Baltimore City Council
File #: 15-0203R    Version: 0 Name: Informational Hearing - Role and Structure of Police Community Relations Councils
Type: City Council Resolution Status: Failed - End of Term
File created: 2/9/2015 In control: Public Safety Committee
On agenda: Final action: 12/5/2016
Enactment #:
Title: Informational Hearing - Role and Structure of Police Community Relations Councils FOR the purpose of calling upon the Police Department and the Law Department to appear before the City Council to provide information on the role of Police Community Relations Councils (CRCs), describe the relationship between CRCs and the Police Department and community, and discuss opportunities to formalize the role, relationships, and structure of the CRCs Citywide.
Sponsors: Eric T. Costello, Warren Branch, James B. Kraft, Bill Henry, Edward Reisinger, Sharon Green Middleton, Mary Pat Clarke, William "Pete" Welch, Robert Curran, Nick Mosby, President Young, Helen L. Holton, Brandon M. Scott, Rochelle Spector, Carl Stokes
Indexes: Community, Councils, Informational Hearing, Police, Relations, Role, Structure
Attachments: 1. 15-0203R~1st Reader.pdf
* 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 Costello
                                                                                                                                                           
 
 
      A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
 
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Informational Hearing - Role and Structure of Police Community Relations Councils
 
FOR the purpose of calling upon the Police Department and the Law Department to appear before the City Council to provide information on the role of Police Community Relations Councils (CRCs), describe the relationship between CRCs and the Police Department and community, and discuss opportunities to formalize the role, relationships, and structure of the CRCs Citywide.
body
  
Recitals
 
  The Police Community Relations Councils (CRCs) are a bridge between the Baltimore Police Department and the community.  There are currently nine CRCs, each one associated with one of the nine Police Department districts.  Each CRC's purpose should be to, among other things, create understanding and cooperation between the police and citizens, provide opportunities for citizens to suggest improvements in the District's police service, promote increased cooperation between the police, citizens and other agencies, and assist in crime prevention through distributing information on crime deterrence.
 
  The Mayor has prioritized the relationship between the Baltimore Police Department and the communities they serve through the goal of safer streets.  An investigation into the structure of the Community Relations Council in each police district is conducive to this goal.  It is important that the Council be provided with an update about each Community Relations Councils' authority, bylaws, and structure.
 
  Other broad questions including defining the role of the Community Relations Council, determining how the Community Relations Councils are managed, possible conflicts of interest, and assessing how the Community Relations Councils communicate with the Baltimore Police Department, appear to remain unsettled. These questions need to be resolved, and a clear answer as to a unified structure and bylaws, needs to be provided.
 
  In order for the City to make progress towards the Mayor's stated goal of providing safer streets, it is essential that all of these concerns be addressed as soon as possible.  The community deserves a full update on the current authority and structure of the Community Relations Councils.
 
 
 
  NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council calls on the Police Department and the Law Department to appear before the City Council to provide information on the role of Police Community Relations Councils (CRCs), describe the relationship between CRCs and the Police Department and community, and discuss opportunities to formalize the role, relationships, and structure of the CRCs Citywide.
      
   AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Police Commissioner, the City Solicitor, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
 
 
dlr15-1075~intro/04Feb15
ccres/CRCs/ec:tw
 
 
dlr15-1075~intro/04Feb15
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ccres/CRCs/ec:tw