In a bid to promote a vision of enhanced public safety and accountability, retired Baltimore Police commander Sabrina Tapp-Harper officially declared her candidacy for the role of City Sheriff. According to information released by WMAR2 News, her decision to run occurs against the backdrop of incumbent Sam Cogen's tenure, as he concludes his first term.
With a career spanning nearly four decades in law enforcement, Tapp-Harper aims to leverage her extensive experience to elevate the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office. Apart from her tenure as Assistant Sheriff appointed by Cogen's predecessor, Tapp-Harper has had a history of breaking boundaries within the department, being both the first Black commander of the Northern District and the first woman to head its Special Investigations Division. The barrier-breaking streak of Tapp-Harper, as mentioned by Fox Baltimore, had been established earlier when she graduated from the BPD, where she took on the rank of Major before retirement.
Focus on community relations being a staple of her campaign, Tapp-Harper is quoted as stating, "Baltimore deserves a Sheriff’s Office that is professional, responsive, and accountable," in a statement obtained by Fox Baltimore. She expresses a desire to "strengthen public trust, foster positive relationships with other agencies, and ensure the office delivers consistent, respectful service—every day."
Her advocacy work, particularly her national recognition for support of the Violence Against Women Act and an invitation to the White House by President Barack Obama in 2012, adds a layer of national experience to her local leadership narrative. Hoping to bring these experiences and her expertise to drive reforms, Tapp-Harper's campaign is set to release additional details about upcoming events and community listening sessions, as per Fox Baltimore.
On the other side, current Sheriff Sam Cogen states his commitment to "protecting our courts, supporting victims, strengthening public safety, and ensuring justice is carried out with professionalism and integrity," in a message accessed by WMAR2 News. Highlighting his community engagement efforts across Baltimore neighborhoods, Cogen aims to continue the work begun during his first term with the hopes of reelection.
