Keith Tiedemann never expected to pursue a career in criminal justice. Yet it only took a few math courses in college to make him realize that his initial idea of becoming an accountant just wasn’t in the cards.
After changing direction, he graduated and began a 32-year career with the Baltimore City Police Department. When he retired, this New Jersey native joined The Associated as its Security Director.
I originally went to college to become an accountant. My grandfather was an accountant, my father was a math teacher and an engineer. Yet I realized, once I took a few math courses, they just weren’t that interesting to me. I decided to take some criminal justice courses and here I am.
In the ‘70s, it was hard for a college grad to get a job in the police force. At that time, there wasn’t that much turnover in the police force. In fact, most of the police departments in northern New Jersey weren’t hiring. I remember attending a job fair in New Jersey, in which Baltimore Police Department sent some people up to recruit. I applied, they called, and I was accepted into the Baltimore Police Academy.
I spent most of my career as a Criminal Investigator serving in the Criminal Investigation Division, Internal Investigation Division, Special Operations Division and was a member of the DEA Task Force. I worked undercover in the housing projects in East and West Baltimore, and also undercover with the DEA.
In 2004, I was promoted to Major, where I served as the Commanding Officer of the Organized Crime Division, Director of the Internal Investigation Division and Commander of the Northwestern District. In 2009, I retired on a Friday and started my job with The Associated, working at the Baltimore Jewish Council, the following Monday.
Over the years, we’ve expanded our work to provide security assessments, emergency plans and assistance with security grant applications to go beyond support of The Associated – to now include synagogues, day schools and Jewish organizations across the State from the Eastern Shore to Western Maryland. Baltimore was part of a pilot for the national SCN Emergency Alert System. When we started, I think I had 14-15 people on our list. Today, that list is near 300.
Most of it is common sense but one should always be aware of their surroundings and when you are out in the public pay more attention to who and what is around you and not your cell phone or electronic device.
I had never been in the Northwest until I started working in the Northwestern District, later in my police career … It was amazing. The people were really nice and what was incredible to me – they actually had solutions! As District Commander, I was involved when Shomrim (an organization dedicated to the safety of the Northwest Baltimore region) and the Northwest Citizens Patrol.
I love to fish, and you’ll often find me in my vegetable garden.
Years ago, my father told me, “The lack of planning on your part is not a cause for an emergency on mine.” It stayed with me.
The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
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The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
Join Our Mailing List