SUN: Howard County names 2nd acting police chief in less than 3 months

HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WBFF) — Howard County Executive Calvin Ball named Col. Antonio Thomas as the new acting chief of police Monday, according to the county’s website.

The appointment comes less than three months after Maj. Terrence Benn assumed the role of acting chief. The county held a news conference in May to announce Benn’s appointment. He began as acting chief on June 1, replacing Chief Gregory Der, who retired.

Benn is now listed as “acting colonel” on the county website. No news conference was held to introduce Thomas as the new acting chief.

The Howard County Charter allows the county executive to designate an acting head of any department until a successor is appointed, but the acting head cannot serve for longer than 60 days. The county council can extend any acting head’s appointment for an additional four months.

Read the full story on The Baltimore Sun.