Local News

Clark: 'I Feel Deep Scars From Whole Incident'

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― Former Police Commissioner Kevin Clark says his reputation was forever damaged when then-mayor Martin O'Malley fired him in 2004.

Mike Hellgren reports Maryland's highest court ruled Thursday that his firing was illegal.

"[Regardless] if I was vindicated or not, there are deep scars from this entire incident," said Clark.

Without notice, a swat team removed Clark from office.

"Governor, why was it necessary to use a swat team? Why didn't you just bring the commissioner in, and tell him you couldn't work together and work it out," said Clark's lawyer Neal Janey.

O'Malley said Thursday that the mayor should have the right to fire the commissioner at will. The case now goes to a jury unless the city settles it out of court.

If it does go to trial, O'Malley could testify.

"The person who did that, you should ask them, 'Was it good for the people of Baltimore considering the things that have happened after I left here,'" said Clark.

Clark's original term runs until June this year.

Current Commissioner Fred Bealefeld has a contract for the job.

Bealefeld told Eyewitness News Friday, "The Kevin Clark issue is up to the courts. We have to stay focused on fighting crime in Baltimore, and hopefully continue to see numbers go down."

"It would be good for me. You understand? My career stopped on that day. This is an opportunity for me to get my professional career in law enforcement back on line," said Clark.

Clark's lawyers also say they'll subpoena records found on the computer of an O'Malley administration official that Clark was investigating when he was fired.

"It's against public policy for the mayor or anyone else to terminate a police commissioner while he's in the middle of police investigations that can affect your own administration," said Janey.

If Clark does get the job back, current Mayor Sheila Dixon could push him out again.

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