Ex-Baltimore Police sergeant sentenced in department time fraud scheme

Maggie Trovato, The Baltimore Sun on Oct 19, 2026

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BALTIMORE — A former Baltimore Police sergeant was sentenced Monday to six months with the entire sentence suspended after pleading guilty in August to misconduct in office and committing a theft scheme.

Before handing down Mark Rutkowski’s sentence, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Anthony Vittoria called the former officer’s actions a “breach of public trust.” Vittoria said it directly affects those who live in the city and pay taxes.

Rutkowski, who resigned as a sergeant in the homicide unit following his guilty plea in August, was indicted in March after an internal audit flagged irregularities in his timekeeping. Investigators say an investigation determined that Rutkowski had been routinely clocking in and out early and late and receiving overtime.

According to the indictment, Rutkowski, 52, also used a colleague’s computer and credentials to cancel his days off and grant himself extra “penalty pay.”

Vittoria sentenced Rutkowski to 6 months for the theft scheme charge and 6 months for misconduct in office. The sentences are concurrent, Vittoria said, before suspending the entire sentence.

Vittoria also ordered that Rutkowski serve one year of supervised probation.

During the hearing, Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney Steven Trostle said that the state had agreed to recommend a fully suspended sentence to the judge if Rutkowski resigned from the police department and paid restitution.

Trostle said that because Rutkowski did both, the state would recommend a fully suspended sentence. He said that the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office feels a suspended sentence is “fair and appropriate.”

Trostle said the Baltimore Police Department has been making “amazing strides” in recent years, specifically in the Internal Affairs unit.

“This, unfortunately, is a perpetuation of the stereotype that [the department is] just having a hard time breaking,” he said about Rutkowski’s actions.

Chaz Ball, Rutkowski’s attorney, spoke about his client’s 25 years on the force, taking on different roles and climbing the ranks to sergeant.

“He understands that this was a bad decision he made for his life and his career,” Ball said. “He’s taken accountability for that.”

Ball asked Vittoria to grant Rutkowski probation before judgment, which defers a formal judgment while the defendant serves probation. Following the sentencing, Ball said he would be filing a motion to modify the sentence.

Rutkowski, who was hired in 2001, made over $50,000 more than his roughly $136,000 salary in 2025, when the investigation took place, according to city salary data. The year before, he made $58,300 above his salary.

Neither the State’s Attorney’s Office nor Ball immediately responded to requests for comment Monday. The Baltimore Police Department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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