* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmembers Mitchell, Harris
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Investigative Hearing - Should the Maryland State Police Be Invited to Baltimore?
FOR the purpose of exploring the potential benefits of inviting the Maryland State Police to partner with the Baltimore City Police to quell the upward spiral of criminal activity in Baltimore City to immediately impact the quality of life of the residents of Baltimore, the hub of the State, and to positively affect the standard of living of the residents of the surrounding metropolitan area and, ultimately, the entire population of the State of Maryland.
Body
Recitals
The media has widely reported the findings of the Lawrence, Kansas- based Morgan Quitno Press Safest City crime rankings that found Baltimore City to be the 6th most dangerous city in the country - worse than Atlanta, Georgia, Washington, D.C., and Gary, Indiana - and the 2nd most dangerous of the country's largest metropolitan areas - more dangerous than Miami, Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City.
Based on 2004 crime data tabulated by the FBI, Baltimore rose 5 positions from the ranking of 11th most dangerous city the previous year. The data is based on a city's rate for 6 basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. All cities of 75,000 or more population that reported data were included in the study. This year's study compared the rankings of 369 cities and did not take into account population density or other socio-economic factors.
Even though the results of this particular study may be found to be faulty by some criminal justice scientists who find that the analysis is overly simplistic and statistically murky, as far as residents in Baltimore's crime-ridden neighborhoods are concerned, the empirical evidence is clear that Baltimore is in a quagmire of criminal activity that threatens to drown those who cannot leave and cause those who can to move to the relative safety of other jurisdictions.
Elected officials and residents of Baltimore have long recognized the need for added resources to combat the raise of crime in the city and recently officials on all levels reached out to fashion an interagency approach to address the problem. Just 2 years ago, state legislation that was introduced to expand state police powers was withdrawn when the Baltimore City administration proposed to substitute a memorandum of understanding between the 2 governmental law enforcement agencies to bring state patrols to work within City limits.
Despite State promises and further specific requests to provide 34 state troopers to work in the warrant task force, as well as in the areas of narcotics, auto theft, homicide, witness location and protection, and to provide chemists for on site work at the City police crime lab, Baltimore's requests for state assistance have largely gone unanswered as do the reported sentiments of those currently in charge of the police department who "welcome a partnership with the community at large and within the law enforcement community."
Baltimore's future promises to be bright, and Baltimore has already made extensive investments that have paid off in securing recognition as a city on the upswing and has committed its citizens to a $300 million gamble that we will be a tourist and business mecca of the future. We must protect our investment and secure our future by insuring the safety and well-being of our residents and visitors by calling upon the cooperation of all stakeholder law enforcement communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body will explore the potential benefits of inviting the Maryland State Police to partner with the Baltimore City Police to quell the upward spiral of criminal activity in Baltimore City to immediately impact the quality of life of the residents of Baltimore, the hub of the State, and to positively affect the standard of living of the residents of the surrounding metropolitan area and, ultimately, the entire population of the State of Maryland.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2006 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, and the Baltimore Police Commissioner are hereby respectfully requested to actively participate in the investigative hearing.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2006 Maryland General Assembly, the Superintendent of the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Commissioner, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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