Overview
- Mayor Brandon Scott announced Barksdale’s death Thursday night and did not disclose a cause.
- Barksdale rose to become deputy commissioner for operations at age 35 and later served as acting police commissioner.
- Scott brought him back to City Hall in 2022 as deputy mayor for public safety, overseeing police, fire, and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.
- Baltimore recorded three straight annual declines in homicides during his recent tenure, including a drop of more than 30% this year, according to local reports.
- Critics associated units he helped create, including the Violent Crime Impact Division, with aggressive tactics and constitutional violations.