The Mayor says it will be a national search.
Mayor Michael O’Connor
Frederick,. Md (KM) The search for a new Frederick Police Chief is expected to get underway after December 5th. That’s when Mayor Michael O’Connor is expected to convene a search committee to develop a transparent and inclusive process.
But before that: “The first step in that process is to evaluate our existing job description, and make sure over the last five years as Chief {Jason} Lando has occupied the position, that we feel good that the job description accurately reflects where the department is today with the work that he’s done. From there, that position gets posted,”: he says.
Chief Lando has held the position of Frederick P:olice Chief for the past five years. He will be leaving to return to his native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. where he will be chief of their police department.
Mayor O’Connor says there will be a national search for a new Frederick Police Chief. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t good candidates potentially within the department. But we think the best approach is to insure that we’re casting a wide a net as possible,” he says
“If we do end up selecting someone internally, they’ll know that they’ve competed against the best candidates possible in winning that position,” Mayor O’Connor continues.
With the national search for a new chief, the Mayor says there will some local input in determining the best person for the job. “I want to rely on the expertise of both internal folks in the city of Frederick as well as community partners and others who have a vested interest in the future of the Frederick Police Department. And so we’ll put together some of kind of community search entity to assist in identifying who the best candidates are,” :says the Mayor.
He provided no time line when this search process will be completed.
Captain Kevin Meyer was named Acting Chief until a permanent Chief is picked. His appointment is effective December 6th, 2025.
By Kevin McManus