The 11 News I-Team obtained a copy of the Baltimore Police Department’s short-term crime-fighting plan that was submitted Friday to the City Council.The 300-page plan covering June through September was issued in response to demands from six City Council members who want to know how police intend to use tax dollars to fight crime. The police department’s response was due Friday.The council members demanded the document following weeks of, in their words, a sustained surge in violent crime.”What is currently happening is not working, and we need to ensure that the departments are doing everything humanly possible to address public safety throughout our communities,” said Baltimore City Councilman Eric Costello, D-District 11. “My frustration reflects the frustration of the 60,000-some-odd people that I represent, and folks are really upset right now.”| PDFs: BPD Letter | Short-Term Deployment StrategyThe short-term crime-fighting plan calls for enhanced visibility patrols, foot patrols and business checks in high-crime areas and expanded warrant apprehension efforts that target repeat offenders. It notes strong participation from federal and state partners on enforcement and investigative efforts.”We believe, on the council, that the components we requested in the short-term crime plan will address the sustained surge in violence in our communities,” Costello said. “We are failing right now, and we have to do things differently.”| PDF: Read the council members’ letterWatch the City Council members’ May 19 news conference:The six council members requested information on 10 areas of public safety, including coordination with other law enforcement agencies, the use of civilians in certain police jobs and overtime pay.In the plan obtained by the I-Team, police said each district has a deployment zone that covers no more than a 4-square-block area based on gun incidents and other violent crime. The department is also authorizing an additional 300 hours of overtime each week through September.The plan seeks to hire 56 additional civilians to help sworn officers and move more officers out of office roles and onto the street.Coordination with other agencies includes six full-time FBI agents, 30 full-time agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and 10 full-time agents from Drug Enforcement Administration. Baltimore County sent 10 to 15 detectives and the city is working with 10 to 20 Maryland state troopers.”Right now, we are focused on making sure we have additional information and the clarification that we need to be sure each of these prospective agencies are going to accomplish their mission in the upcoming fiscal year,” Costello said.To further stretch resources, police will hire a vendor to respond to car accidents that don’t require a report. The police department will also use grants to expand the use of license plate readers.The six council members also sent letters to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. MONSE sent a letter to the City Council to detail a budget plan, saying its focus is defining its work and staffing and developing partnerships and infrastructure to support services.| PDF: MONSE letter to City Council
The 11 News I-Team obtained a copy of the Baltimore Police Department’s short-term crime-fighting plan that was submitted Friday to the City Council.
The 300-page plan covering June through September was issued in response to demands from six City Council members who want to know how police intend to use tax dollars to fight crime. The police department’s response was due Friday.
The council members demanded the document following weeks of, in their words, a sustained surge in violent crime.
“What is currently happening is not working, and we need to ensure that the departments are doing everything humanly possible to address public safety throughout our communities,” said Baltimore City Councilman Eric Costello, D-District 11. “My frustration reflects the frustration of the 60,000-some-odd people that I represent, and folks are really upset right now.”
| PDFs: BPD Letter | Short-Term Deployment Strategy
The short-term crime-fighting plan calls for enhanced visibility patrols, foot patrols and business checks in high-crime areas and expanded warrant apprehension efforts that target repeat offenders. It notes strong participation from federal and state partners on enforcement and investigative efforts.
“We believe, on the council, that the components we requested in the short-term crime plan will address the sustained surge in violence in our communities,” Costello said. “We are failing right now, and we have to do things differently.”
| PDF: Read the council members’ letter
Watch the City Council members’ May 19 news conference:
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The six council members requested information on 10 areas of public safety, including coordination with other law enforcement agencies, the use of civilians in certain police jobs and overtime pay.
In the plan obtained by the I-Team, police said each district has a deployment zone that covers no more than a 4-square-block area based on gun incidents and other violent crime. The department is also authorizing an additional 300 hours of overtime each week through September.
The plan seeks to hire 56 additional civilians to help sworn officers and move more officers out of office roles and onto the street.
Coordination with other agencies includes six full-time FBI agents, 30 full-time agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and 10 full-time agents from Drug Enforcement Administration. Baltimore County sent 10 to 15 detectives and the city is working with 10 to 20 Maryland state troopers.
“Right now, we are focused on making sure we have additional information and the clarification that we need to be sure each of these prospective agencies are going to accomplish their mission in the upcoming fiscal year,” Costello said.
To further stretch resources, police will hire a vendor to respond to car accidents that don’t require a report. The police department will also use grants to expand the use of license plate readers.
The six council members also sent letters to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. MONSE sent a letter to the City Council to detail a budget plan, saying its focus is defining its work and staffing and developing partnerships and infrastructure to support services.
| PDF: MONSE letter to City Council
