* 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: Councilmember Clarke
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Baltimore Police Department - Police Report Availability
FOR the purpose of inviting the Baltimore Police Commissioner to report to the City Council on the Police Department's procedures for responding to citizen police report requests.
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Recitals
In addition to its vital role to combat crime in the City, the Baltimore Police Department contributes to the public's welfare in numerous other ways, including responding to and investigating automobile accidents. These other public safety roles are every bit as important to the health and well-being of Baltimore's citizens as the Department's more heralded crime fighting role.
As part of the Department's public safety role, police officers routinely produce reports on minor crimes and incidents, such as traffic accidents, that summarize the Department's investigation of these incidents. These reports are the definitive and often final word on what actually occurred. As such, they are often vital documents for those involved in or harmed by auto accidents and other incidents. The reports provide clarity about an incident, often establish who is at fault, and are generally required in order for someone affected by an incident to file any sort of claim with an insurance agency to recover on the loss.
However, many affected individuals have a very difficult time getting the copies of the reports that they need. The Police Department's web page provides neither a thorough explanation of the process for acquiring a police report nor a link to the form that the site claims is required to begin the process. Those who attempt to acquire a police report in person often have no more luck than those looking online. Many times citizens are given conflicting information about when a report will be available, the process for requesting a report, and even whether or not a report exists. Officers dealing with the public often seem unfamiliar with the procedure for giving a report to a member of the public. Individuals looking to file insurance claims have been told by the Department that reports must be filed within 24 hours and later told that no reports can be released for periods ranging from 10 days to multiple weeks.
This confusion and lack of response to citizen requests falls far short of what the people of Baltimore are entitled to expect from their Police Department. Delays in insurance payments caused by an inability to obtain a police report can lead to very real hardship for people harmed by traffic accidents and other incidents.
Also, for many people an effort to acquire a police report may be a person's first significant contact with the Police Department. Because the Department requires the support and cooperation of Baltimore's citizens in order to function effectively, a poor response to this initial contact represents a lost opportunity to create the kind of goodwill in the community that could benefit police efforts in the long run. Instead, mishandling of these requests can create an impression that the Department lacks competence or is not responsive to citizen needs, and that can hamper future relations between the Department and the public.
It is important that the Department do a better job of responding to these citizen requests both to improve community relations and to assist those trying to recover from harmful incidents to do so as quickly as possible.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Baltimore Police Commissioner is requested to report to the City Council on the Police Department's procedures for handling citizen requests for police reports and to discuss what measures can be taken to improve the Department's responsiveness to these requests.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore Police Commissioner, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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dlr 09-0878~intro/30Sep09
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