Howard County is handing the badge at the top to Maj. Terrence Benn, with County Executive Calvin Ball naming him acting police chief effective June 1, as Chief Gregory Der prepares to step down. Benn, a former Marine with nearly two decades in law enforcement, is moving from his current post overseeing the department’s community services work into the top job. Ball is also named Capt. Antonio Thomas is acting colonel as part of a broader reshuffling of the department’s senior command staff.
Ball rolled out the appointments at a Tuesday news conference, according to The Baltimore Banner. The outlet reports that Benn currently serves as Howard County’s deputy chief of special operations and oversees the community services division. It also notes that he previously worked as an officer in Baltimore City and Atlanta and holds a master’s degree in divinity from Howard University.
"Policing is a calling and a service that involves showing up for people in difficult moments of their lives," Benn said at the news conference, stressing that prevention is one of his top goals. The Baltimore Banner reported that Benn said his priorities will include supporting people with mental health issues, residents with disabilities, and young people. The county’s police website lists Benn as part of its command staff and credits Chief Der with expanding the department’s body-worn camera program and setting up satellite outposts, according to the Howard County Police Department.
Department under scrutiny
Benn steps into the role as the department faces intense scrutiny over recent deadly incidents, including the March shooting of Alexander LaMorie and a separate fatal crash involving an unnamed juvenile driver. The LaMorie case, in which family members say he called 911 for help during a suicidal crisis before officers shot him, has sparked community outrage and fueled calls for changes to crisis response, as reported by Patch. Local advocacy groups such as the Police Accountability Task Force of Howard County have been pressing county oversight bodies for more transparency on racial disparities in policing.
What to watch next
Benn formally takes over on June 1 while Chief Der winds down his tenure, and residents, along with advocates, will be watching closely to see whether Benn’s focus on prevention and mental health alternatives translates into on-the-ground changes. That could include shifts in training, broader use of non-lethal tools, and new crisis co-response models. Howard County’s site highlights recent operational expansions, including satellite outposts at Green Valley Marketplace and inside the Mall in Columbia, which officials have promoted as community policing efforts, according to the Howard County Police Department.
Legal and oversight
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division is the statewide office tasked with investigating police involved deaths and forwarding its findings to the appropriate State’s Attorney, which shapes whether criminal charges are pursued. The IID’s annual report details that mandate and explains the process for reporting results to local prosecutors, according to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General IID.
