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Don Knott, a lieutenant in the Howard County Sherriff’s Office, was named interim sheriff on Monday following the resignation of Sheriff James Fitzgerald, whose alleged anti-Semitic, racist and misogynistic remarks were detailed in a September report, county spokesman Andy Barth said.
Knott has more than 43 years of experience in state law enforcement.
Fitzgerald, a Democrat serving his third term, agreed to resign effective Oct. 15.
Howard County Council chairman Calvin Ball, a Democrat, said in a prepared statement last week that he worked diligently to negotiate a pact that ended with Fitzgerald agreeing to step down from his post.
Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman, a Republican, hopes to have a permanent solution in place no later than November, Barth said. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) will appoint a replacement to complete Fitzgerald’s term, which ends in 2018.
