Baltimore County’s deputy inspector general resigned. Now what?

Gregg Domroe, Baltimore County’s deputy inspector general, has resigned from his role as of Aug. 21.

Domroe, a retired FBI agent, said he resigned for personal reasons but will stay on in a temporary, part-time capacity and assist in the search for his successor.

“It was a very hard decision that I made, and it was just for personal reasons,” Domroe said Wednesday.

Domroe’s exit is the latest in a series of departures since former Inspector General Kelly Madigan left in December to become Howard County’s inspector general. Madigan’s deputy in Baltimore County, Steve Quisenberry, retired in June.

The office was created by former County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. in 2019 to root out corruption, identify fraud, waste and abuse. He appointed Madigan to lead it.

County spokesperson Dakarai Turner said the position of deputy inspector general will be posted soon and that Domroe would continue on a temporary, part-time basis to lead the recruitment effort for his job and provide “stability and continuity” during the transition.

The office released its most recent report last week, and Domroe said three more will be published soon. Turner confirmed that County Executive Kathy Klausmeier is reviewing and responding to those reports.

After the office released the report about a county employee who was apparently preselected for a promotion and falsified official paperwork, residents and council member Julian Jones complained to media outlets that the office was not operating at full capacity.

The Baltimore County Council earlier this month introduced a bill that grants the inspector general’s office the authority to issue reports even in the absence of a top boss. Council members are expected to vote on it in September.

Some residents have complained to various media outlets that the inspector general’s office has been unresponsive or unable to investigate complaints, and that it issues reports that aren’t substantial.

“There’s a false narrative out there that we’re a non-functioning office,” Domroe said. “That’s furthest from the truth.”

Domroe said he recognizes that the office has been through a lot of turmoil, specifically during Madigan’s four-year tenure.

Last year, the council unanimously agreed to put an amendment before voters that would require an independent panel, rather than county leaders, to appoint inspectors general. The proposed change to the county charter will appear on the November ballot.