UPDATED: New Chief Named After Teare Announces Retirement

UPDATE (3:05 p.m.)—Maj. Pamela R. Davis is the new acting police chief for the Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACPD), effective immediately after Police Chief James Teare Sr.'s retirement is set to begin in Aug. 1.

Davis will be the first female police chief in Anne Arundel County history. She is currently the commander of the Administrative Services Bureau of the police department.

The other heads of the department are retiring later this year—including Deputy Chief Emerson Davis, who is set to retire in August, and Deputy Chief David E. Pressley, who will retire in September.

County Executive John R. Leopold made the announcement of Davis' appointment on Wednesday afternoon, hours after Teare's retirement was made public.

“Pam Davis is an excellent example of the high caliber of police officers in our department, and I am confident she can provide the leadership necessary to maintain the excellent performance we have become accustomed to,” Leopold said. “She brings nearly two decades of experience to the table and the ability to put us in the best position to fight crime successfully.”

Davis, 41, of Lothian, joined AACPD in 1993 as a patrol officer in the eastern district. According to a release, she has been a K-9 officer and commander of the training academy, the criminal investigations division and southern and eastern districts. Davis has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

“I want to thank county executive Leopold for this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Anne Arundel County,” Davis said. “We have a solid foundation on which to build a stronger police department.”

Davis' appointment as acting chief is set to become effective Aug. 1, the date of Teare’s retirement.

The International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), which represents the sergeants and lieutenants of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, issued a statement Wednesday about the news of Teare's retirement, saying they were pleased with the outcome.

“Chief Teare has finally heeded our call and done what is in the best interests of the citizens of Anne Arundel County and the law enforcement professionals who serve the county. The cloud over Anne Arundel County is finally beginning to lift," said David J. Holway, IBPO national president. 

A terse statement released by the police department Wednesday morning said that Teare “cherished the opportunity to serve the citizens of Anne Arundel County."

Leopold, in a statement released Wednesday, said Teare was retiring to spend more time with his family.

"Chief Teare notified me today of his intent to leave the Police Department in order to spend more time with his family, effective August 1,” Leopold said. “I would like to thank him for his long and honorable service to Anne Arundel County and wish him the best of luck in his retirement.”

Teare announced Wednesday that he would retire effective Aug. 1.

The news came from a release by state prosecutor Emmet C. Davitt, who said the state was dropping an investigation into Teare.

“In light of his retirement, the state is closing its criminal investigation of Chief Teare. It is important to resolve this matter without any further disruption to the effective functioning of the Police Department at a time when it is reorganizing, and the Anne Arundel County Executive is under indictment. Our office believes that this resolution is in the best interests of the citizens of Anne Arundel County,” Davitt said in the release.

The trial for Leopold . Leopold was indicted on five counts by a state grand jury in March, including  and one count of fraudulent misappropriation by a fiduciary.

, but did not answer most questions posed to him about his alleged involvement in the charges against Leopold. Instead, in a follow-up meeting, .

In March, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, which represents the sergeants and lieutenants of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, .

In April, .