City Government and Public Safety Update

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City Council News

Taxpayer’s Night
The Baltimore City Council's Budget and Appropriations Committee will hold Taxpayer's Night for the FY2019 budget on Thursday, May 17 at City Hall, starting at 5:30 p.m. The council will also hold individual agency hearings related to the Mayor’s budget from May 29 to June 1. For more information, visit Jack’s Journal issue 14.

Crime Prevention Tools
The General Assembly approved funding for Baltimore that will help pay for additional witness-relocation programs. It has also approved more money to expand Safe Streets, a proven initiative that’s helped lower violent crime. For more information on legislation that passed the Maryland General Assembly affecting Baltimore City, please see Jack’s Journal. 

Public Safety Announcements

BPD Policy Change Feedback
In an effort to promote transparency, accountability, and departmental efficacy, the Baltimore Police Department is working to update its policies. They recently posted proposed drafts related to “Fair and Impartial Policing” and “LGBT” on their website.

As a part of this process, the BPD is dedicated to ensuring that the Community has a voice in the policy creation process. To complete a survey, visit https://goo.gl/forms/V6RUi53a3afUA0cu1 .

CitiWatch Camera Program
The CitiWatch program, in operation for 12 years, consists of 750 cameras across Baltimore and is monitored 24/7 by 22 retired police officers to deter crime and gather evidence. The SE Baltimore Public Safety Task Force reports these results via CitiWatch Director, Major Samuel Hood, as of April 12, 2018:

  • Described the lower number of CitiWatch cameras installed in BPD’s Southeastern District as an “issue,” stating there is a hole in the SE for cameras
  • Obtained a $5 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to purchase 50 new CitiWatch cameras, 25 of which should be installed in East Baltimore by Labor Day
  • Some cameras are installed along Broadway up to E. Fayette St., Patterson Park, S. Linwood Ave.
  • 80% drop in car break-ins along S. Linwood Ave. following the installation of a CitiWatch camera
  • Camera locations available on Open Baltimore

Help Make Baltimore Safer
The CitiWatch Community Partnership, an innovative plan partnering the City of Baltimore with local businesses and residents, registers the location and owner information of privately owned surveillance systems on a strictly voluntary basis. Feeds are only accessed by the BCP with the permission of the camera owner in the event of a crime in the vicinity of the camera.
 
Register a camera here.
Questions/comments: help.citiwatch@baltimorecity.gov