After less than a minute of discussion, the Baltimore City Council on Monday overwhelmingly confirmed
No one on the 14-member council voted against Batt's confirmation and only Councilman
"We had a thoughtful exchange with the appointee," he said. "We ended up hearing more than three hours of testimony."
City Council President
"I am quite sure the public is very, very happy with the way he conducted that hearing," Young said.
Batts replaces Baltimore police veteran
Batts will receive a salary of $190,000. He's been on the job since September, weeks before the council vote. He spent 27 years with the Long Beach Police Department, before leading the Oakland Police Department for two years.
He already has made some moves, reinstating the rank of captain and helping talk a high-ranking commander out of retirement. Commanders also say he's putting an emphasis on foot patrols and intelligence.
In Baltimore, the police commissioner serves a six-year term. Batts will carry out the remainder of Bealefeld's term, which ends in 2014, and will be appointed to his own term that runs through 2020.
Batts' contract states that he could be allowed to seek outside paid employment with approval from the mayor's office. Batts also will be entitled to a $190,000 lump sum payout if his contract is terminated without cause.
Sun reporter Justin Fenton contributed to this article.
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