Baltimore's police commissioner promoted 40 officers at a ceremony at City Hall Plaza last night and named a new commander for the Western District, his first change of a station house leader since he was confirmed in May.
Lt. Paula T. Johnson, a 15-year veteran, was elevated to the rank of major; she joins 25 other majors and is the only female African-American to hold that post in the 3,200-member department.
She will replace Maj. Kenneth Blackwell, a 31-year veteran who has led the Western District since June 1998. Blackwell will move to downtown headquarters and work for Col. Robert Novak, the chief of the patrol bureau.
FOR THE RECORD - Because information supplied by the Baltimore Police Department was incorrect, it was mistakenly reported in yesterday's Maryland section that Maj. Paula T. Johnson, who was promoted on Tuesday, is the the only female African-American with the rank of major. Maj. Diane K. Dutton, who also is African-American, is associate director of the Mid Atlantic Community Policing Institute at the Johns Hopkins University. The Sun regrets the errors.
Commissioner Edward T. Norris said that Johnson "exhibited the kind of leadership I am looking for" and that he was impressed with her work in the operations bureau, where she served as a chief of staff to Deputy Commissioner Barry W. Powell.
He also said Johnson was exemplary while serving on internal disciplinary hearing boards, where she helped decide the fate of officers accused of misconduct.
Johnson has a master's degree in applied behavioral science from the Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Bowie State University. She graduated from Forest Park High School in 1967.
The Western District has the highest crime rate in West Baltimore. District commanders are generally high profile positions because they interact daily with city residents.
Norris said Blackwell is needed in the chief of patrol's office to perform administrative duties so that its chief can spend more time on the streets directing his troops.
