Annapolis mayor says Police Chief Jackson relieved of duty, names acting chief and outlines storm response

Mayor Gavin Littmann announced at the Feb. 2 Annapolis City Council meeting that he relieved Chief Ed Jackson of his command earlier that day and has named Captain Amy Megez to serve as acting police chief.

Littmann said he did not want the announcement to eclipse the chief’s accomplishments — including diversifying the force and creating a cold-case unit — but that he had made a personnel decision he deemed necessary. He introduced Captain Amy Megez as acting chief and said she is a 25-year department veteran who has served in leadership roles across major functions; the mayor said Megez has his “full confidence.”

The mayor delivered the announcement as part of a broader slate of city updates. He reviewed staff vacancies and transitions, noting the recent retirement of longtime HR manager Tricia Hopkins and temporary finance staffing measures, and previewed a series of ward town halls that begin with Ward 7 on Feb. 5 and Ward 2 on Feb. 12.

Littmann devoted much of his remarks to the city’s response to a prolonged winter storm. He said crews worked 12-hour shifts for the first 36 hours to pretreat and plow major routes, then switched to daytime operations because of worker safety and parked cars in neighborhoods. City staff described the event as unusually severe — with heavy freezing rain and compacted “snowcrete” conditions — and said heavy equipment and dump trucks were used to remove compacted ice and snow to off-site locations.

The mayor said the city estimates it moved more than 3,000,000 pounds of snow and ice during the cleanup and that the experience will shape future storm planning. He announced temporary parking relief: Park Place garage was made available at $5 per day (down from the usual $22) through Friday and is served by a shuttle. Littmann also said sidewalk-clearing enforcement for residential properties will resume, starting with warnings followed by citations if property owners do not comply; enforcement will prioritize safe routes to schools.

Members of the public and council welcomed the updates. Several speakers during the public comment period praised the city’s emergency crews and asked for clearer timelines and support for neighborhoods and small businesses affected by the storm and related operations.

The meeting record shows the mayor also acknowledged the recent deaths of community leaders and residents and presented a ceremonial citation to firefighter-paramedic Stacy Holden for donating a portion of her liver to a fellow firefighter. The meeting proceeded to a City Dock presentation and other agenda items.

What happens next: The mayor’s office said it will hold town halls in each ward over coming weeks and will post details online for residents wishing to meet with the mayor during monthly office hours. The acting police chief was introduced publicly at the meeting and will serve while the administration pursues next steps for departmental leadership.