FBI investigating Dunbar High football coach, police detective for overtime fraud
BALTIMORE -- The head football coach at Dunbar High School, who is also a school police detective, is under investigation by the FBI for possible time card and overtime fraud, Mayor Brandon Scott confirmed Monday.
According to public school district data, Smith earned about $94,000 in overtime pay on top of a salary of about $62,500 between October 2020 and October 2021.
In a Monday news conference unrelated to the case, the mayor made his first comment on the case and pledged the Baltimore Police Department's cooperation in the case.
"Anything like that you have to take seriously," the mayor said. "I know that the FBI is investigating. The school system is the lead on that as is the school police officers, and any way our police department will be asked to assist, the commissioner will be sure to do so."
The FBI and city schools have not responded to a request for comment in the case.
As head football coach he led the Poets to seven championships, and has been awarded the Baltimore Ravens' High School Coach of the Year Award twice.
The coach was suspended in 2014 in connection with a locker room hazing incident but was reinstated months later.
Robb Gaines, the head coach of Oldtown Gators Football and president of the Maryland Youth Football Alliance, has described Smith as a "great mentor and great leader" at Dunbar High School who "has been great for the community."
In fact, Smith is one of the prime attractions at Dunbar High School, he said.
"He's helped that program grow and how successful he's been, but just not on the football field, off the football field with a lot of the young men," Gaines said.
"Hopefully, in the end, people will see how great of a guy he is," Gaines said.
