Annapolis Mayor Jared Littmann has selected Demetrious Harris to lead the city’s police department, ending a nine-month vacancy at the top of the agency.
The appointment, announced late Thursday, follows a period of leadership transition for the city. Harris most recently served as the police chief for Seat Pleasant, a small city in Prince George’s County located near the eastern edge of Washington, D.C., The Banner reported.
This selection aims to stabilize a department that has been without a permanent chief since Mayor Littmann removed the previous leader, Edward Jackson, in early February. The vacancy has coincided with a period of administrative shifts, including the appointment of a new city manager and city attorney following the mayor’s takeover in December.
“We have a high degree of confidence in the selection of Chief Harris as the next leader for the Annapolis Police Department,” said Yolanda Lewis, the city manager.
The decision to bring in Harris comes after a period of friction within the city. When Littmann fired Jackson—the city’s second Black police chief—he cited “differing approaches to management” but provided few specific details regarding the dismissal, The Banner reported.
The removal of Jackson, who held the position from August 2019 until February 2026, drew scrutiny from the local Black community. While the union representing the department, UFCW Local 400, supported the removal at the time, the sudden change left a gap in permanent leadership that Amy Miguez, a 25-year veteran, filled as acting chief.
Harris’s background leans heavily on community-oriented strategies and technical integration. During his tenure in Seat Pleasant, he established a Citizens Advisory Council and utilized GPS technology to manage police pursuits. He is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy program and holds a degree in Police and Security Studies from George Washington University.
The fiscal landscape for the department is also expanding alongside this leadership change. The Annapolis Police Department’s annual budget has seen a notable increase to accommodate growing operational needs.
| Fiscal Year | Annual Budget |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $27.1 million |
| 2027 | $30.2 million |
The appointment is not yet final. Mayor Littmann intends to introduce a resolution for Harris’s appointment during a city council meeting on Nov. 23. A formal vote by the Annapolis City Council is expected to take place on Dec. 14.
If the council confirms the selection, Harris will begin his role on Dec. 15 with an annual salary of $214,000.
“Chief Harris brings an exceptional depth of municipal and public safety leadership to Annapolis,” Littmann said in a statement.
The mayor’s administration will need to move quickly to integrate Harris into a city government that has seen several high-level departures and appointments since the start of the current term.
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