Frederick Bealefeld, Baltimore?s police commissioner, received a $28,000 raise Wednesday, increasing his salary to $190,000 a year.
The raise, which takes effect immediately, comes as part of a new contract that runs through 2014.
City officials called the increase essential to keeping the commissioner?s salary competitive with those of other heads of police forces.
“If you look at the salaries of other police commissioners in comparable cities and around the area region, this contract is right in line with other jurisdictions,” said Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon.
“The mayor also believes the commissioner has done a good job thus far.”
The increase, approved by the Board of Estimates, makes Bealefeld the second-highest-paid city official, behind Patricia Jessamy, city state?s attorney, who earns $225,000.
Bealefeld?s contract includes an annual 3 percent cost-of-living raise, as well as lump sum payments if he is fired.
He replaced Commissioner Leonard Hamm, who resigned in July at the request of Dixon.
