# Ronald L. Daniel

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Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department in 2000

Ronald L. Daniel Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department In office January 3, 2000 – March 30, 2000 Preceded by Rotation (acting) Succeeded by Ed Norris Personal details Born 1948 or 1949 (age 76–77) Children 2 Education Johns Hopkins University Morgan State University Police career Department Baltimore Police Department Service years 1973–2000

**Ronald L. Daniel** (born 1948 or 1949) is an American police officer who served as [commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department](/source/Commissioner_of_the_Baltimore_Police_Department) from January to March 2000. He resigned after 88 days in office, making him the shortest-serving commissioner in the department's history.

## Early life

Daniel was born in 1948 or 1949 and grew up in [West Baltimore](/source/West_Baltimore_(region)). He graduated from [Baltimore City College](/source/Baltimore_City_College) in 1967, received a degree in [business development](/source/Business_development) from [Johns Hopkins University](/source/Johns_Hopkins_University), and was a [pre-medical](/source/Pre-medical) [major](/source/Academic_major) at [Morgan State University](/source/Morgan_State_University).[1][2]

## Career

Mayor [Kurt Schmoke](/source/Kurt_Schmoke) intervened to restore Daniel after he was suspended by police commissioner [Thomas C. Frazier](/source/Thomas_C._Frazier).

Daniel was recruited to the [Baltimore Police Department](/source/Baltimore_Police_Department) in 1973, attending the [FBI National Academy](/source/FBI_National_Academy) after joining the department. He received a bronze star from the department in 1977 for apprehending two armed robbery suspects. According to *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*, he held "more than a dozen posts", ultimately being promoted from [major](/source/Police_major) to [colonel](/source/Police_colonel) in 1994 by commissioner [Thomas C. Frazier](/source/Thomas_C._Frazier), becoming head of the [criminal investigation division](/source/Criminal_Investigation_Department) later the same year.[2][3][4] He became chief of the field operations bureau, the second-in-command at the department, in 1996, serving alongside future acting commissioner [John E. Gavrilis](/source/John_E._Gavrilis).[5][2]

Frazier suspended Daniel in 1997 following a comment at a [Vanguard Justice Society](/source/Vanguard_Justice_Society) meeting implying that Frazier should be fired if he did not address "internal racism" in the department, accusing him of "insubordination" and that his comments amounted to advocating "an overthrow of the government". This caused a revolt by 13 high-ranking members of the Vanguard Justice Society and calls for Frazier's resignation. Frazier's supporters described the revolt as an attempted [coup d'état](/source/Coup_d'%C3%A9tat). Mayor [Kurt Schmoke](/source/Kurt_Schmoke) intervened to restore Daniel, the first time the mayor publicly reversed a major decision by a commissioner.[1][2][6]

Daniel became commissioner on January 3, 2000.[7]

While commissioner, Daniel and O'Malley argued over how to fight crime, with the latter twice stating his impatience with Daniel over being slow to fight crime and disagreeing with advisors appointed by O'Malley. The advisors suggested 87 reforms, half of which Daniel declined.[7]

Daniel resigned on March 30, 2000, having served 88 days in office. According to *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*, his resignation surprised his top aides.[7]

## Personal life

As of 1997[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ronald_L._Daniel&action=edit), Daniel was married with two sons, living in [Anne Arundel County](/source/Anne_Arundel_County%2C_Maryland).[2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Baltimore_Sun_1999_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Baltimore_Sun_1999_1-1) ["Col. Daniel to be city's police chief; O'Malley expected to appoint veteran of 26 years on force; 'Honest, straightforward'; Mayor's choice supports philosophy of 'zero tolerance'"](https://www.baltimoresun.com/1999/12/22/col-daniel-to-be-citys-police-chief-omalley-expected-to-appoint-veteran-of-26-years-on-force-honest-straightforward-mayors-choice-supports-philosophy-of-zero-tolerance/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. December 22, 1999. Retrieved April 18, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Daemmrich_et_al._1997_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Daemmrich_et_al._1997_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Daemmrich_et_al._1997_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Daemmrich_et_al._1997_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Daemmrich_et_al._1997_2-4) Daemmrich, JoAnna; Siegel, Eric; Hermann, Peter; Buote, Brenda (April 25, 1997). ["Police chief faces drop in support"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-police-chief-faces-dro/145691423/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. pp. 1A, 16A–17A. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** James, Michael; Haner, Jim (March 29, 1994). ["Frazier promotes 5 to upper echelon posts"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-frazier-promotes-5-to/145640056/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. pp. 1B, 9B. Retrieved April 18, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** James, Michael; Siegel, Eric (June 2, 1994). ["Frazier unveils shake-up aimed at police reform"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-frazier-unveils-shake/145641484/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. pp. 1A, 12A. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Hermann, Peter (December 4, 1996). ["Top city police staff shuffled"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-top-city-police-staff/145674234/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. pp. 1B, 8B. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Hermann, Peter; Rivera, John (April 24, 1997). ["Officers seek to oust police chief"](https://newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-officers-seek-to-oust/145676982/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. pp. 1A, 10A. Retrieved April 19, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Compere_2018_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Compere_2018_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Compere_2018_7-2) Compere, Brian (May 15, 2018). ["Darryl De Sousa's time as Baltimore police commissioner was short — but not the shortest"](https://www.baltimoresun.com/2018/05/15/darryl-de-sousas-time-as-baltimore-police-commissioner-was-short-but-not-the-shortest/). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. Retrieved April 18, 2024.

Police appointments Preceded by Rotation (acting) Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department 2000 Succeeded by Ed Norris

v t e Baltimore Police Department Commissioners Board of Commissioners Gaither Lawson Nelson (acting) Stanton Atkinson Ober Ford (acting) Hepbron Schmidt Pomerleau Battaglia Robinson Tilghman Woods Frazier Rotation (acting) Daniel Norris Clark Hamm Bealefeld Batts Davis De Sousa Tuggle (acting) Harrison Worley Events 2015 Baltimore protests Baltimore police strike Killing of Freddie Gray Gun Trace Task Force Death of Sean Suiter Wayne Jenkins William King and Antonio Murray Harlem Park Three Murders of Keona Holley and Justin Johnson Media Charm City Cop in the Hood Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets Homicide: Life on the Street Serial, Season 1 The Wire We Own This City Related Espantoon Rough ride

v t e Commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department Police Commissioners (1920–present) Charles D. Gaither (1920–37) William P. Lawson (1937–38) Stephen G. Nelson (interim 1938) Robert F. Stanton (1938–43) Hamilton R. Atkinson (1943–49) Beverly Ober (1949–55) Fred L. Ford (interim 1955) James M. Hepbron (1955–61) Bernard Schmidt (1961–66) Donald Pomerleau (1966–81) Frank Battaglia (1981–84) Bishop Robinson (1984–87) Edward J. Tilghman (1987–89) Edward V. Woods (1989–93) Thomas C. Frazier (1994–99) John E. Gavrilis, Elbert Shirley & Robert Smith (interim rotation 1999–2000) Ronald L. Daniel (2000) Edward T. Norris (2000–02) Kevin P. Clark (2002–04) Leonard Hamm (2004–07) Frederick H. Bealefeld III (2007–12) Anthony Batts (2012–15) Kevin Davis (2015–18) Darryl De Sousa (2018) Gary Tuggle (interim 2018–19) Michael S. Harrison (2019–23) Richard Worley (2023–present) Presidents of the Board of Police Commissioners (1850–1920) Charles Howard (1850–61) Nicholas L. Wood (1862–64) Samuel Hindes (1864–66) James Young (1866–67) LeFevre Jarrett (1867–70) John W. Davis (1870–71) William H. B. Fusselbaugh(1871–81) George Colton (1881–87) Edson M. Schryver (1888–97) Daniel C. Heddinger (1897–1900) George M. Upshur (1900–1904) George R. Willis (1904–08) Sherlock Swann (1908–10) John B. A. Wheltle (1910–12) Morris Ames Soper (1912–13) James McEvoy (1913–14) Daniel C. Ammidon (1914–16) Lawrason Riggs (1916–20) Other members of the Board of Police Commissioners (1850–1920) select list Thomas Kelso

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ronald L. Daniel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_L._Daniel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_L._Daniel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.