* 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 Harris, Mitchell
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
2005/2006 Baltimore City Cooperative Law Enforcement Summit
FOR the purpose of convening the 2005/2006 Baltimore City Cooperative Law Enforcement Summit to unite law enforcement organizations in the City and State to identify mutually agreeable types of criminal behavior and geographical areas to target for comprehensive interagency action, to determine what strategies to employ to effect a decrease in criminal activity and related socio-economic ills, and to set measurable goals that will demonstrably calculate the efficacy of united efforts to eliminate targeted criminal activity.
Body
Recitals
Last year data released by the FBI's Uniform Crime Report showed that Baltimore City continued to lead the nation's 25 largest cities in the reduction of violent crime, falling to its lowest level since 1970. In 1999, 18,630 violent crimes were reported, while in 2003, that number had decreased to 11,183 violent crimes, a decrease of 40%, and between 2002 and 2003 the number of violent crimes declined 19%, the 2nd largest decrease among the nation's largest cities.
Disappointedly, recently released FBI crime data for 2004 shows that Baltimore rose 5 positions from the ranking of 11th the previous year to become the 6th most dangerous city in the country and the 2nd most dangerous among the nation's largest cities based on the reporting of 6 basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. At the same time the violent crime rate rose slightly by 4%, although the 11,667 violent incidents in 2004 were the 2nd lowest level in the City since the 1960s.
As part of the same report, there is a table of "Offenses Known to Law Enforcement by University and College" that tabulates the number of offenses reported in the same categories for institutions of post secondary education. By law, the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education includes this information, along with that reported by campus security and the local police agencies, in a web site that reports criminal offenses at 6000 colleges and universities for access by students, potential students, parents, and employees.
Included in the FBI reporting for universities and colleges in 2004 was data on Coppin State College, Morgan State University, the University of Baltimore, and the University of Maryland Baltimore City. The highest number of reports were of property crimes, the main offenses being larceny and theft, but alarmingly, the report showed a growing rate of report of incidents of violent crime, with the most reported offense being that of robbery, followed by incidents of aggravated assault.
These onerous statistics, quickly dispersed by media outlets, paint a negative, if factual, picture of the prevalence of criminal activity in Baltimore City. As stakeholders, we all must conspire to outwit the criminal element in our midst - the 2005/2006 Cooperative Law Enforcement Summit is convened to do just that. Those who are requested to actively participate in this law enforcement symposium include, but are not limited to, representatives from the:
* Mayor's Office;
* City Council, as designated by the President;
* Baltimore City State's Attorney;
* Office of the Comptroller;
* Superintendent of Maryland State Police;
* Baltimore Police Commissioner;
* Baltimore City Sheriff; and
* Campus Security of Universities and Colleges in Baltimore City
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body will convene the 2005/2006 Baltimore City Cooperative Law Enforcement Summit to unite law enforcement organizations in the City and State to identify mutually agreeable types of criminal behavior and geographical areas to target for comprehensive interagency action, to determine what strategies to employ to effect a decrease in criminal activity and related socio-economic ills, and to set measurable goals that will demonstrably calculate the efficacy of united efforts to eliminate targeted criminal activity.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the proposed Membership of the 2005/2006 Baltimore City Cooperative Law Enforcement Summit, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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