Republican candidate for Harford County sheriff Bob Benedetto announced his selection for second-in-command, should he be elected.
Benedetto, the head of security for the Harford County Public Schools, who also has 28 years of experience with the Baltimore County Police Department, named former sheriff?s office spokesman Edward Hopkins as his choice to run the day-to-day operation of the county police force.
“I wanted to show people that I actually have a plan,” Benedetto said. “There is a lot of apprehension that an outsider would try to change the Sheriff?s Office, and that is the furthest thing from what I wanted to do. I talked to the deputies, and they were concerned with who would be named second in command.”
Hopkins, 49, has 28 years of experience with Harford County Sheriff?s Office in various capacities. He was the agency?s spokesman for about 15 years, both in a civilian and sworn capacity, and also served as a criminal investigator and shift supervisor.
Benedetto said he believes Hopkins is a good choice because he has intimate knowledge of how the agency works.
“I think the community has a strong connection to me, ? and I bring to the table a well-versed understanding of the county,” Hopkins said. “I also developed a good reputation with the rank and file.”
Benedetto?s opponents disagreed with the strategy of naming a second in command this early.
“I?m not even in position to make a decision,” said Republican candidate Norman Cochran. Provided Cochran secures the Republican nomination, he said he would not begin interviewing candidates for the second-in-command position until after the primary.
Cochran said he had several deputies in mind for the position, but that his main goal was to choose the best person for the job.
Cochran?s approach is one that is also being taken by other candidates, including Ray Clasing, Marlin Mills, Joe Price and David Tritt.
Democratic candidate Jesse Bane, a former major with the Sheriff?s Office, said it has been speculated that he has tapped Capt. Gregory Carlevaro for his second-in-command, but Bane denied this.
“I have not made that decision yet,” he said.
