Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm reached out to Mayor Sheila Dixon after she was indicted on perjury and felony theft charges, putting aside differences lingering since she asked him to resign in July 2007 amid soaring homicide rates.
“Being a police official, I’ve seen both sides to every story, so I’ve trained myself to reserve judgment until all of the facts are brought forward,” Hamm said Friday in an exclusive interview with The Examiner.
“But if this is in fact true, it’s awful.”
Dixon, 55, is accused of failing to disclose gifts in 2004 from a real estate developer she was dating, Ronald Lipscomb, including lavish trips.
The indictment also alleges Dixon collected gift cards for needy families and used them to purchase gifts for her family.
Dixon insists she did nothing wrong and that Lipscomb’s gifts weren’t reported to Baltimore’s ethics board because he didn’t have business with the city.
While Hamm said he never observed Dixon taking part in illegal activity, he personally “erred on the side of caution” when filing his own disclosure forms.
“I listed everything from everybody, because I really didn’t know who met the definition of having business with the city,” Hamm said. “I even listed family members.
“But it’s not for me to judge either way, and nobody wants to see her go through this.”
Hamm said he feels sorry for Dixon and never blamed her for asking him to step down.
“I don’t feel vindictive. It was a matter of circumstances,” he said. “I always wanted a year-to-year contract because it motivated me to do better, and I’ve been around long enough to know that after a year, I may be tired of you and you may be tired of me and we can just say ‘adios’.”
After saying good-bye to Dixon, Hamm was hired at Coppin State University as the director of public safety.
He was settling into the life of a private citizen when his successor, Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld, came knocking on his door last June with devastating news.
Hamm’s stepdaughter, Nicole Sesker, 38, who struggled with drug abuse and prostitution, was found strangled to death in Northwest Baltimore.
“Fred [Bealefeld] personally informed me, and I’m forever indebted to him for being the first to let me know. That was a lot of class on his part,” said Hamm, speaking to the media for the first time since Sesker was killed.
“And most of the guys who investigated the case I either trained or worked with, so I had confidence in them.”
Dixon contacted Hamm after police arrested a man who is awaiting trial in the case.
“I was extremely appreciative that she reached out to me after my daughter was killed. It was very heartwarming,” he said. “It was difficult. My daughter was in that lifestyle for a long time, and I understood the risks of that. You prepare for the worst, hoping that it never comes, and if does, you put your faith in a higher power.”
Hamm has since returned the favor, keeping Dixon in his prayers and offering his support to her in a recent e-mail.
“The mayor appreciates the support from him and has always valued his advice and insight in both life and politics,” said Ian Brennan, Dixon’s spokesman.
Some city officials expressed concerns that Dixon’s legal troubles will detract from her mayoral responsibilities, especially if she faces prison time.
But Hamm said he’s not jumping to conclusions.
“Whatever happens in the long run, she’ll survive and so will the city,” he said. “This city is resilient, and it’ll keep on going.”
