BEL AIR, MD – A Harford County deputy who resigned his post after being told he could not serve as a law enforcement officer and member of the Harford County Council can return to his job, a judge ruled recently.
Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler announced the rehiring of Sgt. Aaron Penman, who had previously separated from the Sheriff’s Office due to his election as a Councilman for Harford County District “B”. The decision comes in light of a recent Maryland Supreme Court ruling.
Last year, Penman left the Sheriff’s Office after his election, believing the Harford County Charter prohibited him from holding both positions. A challenge by Councilman Jacob Bennett, a teacher, led to a Maryland Supreme Court ruling on April 5, 2023, stating that employment with Harford County Public Schools was permissible since it is not a County or State agency.
After reviewing the Court’s written opinion released on August 30, both Sheriff Gahler and legal advisors found that Penman’s separation was unnecessary. The Sheriff’s Office is also neither a State nor a County agency, according to the Court’s decision. This was confirmed by the Assistant Attorney General and Penman’s legal counsel.
Sheriff Gahler stated that Penman will be rehired effective the beginning of the next pay period at his previous rank of Sergeant. Since Penman has been separated for only 11 months, he is eligible for reinstatement as a certified police officer by the Maryland Police Training Commission and remains certified as a polygraph examiner.