Kevin P. Clark

{{Short description|Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department from 2003 to 2004}}

{{Use American English |date=March 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates |date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox police officer

|name = Kevin P. Clark

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|department = New York Police Department
Baltimore Police Department

|service = United States

|serviceyears = 19??-2003
2003-2004

|rank = Commissioner

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Kevin Clark is a former commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, who held the position from early 2003 until November 2004. A former NYPD officer, Clark's term as police commissioner was strained with both the mayor and police department as Clark was involved in domestic issues and an unpopular turnover of veteran officers such as former Major Gary D'Addario.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} He was fired by then-mayor Martin O'Malley, resulting in a lawsuit in which he sought $120 million in damages and fought to get back his job.{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=2004-11-11 |title=O'Malley fires Baltimore police commissioner |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/11/11/omalley-fires-baltimore-police-commissioner/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US |issn=1930-8965 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322035013/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2004/11/11/omalley-fires-baltimore-police-commissioner/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Dennis |date=2006-07-11 |title=Former Commissioner Kevin Clark Back In Court |url=http://wjz.com/topstories/Kevin.Clark.Baltimore.2.423163.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070620142204/http://wjz.com/topstories/Kevin.Clark.Baltimore.2.423163.html |archive-date=2007-06-20 |website=WJZ-TV}} O'Malley's justification for the firing had been that these accusations were distracting to his duties as a commissioner.

According to the motions filed to Clark, the firing was a violation of his contract.

On the day of his firing, O'Malley named Leonard Hamm as the interim commissioner, a job to which Hamm would be permanently assigned.

In 2005, Clark made a request to the Baltimore board of estimates for $75,000 in severance pay.{{Cite news |date=2005-01-20 |title=Clark asks for repeal of severance |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/01/20/clark-asks-for-repeal-of-severance-2/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US |issn=1930-8965 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322034506/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/01/20/clark-asks-for-repeal-of-severance-2/ |url-status=live }} On April 4 of that year, Clark lost his case in court.{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=2005-04-05 |title=Ex-city chief of police loses suit |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/04/05/ex-city-chief-of-police-loses-suit/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US |issn=1930-8965 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322034302/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2005/04/05/ex-city-chief-of-police-loses-suit/ |url-status=live }} But in July 2006, an appeals court reinstated his suit.{{Cite news |date=2006-07-01 |title=Appeals court reinstates ex-police chief's suit |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2006/07/01/appeals-court-reinstates-ex-police-chiefs-suit/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |language=en-US |issn=1930-8965 |access-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-date=March 22, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322034304/https://www.baltimoresun.com/2006/07/01/appeals-court-reinstates-ex-police-chiefs-suit/ |url-status=live }}