It was a show of force usually reserved for only the most dangerous criminals. Fifty “heavily armed” police officers, including SWAT team members. Ransacking desks. Seizing files.

But this group of officers wasn’t going after terrorists or gang members. Their target was Baltimore’s police commissioner.

Outraged that Gov. Martin O’Malley — the former mayor — sent a SWAT to kick him out of police headquarters after his firing on Nov. 10, 2004, former Commissioner Kevin Clark and two of his top commanders have filed a $20 million lawsuit against O’Malley and several other defendants.

“It’s a little more involved than simply being fired: He was removed by a show of force with a SWAT team,” said Clark’s attorney Neal Janey, who says the men were illegally searched and detained.

This story continues below
Advertisement

The governor’s office in Annapolis says the suit is baseless.

“There is no merit to this lawsuit,” said O’Malley spokeswoman Christine Hansen.

Baltimore City Solicitor George Nilson said that Clark’s dismissal was justified, and that the use of police officers to remove him necessary.

“It was not a happy occasion,” Nilson said. “Nobody was popping champagne bottles and having celebratory farewell toast to Commissioner Clark.”

He added that Clark’s lawsuit – which uses the words “heavily armed,” “ransacked” and “seized” — is overblown.

“Neal Janey knows how to bake a cake,” Nilson said. “It’s a flowery complaint, very heavy on the icing.”

The lawsuit is the second filed by Clark; a state suit he filed against the city is pending.

Clark is awaiting a decision from Maryland’s highest court, the Court of Appeals in Annapolis, which could rule his firing illegal.

Clark alleges he was fired without reason and denied due process.

He also claims he and fellow commander Joel Francis were mistreated in part because they are black. Anthony Romano, the other commander, is white.

lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com

sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com