A member of the Baltimore Police Department engages in an exercise during a professional development class, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, in Baltimore (AP Photo/Julio Cortez).
A police major in Maryland with over two decades on the force is accused of sending repeated cruel and harassing text messages to the ex-wife of her now-romantic partner, taunting the alleged victim over the custody status of her children while calling the ex-wife a “homeless w—-” who she could make “disappear” thanks to her power within the department.
The allegations are laid out in stark detail against Baltimore Police Department Major Jennifer McGrath, according to a statement of charges reviewed Monday by Law&Crime.
McGrath is accused of one misdemeanor count of electronic communication harassment, meaning she “purposely, maliciously [did] engage in a course of conduct through the use of electronic communication that seriously annoyed [redacted] with the intent to harass [redacted] after receiving a reasonable request to stop by [redacted] on behalf of herself,” records show.
McGrath was promoted from captain to major before the investigation into the alleged harassment according to the Baltimore Sun.
According to McGrath’s alleged victim — she is not identified in records — the then-police captain started harassing her in late November of last year.
The victim said McGrath told her that her ex had “moved on with better” and called her a “w—-” who would “never see [your] children again.”
“If you keep trying to establish a relationship with your children I will make sure you’re locked up forever,” McGrath allegedly wrote. “I am powerful, established, unlike you. You’re a homeless w—-. Everyone including your friends think you’re crazy. I could make you disappear if I wanted too. I’m the better woman. Your kids love me not you. That’s why we told them to block your a–.”
“Please leave me alone,” the victim said she responded.
That request went ignored, according to the statement of charges.
Instead of backing down, McGrath is accused of escalating by sending taunting photos and more messages lording her power over her victim.
“Post all the screenshots you want. Nobody cares. Not even your children. We laugh at you,” the police major allegedly wrote. “Now I’m in your house with the baby and your kids. You wish you could see your daughter. I see her all the time. She barely remembers you. She tells me all the time she wishes I was her mommy.”
McGrath went on in more messages, the victim said, smearing her: “Jesus doesn’t find value in you. You’re a washed up b—-.”
In the records, the victim said McGrath readily identified herself by attaching a series of photos.
The photos were of McGrath and the victim’s “ex-husband and their newborn child along with another photo of [the victim’s] youngest daughter and two white children [the victim has] never seen before,” the statement of charges reveals.
McGrath sent the woman at least four more messages after she asked her to stop, the victim claims in the Nov. 22, 2023, record.
There may be at least one previous complaint against McGrath on file at the Baltimore Police Department. According to the statement of charges, McGrath told the woman had she “already contacted my connections at internal affairs to let them know to throw your complaint out.”
The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor charge is three years and/or a $10,000 fine.
A representative for the Baltimore Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the nature of the charges against McGrath or why she was promoted before the investigation.
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