Local
Baltimore deputy administrator named in inspector general reports on threats, records access
Deputy City Administrator Shamiah Kerney was identified as the official whose messages included violent language toward city employees, according to three inspector general investigations. The inquiries began with questions about federal recovery spending and also examined technology-policy violations and access to her communications.
Baltimore Deputy City Administrator Shamiah Kerney was identified Monday, Oct. 19, as the senior city official whose emails and Microsoft Teams messages included violent threats toward colleagues, according to findings from the city’s Office of the Inspector General.
The inspector general’s March report described three investigations involving Kerney: hostile communications, violations of the city’s technology-use policy and efforts to restrict access to her messages. The reports included statements in which Kerney threatened to harm or kill colleagues, as well as profane criticism of another city agency.
The investigations grew out of questions about spending from the American Rescue Plan Act, the federal pandemic-relief law. Kerney had decision-making authority over those funds as Baltimore’s chief recovery officer. The inspector general found that some money went to musicians and performers beyond the approved talent budget without the required authorization.
During that inquiry, investigators also found that Kerney had violated the city’s acceptable-use policy for technology. A separate report detailed attempts to block access to her communications, even though city policy allows monitoring of city messages.
Emails obtained through a Maryland Public Information Act request to the City Law Department showed Kerney directly questioned the inspector general’s access to her email and SharePoint account. The request helped identify her as the official referenced in the March report.
The findings come amid a broader dispute between the city and Inspector General Isabel Cumming over access to records. A Baltimore judge rejected the city’s effort to limit the office’s records access, according to related court coverage.
The mayor’s office was contacted twice Monday and asked to comment and confirm whether Kerney remained employed by the city. It had not responded by the time the report was published.