced McGrath’s promotion along with a host of other promotions on Nov. 30, 2023, nine days after criminal charges were filed against her in the Baltimore County District Court of Maryland.
She was promoted to major in the Southwest district, on Dec. 3, 2023.
“The Baltimore Police Department is aware of a pending criminal case involving an allegation made in reference to a member of our command staff. A complaint was previously filed with the Public Integrity Bureau and an investigation is being conducted,” Lindsey Eldridge, director of public affairs and community outreach for BPD, told the AFRO. “An allegation may or may not preclude a member from a promotion. At this time, the member is on pre-approved leave.”
BPD’s promotion process for the ranks of captain and major—dictated in policy 1738 — is accessible on the department’s website. The promotion committee, responsible for evaluating candidates, comprises deputy commissioners, the police commissioner’s chief of staff, chief of patrol and chief of detectives and the equity officer, who is a non-voting member.
The policy instructs committee members to consider factors, including tenure, education, agency and civilian commendations, the candidate’s interview, disciplinary actions and criminal and complaint history. It also states that candidates may not be offered an interview if they have received misconduct complaints that provoke a consequence more severe than a written reprimand and are subject to an ongoing investigation of a complaint. The latter is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Before she was promoted, McGrath served as the executive officer of the Southwestern district.
According to court records, the trial will begin on Jan. 24 at 8:30 a.m. in a Baltimore County courtroom.
Tashi McQueen and Megan Sayles are Report For America corps members.