TOWSON, Md. — Former Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith headlines a group of four new appointees joining newly-elected Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski’s administration.
Smith joins administrations press secretary. He brings roughly 20 years of law enforcement experience, beginning with the Anne Arundel County Police Department. He eventually became the spokesman for Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis. Davis then recruited Smith to join him in Baltimore when Davis became the city’s police commissioner. Smith also holds a master’s degree in management from Johns Hopkins and a master’s degree in strategic communications from Washington State University.
Smith retired from the Baltimore Police Department this fall. When he sat down with WMAR 2 News’ Brian Keubler, Smith said he had been thinking about leaving for a while and was waiting to find the appropriate time. He also said he was growing concerned with some of the infighting and tumult among top police officials as a new commissioner was being pursued.
Also joining Olszewski’s team is Rhoda Benjamin as the Director of Human Resources, Jeff Mayhew as Acting Director of Planning, and Mike Mohler as Acting Director of Permits, Approvals and Inspections.
Benjamin is another cross over from Baltimore City, previously serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community development. She brings 14 years of Human Resources experience from both the public and private sectors.
Mayhew has long ties to Baltimore County government, serving on the county’s Department of Planning since 1990, eventually becoming the Deputy Director.
Mohler was previously the chief administrator for the county’s Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections, in particular overseeing the county’s Liquor Board.
“We are working to make Baltimore County more innovative, transparent, and responsive to the needs of residents and communities, and that requires assembling a top notch leadership team,” Olszewski said in a statement. “These individuals will play a critical role in our efforts to build a better Baltimore County together.”
