The head of the D.C. police department’s union will not run for re-election this year.
Kristopher Baumann, who has served as union chairman for eight years, made the announcement Monday in a letter to members.
Mr. Baumann has loudly and aggressively butted heads with the department’s top brass and city officials — taking the department to court and to arbitration on high-profile issues ranging from Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier’s signature crime-fighting blitz to disciplinary matters within the agency.
Mr. Baumann, who expects to return to the Seventh District as a patrol officer after leaving his position, said he felt he had accomplished many of his goals while at the helm of the union and that the timing was right to step down.
“The contract is now before the arbitrator and a lot of our long-term litigation has prevailed,” Mr. Baumann said. “Everything is on track, so I think it’s a good time to turn it over.”
An election to select his successor will be held on Jan. 16 but Mr. Baumann will retain his position until the end of March. At least three police officers are running for the position including: Delroy Burton, Terry Whitfield, and Milton Norris.
In a letter to union members, Mr. Baumann reflected on his reason’s for seeking union leadership, saying that at the time “Police officials were entirely unaccountable, and the union was able to offer little assistance.”
“Now we are the most formidable union in the District,” he wrote.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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