The Scott administration agreed to pay just under $400,000 to three teenagers who were seriously injured when a police officer prominent in northwest Baltimore political circles ran a light without deploying his siren and struck their vehicle.

The settlement was approved yesterday after a 70-second presentation to the Board of Estimates in which the officer involved, Kalman G. Finkelstein, was not publicly identified. His name appears in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the teenagers and in city records reviewed by The Brew.

A former member of the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee and an avid campaign contributor, Finkelstein was tailing a car he believed was stolen along East Baltimore Street when he ran a red light at Caroline Street shortly after 1 a.m. on October 24, 2021, according to Matthew Bradford, chief of staff for City Solicitor Ebony Thompson.

“He proceeded through the intersection with his lights activated but not his siren,” Bradford told the spending board, and plowed into a car holding six teenagers, injuring everyone and totaling the vehicles.

The city will pay $117,000, $122,500 and $157,500 to cover “past, present and future medical expenses” for the three teenagers “particularly badly hurt,” according to the settlement sheet.

In 2022, the teens filed a lawsuit in Baltimore Circuit Court against Finkelstein and the mayor and City Council. Included in yesterday’s settlement is the dismissal of all legal liabilities and admission of guilt by the defendants.

Bradford said that “BPD conducted an investigation related to this incident and ultimately the officer was disciplined.”

He did not say – nor was he asked by the board’s elected members, Mayor Brandon Scott, Council President Zeke Cohen and Comptroller Bill Henry – how the officer was disciplined. Or why he was chasing a suspected stolen vehicle several miles away from his assigned district.

“He’s got an ‘in’ with the politicians. Anyone else doing this, they’d be in big trouble”  – Police source.

BPD policy allows an officer to pursue a vehicle if there is a felony suspect inside who poses an “immediate threat” of death or injury. Or if there is probable cause before the pursuit that he or she committed a felony that could have resulted in death or serious injury.

Officers are specifically prohibited from pursuing a car if the initial violation is a “crime against property,” such as a stolen vehicle, a misdemeanor or traffic offense.

Police are known to get around the no-pursuit policy by chasing a vehicle without lights or siren, according to a veteran officer, who said Finkelstein was well known in the northern and northwestern districts for flouting the rules.

“He’s got an ‘in’ with the politicians. Anyone else doing this, they’d be in big trouble and would be terminated immediately,” said the officer, who asked not to be identified because he is not allowed to speak to the media.

Finkelstein remains on the police force, according to payroll records. He earned $76,500 in fiscal 2024 and $71,000 in FY23.

The BPD press office did not respond to questions about the settlement or his job status. The officer did not answer email, phone and text messages seeking comment.

UPDATE: After this story was posted, the press office confirmed that “Officer Finkelstein still works for the BPD and received discipline for the 2021 accident.”

Celebrated and Investigated

Finkelstein holds a unique place in the department, celebrated as the only Jewish Orthodox member since the 1960s and as the oldest new member when he joined the force in 2019 at the age of 48.

He also came under a criminal investigation independent of his traffic accident. In July 2022, the BPD executed a search warrant for property in his possession, according to WJZ News and WMAR, and suspended his police powers. The results of the investigation were never made public.

His interest in law enforcement apparently stems from his involvement with Shomrim. The Orthodox Jewish crime watch group conducts patrols in northwest Baltimore and Pikesville that are loosely coordinated with city and county police.

The group became a focus of interest in 2017 after it was gifted a city patrol vehicle by former Mayor Catherine Pugh at the urging of newly elected councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer. At the same time, the group came under criticism for alleged improper stops of Black motorists traveling through Orthodox neighborhoods.

Finkelstein’s own political fortunes opened up in 2018 when he elected to the District 41 Democratic Central Committee. While required to vacate the committee seat in 2019 after he sworn in as a police officer, his involvement in local politics and political fundraising only increased.

Campaign Donations

Between 2019 and January 2025, the officer donated $36,500 to Democratic candidates and officeholders, according The Brew’s review of State Elections Board records.

His biggest donations went to Councilman Schleifer ($8,500) and Maryland Governor Wes Moore ($6,000).

He also gave $5,000 to Nick Mosby in his losing campaign last year for re-election as City Council president, and $3,500 to Sam Cogen during his successful run for Baltimore sheriff.

His largess in this period extended to Comptroller Bill Henry ($3,000), former Mayor Sheila Dixon ($2,000), former State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby ($2,500 at a time she was fighting a federal probe of her finances) and then-City Council President Brandon Scott ($500).

He was also active in Baltimore County politics, handing out $4,500 to incumbent northwest councilman Izzy Patoka and $1,000 to former County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

• To reach a reporter: reuttermark@yahoo.com