Robert Comes
Former Harford County sheriff remembered for his kindness and approachable leadership style
Robert “Bob” Comes, former Harford County sheriff, died Feb. 19 at his Churchville home of a brain injury. He was 85.
The son of John T. Comes and Rose Streb Comes, he was born in Fullerton, according to his published obituary.
He was elected sheriff in 1990. Running as a Democrat, he unseated the incumbent, Dominick Mele, in the primary election that year and went on to capture the general election. He served one term, losing a re-election bid to Joseph Meadows in 1994.
Before being elected sheriff, Mr. Comes was a career deputy with the sheriff’s office and had risen into its top ranks serving under three different sheriffs.
“I thought he did an excellent job as sheriff during a very, very difficult period at the Sheriff ’s office,” said Bob Thomas, current director of administration at the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and a longtime friend. “I thought that he had the best interests in mind of both the agency and the citizens.”
Mr. Thomas, 65, of Joppa, said he met Mr. Comes in the early 1980s while Thomas was an investigator with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, assigned to the agency’s Northeast Regional Office in Harford County.
He said they became friends and attended various political functions, and both attended St. Ignatius, Hickory Catholic Church in Forest Hill. Mr. Comes served there as an usher for many years, Mr. Thomas said.
Mr. Comes’ tenure as sheriff included oversight of the 1992 death of an inmate at the Harford County Detention Center. William Martin Ford had been serving a sentence for drunken driving when he was found unresponsive in a cell with a pillow case around his neck. He died later at a local hospital.
The medical examiner’s office and sheriff ’s personnel said the death was a suspected suicide, but the final autopsy report classified it as “undetermined” and the county paid Ford’s family in excess of $400,000 to settle a threatened wrongful death lawsuit. Mr. Comes staunchly defended jail and sheriff’s office personnel, and subsequent investigations by the state’s attorney and the president of the County Council resulted in no criminal finding.
Mr. Mele, the former Harford sheriff who lost to Mr. Comes in the 1990 Democratic primary, said they worked together for 25 years and had a good working relationship, even though they became rivals for the county’s top law enforcement position.
“I’d always think of him as close as a brother could be .... He was a good all-around fellow, he was a good guy, he was competent in what he did and approached his work as a professional,” said Mr. Mele, 84, of Fallston.
Harford County Executive Barry Glassman ordered county flags lowered to half-staff to mark Mr. Comes’ death.
Mr. Comes enjoyed gardening and stained glass, according to his obituary.
Visitation will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, then also 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at McComas Funeral Home, 1317 Cokesbury Road, Abingdon.
A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius, 533 E. Jarrettsville Road in Churchville.
Mr. Comes is survived by his wife, Carol Lee Comes; children Robert E. Comes Jr. and Sandra L. Plummer, both of Darlington; a sister, Rose Morris of Forest Hill; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, John F. Comes.