Questions swirl about future of top Baltimore city official after IG reports

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Two Baltimore Inspector General reports that did not publicly identify a senior city employee concern Deputy City Administrator Shamiah Kerney, FOX45 has learned.

A March report described violent and profane Teams messages sent to subordinates and employees in other city agencies. A September report said the same employee directed a city IT official to remove an inspector general investigator’s authorized access to her email and documents during an ongoing investigation.

The March report found the messages violated the city’s Technology Acceptable Use Policy and said they could contribute to a toxic or hostile workplace. The OIG included messages such as, “I’m about tokill [name redacted]” and “[name redacted] is going to make me crack her skull.”

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“The appropriate response to this personnel matter will be undertaken,” Mayor Brandon Scott said in response to the March report.

The September report said Kerney, unnamed in the actual report, directed a Baltimore City Information Technology official to remove an OIG investigator’s permissions to access her email and documents. According to the OIG, the investigator’s access was authorized by city policy and had been approved annually by BCIT.

The OIG said its investigation began after employees raised concerns about Kerney’s communications and management style and investigators found policy-violating messages during a related case.

In emails obtained by FOX45, Inspector General Isabel Cumming told the mayor and City Solicitor Ebony Thompson she feared for her safety because of the “volatility and violent nature” of the messages. Cumming wrote that she believed she “would end up with a bullet in my head” and asked that Kerney not be told if any administrative action came as a result of an OIG report.

Thompson said the administration took Cumming’s safety seriously, noting she contacted the police commissioner, who offered assistance, and the mayor offered parking directly outside City Hall.

In its written response to the September report, the Mayor’s Office and Law Department argued Kerney had raised legitimate concerns about the OIG’s access to her records and “could qualify as a protected whistleblower.” The response accused the OIG of retaliating against Kerney and said her request to remove access was not carried out at the time.

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The OIG rejected the city’s allegations, saying the investigator’s access was authorized and that permissions were left on accounts to create an audit trail. The OIG also said it opened a separate investigation after employees reported concerns and investigators found hundreds of messages that violated city policy.

FOX45 News asked Mayor Scott’s office Tuesday if Kerney remains employed at City Hall and if so, in what capacity, along with other questions. The Mayor’s Office did not respond.

“I’m still digesting this with the rest of the public,” City Councilman Mark Conway said when asked about the news Tuesday. “I always had a good relationship with Shamiah. I was disappointed to see the kind of language used in, the way that she was using our city account.”

He’s unsure if Kerney remains employed with the city, and when asked if Kerney should remain on the job, Conway said that’s a discussion for the administration.

“I think it’s really, really, really important that we take our jobs very seriously. And anything you say on the city email, anything you do with the city account is open to the public and should be open to the public and especially open to our inspector general,” Conway said.

“To that effect, you have to expect that when you talk to folks that way, that you should be held accountable for that action.”

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