Major Azalee N. Johnson has been appointed as the District Commander of the Northern District. A Baltimore native, she has served with the Department for more than 20 years and was previously with the Executive Officer of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations Bureau. Other previous assignments include Central District, Chief of Patrol Office, Western District, Central Records Section, Education & Training Section, Neighborhood Services Division, Criminal Investigation Division and Compliance Bureau. Most notably, she served as the agency’s first Crisis Intervention Team coordinator where she assisted with the creation and implementation of the Crisis Response Team. She has earned an associate’s degree in the field of Licensed Practical Nursing from the Community College of Baltimore County. She also earned a Medical Assistant certificate from the Medix School and a certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College. During her tenure she received numerous recognitions and awards to include the Maryland State Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Office of the Year Award and lifesaving award.

Captain Keira Saunders has been a member of the Baltimore Police Department for more than 20 years. Born in Massachusetts, she was raised in Laurel, Md. 

Her previous assignments include shift commander in the Northern District, the Southeastern District, Southwestern District, Northwestern District, Northeastern District, Organized Crime Division, Special Enforcement Team and the Education & Training Section.

She has earned an associate’s degree from Howard Community College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore and a master’s degree in management from Johns Hopkins University. She also holds a certificate in criminal justice leadership from the University of Maryland University College. She was a member of the BPD Honor Guard.