TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Police Chief Melissa Hyatt intends to step down from her post on December 5, County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Baltimore County will conduct a national search for Chief Hyatt’s successor.

“Chief Hyatt is a world-class public safety professional who has led efforts to modernize the Baltimore County Police Department, helping us to enact critical reforms to strengthen the agency,” said Olszewski. “We are grateful for her tireless commitment to the people of Baltimore County and remain thankful for her service as we begin the process of identifying a successor who will help ensure Baltimore County remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family.”

Police Chief Hyatt has issued the following statement:

“It is with heartfelt and mixed emotions that I announce my last day as Chief of the Baltimore County Police Department is December 5th. Police chiefs are appointed for finite terms in order to accomplish specific goals and objectives of County leadership. With the end of my term quickly approaching, I am both saddened to be leaving my Baltimore County family and excited to see what the future holds.

“During my tenure as Chief, we worked through challenging times. I am so very proud of our many accomplishments, including initiatives that sharpened our focus on community trust, public safety, and officer wellness.

“I want to personally thank every police officer, professional staff member, and community member who supported this important work. As a result, this agency is better equipped to face the future and serve our much-deserving County. I wish nothing but the best for the Baltimore County Police Department and our entire community.”