# Richard Worley (police officer)

Richard J. Worley Jr. (born 1964 or 1965) is an American police officer who has served as the commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department since 2023. Born in Baltimore's Pigtown community, he graduated from Cardinal Gibbons School in 1983 and earned a degree in criminal justice from Oklahoma City University in 1987.
Worley began his law enforcement career in 1998 with the Baltimore Police Department, working his way up from a trainee to positions such as lieutenant, major, lieutenant colonel, and ultimately, police colonel. He played a role in implementing the city's deployment plans for protests related to the killing of George Floyd in 2021. Despite applying for chief positions at the Austin Police Department in 2021 and the Greeley Police Department in 2022, he was not selected for either role. In September 2022, Worley became the deputy commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department under Michael S. Harrison and assumed the role of acting commissioner on June 9, 2023, following his predecessor's resignation. Despite some controversy surrounding his nomination, he was confirmed as commissioner by the Baltimore City Council on October 2, 2023, with one dissenting vote.

## Early life and career

Richard J. Worley Jr. was born in the Pigtown community of Baltimore around 1964 or 1965. He graduated from Cardinal Gibbons School in 1983 and obtained a degree in criminal justice from Oklahoma City University in 1987. He was actively involved in college baseball and was notably recognized by his coach as "the natural." After college, he briefly played in minor league baseball and later worked in his family's flooring business for a decade.

## Police career

Worley began his police career with the Baltimore Police Department as a trainee in 1998 at the age of 34. He initially served four years on patrol in the Western District before progressing through the ranks, holding positions such as a lieutenant, major, lieutenant colonel, and ultimately, police colonel. In 2021, he played a role in implementing the city's deployment plans for protests related to the killing of George Floyd.
In September 2022, Worley assumed the position of deputy commissioner of operations for the Baltimore Police Department under Michael S. Harrison, and he took over as acting commissioner on June 9, 2023, following Harrison's resignation.
On July 17, 2023, Mayor Brandon Scott officially nominated Worley for the position of commissioner. While the Baltimore NAACP called for the withdrawal of his nomination, Worley received endorsements from former Mayor Jack Young and State's Attorney Ivan Bates.
Worley's nomination was unanimously approved by the Baltimore City Council Oversight Committee and later confirmed by the full Baltimore City Council on October 2, 2023, with the only dissenting vote coming from Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, who represents the district affected by the 2023 Baltimore shooting, which occurred during his tenure as acting commissioner. As acting commissioner, his salary was US$207,944, and upon his nomination's approval by the City Council, he received a three-year contract with an annual salary of US$285,000.
Under his leadership, Baltimore experienced significant reductions in crime during 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the city recorded fewer than 300 homicides for the first time in nearly a decade, marking a notable decrease from previous years. This downward trend continued into 2024, with a 36% drop in homicides and a 30% decrease in non-fatal shootings reported in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. By the end of 2024, Baltimore had recorded 201 homicides, representing a 23% decrease from the previous year. Additionally, the number of ghost guns seized in Baltimore decreased by 24% in 2024 compared to 2023, continuing a downward trend since a peak in 2022. These improvements have been attributed to enhanced policing strategies, increased community engagement, and a focus on violent crime reduction under Commissioner Worley’s administration.
On December 1, 2023, Worley, who had been living in Annapolis in neighboring Anne Arundel County, moved back to Baltimore, due to a clause in the city charter that requires the commissioner to live in the city or sign a declaration that they plan to move in the next six months after being appointed as commissioner. He signed the declaration on September 20, a day before his nomination was approved by the Oversight Committee.

## Personal life

Worley is married with two children. In addition to his career in law enforcement, he has been a Major League Baseball merchandise authenticator since August 2014.