(BALTIMORE, MD) —Three Baltimore Police officers have been indicted in separate cases involving wage theft, the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
Lt. Welai Grant, Sgt. Mark Rutkowski and former officer Harrison Brandon each face charges stemming from allegations that they collected pay for hours they did not work. All three are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
“Public servants take an oath to serve our communities with integrity and accountability. When that trust is broken, it undermines the very foundation of public service,” said State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates. “Allegations that officers manipulated their time to collect wages they did not earn are not just violations of policy; they are theft from the taxpayers who fund these salaries. Our office has a duty to hold anyone who steals public dollars accountable, and these indictments reflect our commitment to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and equally to everyone, regardless of their position.”
Grant, who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant and assigned to the Southern District, is charged with one count of theft between $1,500 and $25,000 and two counts of misconduct in office. Prosecutors say she stopped showing up for overnight shifts on eight separate occasions between September and November 2025 while continuing to log the hours and collect pay.
Rutkowski faces one count of theft between $1,500 and $25,000 and three counts of misconduct in office. According to the indictment, between October 2024 and February 2025, he allegedly "inflated his hours by clocking in when he left his house and clocking out when he returned home". He also allegedly logged into another employee's computer to cancel his own leave, triggering overtime and penalty pay under the police collective bargaining agreement.
“Two of the police officers charged today are current members of this department and have allegedly defrauded the communities we are sworn to protect and serve,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “These investigations, led by our Public Integrity Division in partnership with the State’s Attorney’s Office, send a clear message that this conduct will not be tolerated. We will continue to hold officers accountable while preserving the trust placed in this Department.”
Brandon, who has since resigned, was indicted on charges of forgery, identity fraud, theft and misconduct in office. Prosecutors say he submitted fraudulent doctor's notes on five occasions beginning in August 2024 to collect sick leave pay while employed as a Baltimore officer.
This story was produced with AI assistance and edited by WEAA News Staff.
