Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has appointed Terrence Benn as Howard County Police Department’s (HCPD) new acting chief. Benn assumed the role after former Chief of Police Gregory Der retired.
“Howard County Government is grateful to have incredible leaders who work tirelessly to ensure Howard County maintains the best quality of life for all and who strive to keep our community safe, our officers safe, and their families safe,” Ball said in a statement. “To his new role, Acting Chief Benn brings what this moment requires: experience, leadership, and a true commitment to community policing. I am confident in his ability to lead this department forward and continue to make progress on the legacy laid before us.”
Benn started his policing career in Baltimore City and then became a police officer in Atlanta. He served in the United States Marine Corps and spent nearly 20 years with HCPD. In those two decades, he rose through the ranks to reach command positions in all four commands of HCPD. He was most recently deputy chief for special operations, where he ran the department’s Special Operations Bureau and the Community Services Bureau.
He thanked Ball for the appointment, expressing gratitude for the confidence it demonstrated, and Benn thanked Der for his leadership and guidance while he was serving as deputy chief. He also had messages for his fellow police officers, employees in HCPD, and the Howard County community.
“I have had the privilege of serving in leadership roles across every command in my nearly 20 years of service, and I am excited to guide this department as it continues to grow and evolve,” Benn said. “To the more than 700 employees and volunteers at the Howard County Police Department: My commitment is to lead with honesty, advocate for the resources and support you need, and ensure that at the end of every shift, you know your work has made a difference. To the residents of Howard County: We will continue to deepen our relationships with you and be transparent, accountable, and responsive to your concerns. Every one of you deserves to feel safe, and we will work every day to earn and maintain that trust.”
According to the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, data show that in 2024 (the most recent year available), the crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants for Howard County was 1,772.4, which was 26.4% lower than for the State of Maryland.
Benn has drafted a strategic plan made up of priorities, programs, and enforcement ideas to improve public safety and community trust. The plan is centered on 10 focus areas, among them technology and innovation; reducing gang activity; narcotics enforcement; community outreach; youth engagement; intellectual and developmental disabilities protocol; and more.
On March 1, three HCPD officers shot and killed Alexander Lamorie, an autistic adult who had called police for a wellness check. The three officers shot Lamorie when he reportedly approached them holding a knife and did not drop it when the officers ordered him to. Per protocol, Officers Joel Rodriguez, Cody Bostic, and PFC Joseph Riebau were assigned to the Field Operations Command. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General released the bodycam footage, and the Independent Investigations Division is investigating the shooting.
At the end of March, Ball released a statement expressing empathy and grief at Lamorie’s death, and outlining steps his administration had taken to ensure the safety of residents during mental health crises. They included purchasing tasers so that officers had non-lethal alternatives in dangerous situations, sharing information on their confidential 911 flagging program so dispatchers and officers are better informed and able to deescalate, and more.
Ball also announced the appointment of Antonio Thomas as Acting Colonel following the retirement of Colonel Gary McLhinney. Thomas has been with HCPD for 20 years, most recently as captain. He has also overseen the department’s professional standards, information technology, and quality assurance.
“I am honored to step into this role as Colonel alongside Acting Chief Benn, and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by the leadership of this department and this county,” Thomas said. “I am proud of what this department has built in my 20 years here and I look forward to continuing to serve with every officer and civilian in this agency. Along with Acting Chief Benn, I will advocate at every level for what I consider the foundations of this department: staffing and resources. Our officers deserve to go into the field fully prepared, and that will remain a priority under this leadership.”
