(June 2, 2016 – BEL AIR, MD) —The Harford County Sheriff’s Office has terminated a civilian employee after a Harford County Circuit Court Grand Jury indicted him on charges of second degree assault, fourth degree sex offense and misconduct in office on May 31, 2016.
Reverend Kennis Andrew Rolle, Sr., 59, assigned to the Harford County Detention Center, was suspended by a Harford County Sheriff’s Office commander on March 8, 2016 after allegations of inappropriate conduct were made against him.
Immediately, investigators from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division and Office of Professional Standards initiated parallel investigations into the allegations. Information developed during the criminal investigation was provided to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office who then conducted a follow-up investigation to determine the appropriate charges.
During the investigation, detectives identified two female victims, ages 31 and 26. Both women alleged that during scheduled and unscheduled counseling sessions, in the Chaplain’s Office, Rolle would touch them. This touching included unwanted and unwelcomed hugs, kisses on the forehead and cheek, playing with hair and touching of the buttocks on the outside of their clothing. The inappropriate contact allegedly took place during the Fall of 2014 and again between December 2015 and February 2016.
Rolle, who resides in Middle River, MD, has been employed as a Chaplain with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office since September 17, 2012.
Anyone who has any information pertaining to this case, or who feels they may have been a victim, is encouraged to call Detective Christopher Maddox of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division at 443-409-3551.
Of the accusations, Sheriff Gahler offered the following, “We hold all agency members to the highest level of integrity. I am deeply disappointed that someone who has been put in a position of confidence to assist people during vulnerable points of their lives, has violated that trust. This type of behavior will not be tolerated in this agency.”
The case has been assigned to Deputy State’s Attorney Diane Tobin, of the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office. Rolle turned himself into the Harford County Detention Center, without incident in the late afternoon of Wednesday, June 1st and was released on a pre-set bond of $50,000.