Union Calls for Resignation of Leopold, Teare

A union of sergeants and lieutenants is calling for the resignation of County Executive John R. Leopold and Police Chief James Teare Sr., according to a press release.

The International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which represents the sergeants and lieutenants of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, released a press release Monday calling for the resignations in light of . Leopold is charged with four counts of misconduct in office and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary.

The full release is copied below:

The International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which represents the sergeants and lieutenants of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, is calling on County Executive John Leopold and Police Chief James Teare, Sr., to resign following Leopold's indictment on fraud and misconduct charges.

"Our members thought the county executive made unsafe decisions about public safety before the indictment," said Paul J. Birks, IBPO national vice president, referring to the vote of no confidence the sergeants and lieutenants took in Leopold’s performance a week before the release of the indictment. "We're even more concerned now that Mr. Leopold will have the distraction of such serious legal troubles."

"If Mr. Leopold truly cares about the safety of the people of Anne Arundel County, as he claims, he'll do the right thing and hand the helm over to someone who can make wiser public safety decisions without conflict," said Birks.

The IBPO is also calling on Chief Teare to step down. Included in the indictment against Leopold is a charge that officers approached the chief with their concerns about Leopold's alleged misuse of officers for campaign and personal purposes, but that the chief did nothing in response.

"If officers cannot trust their chief to protect them from the alleged abuse by a public official, then how can citizens trust the chief to protect them?" asked Birks.