Months after denying reports of a shake-up in a Northwest police district, Chief Cathy Lanier has replaced the commander with her agency’s former internal affairs leader.
Mark Carter had served as commander of the 2nd District for less than a year. He’ll be replaced by Inspector Matthew Klein, who was demoted from the head of internal affairs this summer.
“I’m acting commander as of Sunday,” Klein told The Examiner. He declined further comment.
The Examiner reported in July that Carter was on his way out. He had struggled in his relations with neighbors and anti-crime activists, who said he was aloof and often detached from day-to-day life in the wealthy areas guarded by 2nd District officers. At the time, Lanier denied those accounts.
Lanier has shaken up her staff several times in her two years as chief. Police union Chairman Kris Baumann said Carter’s rapid fall is disconcerting.
“This is a just another reminder of the instability at the command level of the department,” he said. “Every Friday, everybody at lieutenant or above stands around, holding their breath as the teletype comes out.”
Baumann also said he was concerned that the department was top-heavy. There are at least 34 officers at or above the rank of inspector. That’s an all-time high, Baumann said.
“Given all those salaries, we should have already seen immediate results,” he said.
Lanier didn’t respond to requests for comment.
