The candidate recently chosen for the Pittsburgh police chief position, Jason Lando, tendered his resignation from his prior role as Frederick, Maryland’s police chief, in the midst of a probe into alleged misconduct. Lando found himself at the center of a controversy involving accusations of sending harassing text messages to Daniel Sullivan, a former corporal, as reported by WPXI. These messages, which have been traced back to Lando, were characterized as disparaging, but the state prosecutor's office has since declined to move forward with the case, effectively clearing Lando of legal culpability.
Despite the legal clearance, the allegations have managed to stir up a significant backlash. Lando vehemently denies the claims of harassment, stating that the charges against him were unfounded after an investigation by Maryland’s Office of the State Prosecutor. "Law enforcement leaders are frequently criticized for failing to hold bad cops accountable. Unfortunately, doing the right thing is rarely the easy thing, and sometimes comes with negative consequences," Lando stated, as detailed by WPXI in a statement. He alleges that the retaliation is a result of his own efforts to hold Sullivan accountable for use-of-force incidents deemed excessive.
The Frederick Mayor's Office has confirmed that Lando's resignation means they will not conduct a further investigation into the matter. With Lando's departure, any findings accumulated as of Wednesday will be documented and placed in his personnel record, and the investigation will be administratively closed.
Lando has insistently pushed back against the notion that he has ever engaged in harassment or threats. "In my 25 years in law enforcement, I have never harassed or threatened anyone. From day one of Mr. Sullivan’s ongoing harassment campaign, my only goal has been for him to leave me alone," Lando asserted to Audacy. With the matter formally to be settled by the inclusion in Lando's personnel file, no further investigations are to be expected.
