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WEBVTT BALTIMORE WAS LOOKING FOR. >> WE BELIEVE IN MAY OF NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE. JAYNE: MICHAEL HARRISON ADDRESSING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONSENT DECREE IN THAT CITY IN 2017. THE MANDATE HAS BEEN I PLACE SINCE 2013. THE RESULTS OF DECADES OF MISCONDUCT AND CORRUPTION. T HIS RESUME INCLUDES VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION, HOMICIDES IN 2018 WERE AT THEIR LOWEST IN 47 YEARS. >> TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT A POLICE CHIEF WHO IS REDUCING VIOLENCE AT ITS HIGHEST RATE IS WELL FOR BALTIMORE. JAYNE: HE WAS A FAVORITE OF THE SEARCH PANEL BUT WOULD - NOT WILLING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. >> SOME PEOPLE WERE NOT WILLING TO COMING WITHOUT COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THEIR NAMES WOULD NOT BE LEAKED OUT. JAYN PUGH NAM JOEL FITZGERALD. HARRIS CHANGED HIS MIND AND AGREED TO TAKE ON THE JOB. HE STHE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NE ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL SAID THEIR LOSSES BALTIMORE’S GAIN. >> I THOUGHT THAT CHIEF HARRISO PUT COMMUNITY FIRST, HE HAS BEEN A GOOD POLICE CHIEF, HE HAS PUT IN PLACE SOME GREAT REFORMS. JAYN UNLIKE JOEL FITZGERALD WHO CHOSE TO KEEP THE JOB PENDING CONFIRMATION IN BALTIMORE, MICHAEL HARRISON IS RETIRING IN NEW ORLEANS. HE WILL MEET WITH COMMUNITIES ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR BEFORE SHE FORMALLY SUBMITS HIS NAME TO THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONFIRMATION. REPORTING

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Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh announced New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison as her new pick for Baltimore police commissioner.Harrison, 49, was the initial recommendation of the Commissioner Search Panel, which Pugh created. Harrison was not a second choice. He declined to apply for the job, saying he didn't want to leave New Orleans due to his commitment to the city, which in 2018 saw its lowest homicide rate in 47 years."Some people were not willing to come into this process without complete confidence their names would not be leaked out," Pugh said.Pugh went on to choose Fort Worth, Texas, Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. When that nomination started to unravel last week, Baltimore City Solicitor Andre Davis said Harrison changed his mind and agreed to take on the Baltimore job."He is one of the top police chiefs in the nation," Pugh said.Harrison informed New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell of his decision to formally retire from the department, which he has served for 27 years and led since 2014.WBAL-TV's sister station in New Orleans, WDSU, reported that sources close to the matter said Harrison's last day will be Dec. 18.Harrison said in a statement released by Pugh's office: "I'm honored by Mayor Pugh's confidence in my abilities and approach and look forward to getting to Baltimore in the coming weeks to engage broadly with residents about the challenges to public safety and confidence in their Police Department. My first priority will be to drive meaningful cultural change within the department such that not only is there a renewed sense of purpose and mission among those sworn to protect and serve, but that citizens' trust is restored to a new level that enables true collaboration and confidence. Only then can we make sustained progress in reducing violence in close partnership with those who have the most at stake. I am inspired by the approaches Mayor Pugh has introduced to address the root causes of violent crime and disrupt the lure of criminal life among those young people most at risk. I look forward to partnering with her, the men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, and the community to build on the clear momentum underway."Fort Worth, Texas, Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald withdrew his name for consideration for Baltimore police commissioner Monday. Harrison is a life-long cop who rose through the ranks in the New Orleans Police Department. In 1991, Harrison joined the department as a patrol officer. He served as a sergeant in the Major Case Narcotics Section in 1995. In January, 2011, Harrison was appointed to the position of commander of the Special Investigations Division, managing the narcotics, vice, criminal intelligence and gang enforcement units of NOPD. He was appointed superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department in August 2014 and reappointed in May 2018. The city of New Orleans has seen reform for its police department through a consent decree with the Justice Department. Baltimore City is currently under its own federal consent decree."He understands the similarities between us -- New Orleans and Baltimore. I think he is noted as one of the top police chiefs in the country. And I think that he will come here to Baltimore, he will spend a great deal of time in neighborhoods and communities, and having community conversations," Pugh said.Pugh said Harrison will take on an acting-commissioner role in a few weeks and his name will be submitted to City Council in February. Harrison will participate in a number of meetings with community leaders, neighborhood associations and citizens prior to the formal submission of his nomination to the City Council. The timing and locations of those meetings, and eventual City Council hearings, have yet to be determined."I think it's important the community hears from the nominee, what his intentions are, what his plan is, what his intentions are, and engage with neighbors throughout the city. That process will take place," Pugh said.From the heart of west Baltimore to the fresh pavement along Fort Avenue and back toward City Hall, city residents reacted to the mayor's new choice for police commissioner. On Pennsylvania Avenue, 11 News talked to with Larry Shaw, a leader with the No Boundaries Coalition."I think community policing is something that seems mythical, but it has to really happen. So if he's a community policing-type guy, then we'll be OK," Shaw said.Some people with whom 11 News spoke said community involvement in the process to pick the next commissioner is a top priority."My hope is that, moving forward, that we hear from the community and that the mayor goes through a community-based process because ultimately, their voices are the most important," Baltimore City Councilman Brandon Scott said."We need some stability in our Police Department, so (we're) looking to find out what happens," Baltimore City Delegate Antonio Hayes said.Not one person 11 News spoke with Tuesday thought Harrison was a bad choice for this big job in Baltimore City, and that includes some of the mayor's most vocal critics."This is the commissioner that Baltimore needs and that Baltimore deserves. This is a historic moment. This is who we needed from the get-go," Baltimore City Sen. Bill Ferguson said.There is no official word yet on how much Baltimore is proposing to pay Harrison. He made $154,000 in New Orleans, according to 2017 reports. Baltimore was willing to pay Joel Fitzgerald up to $275,000.Baltimore City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young shared a letter he sent to Pugh, where he requested eight background documents, including Harrison's resume, civil and criminal cases in which Harrison is a party and affirmation that he filed his federal and state tax returns.Young also requested Harrison answer 10 questions, including what is his ability to conduct and implement a "top to bottom" policy review change and to describe his familiarity with Baltimore's consent decree.New Orleans City Council President Jason Williams released a statement, saying, in part: "I have known Michael since he was a young officer with black hair and I was a young lawyer with hair. He is a wonderful man and has ushered our city through an extremely precarious time. Consent decrees are typically met with disdain from top to bottom. Chief Harrison instead embraced it, leading the NOPD to become the national standard bearer of police reform and increasing public safety at the same time. Through unique programs such as Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) and a revolutionary training partnership with the Innocence Project of New Orleans, the Department has made exponential improvements under his leadership. I'm saddened to see him go but extremely proud that a native son of New Orleans will now share his talents with the city of Baltimore. He and his family have been true assets to our community."Stay with WBALTV.com and 11 News for more on this developing story.​