City of Baltimore - File #: 13-0134R

• File #: 13-0134R
• Version: 0
• Name: Investigative Hearing - Police Department Staffing Concerns
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 11/18/2013
• In control: Public Safety Committee
• Final action: 9/8/2014
• Title: Investigative Hearing - Police Department Staffing Concerns FOR the purpose of calling on the Police Commissioner and representatives from the Department of Finance to appear before the City Council to discuss the Police Department’s short and long term staffing plan, the number of officers available for duty versus the authorized strength of the force, the Police Department’s use of overtime to fill staffing gaps, and how staffing policies and projections impact the Police Department’s ability to protect the public.
• Sponsors: President Young, Sharon Green Middleton, Helen L. Holton, Bill Henry, William H. Cole, IV, Carl Stokes, Warren Branch, James B. Kraft, Brandon M. Scott, Nick Mosby, William "Pete" Welch
• Indexes: Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
9/8/2014	0	Public Safety Committee	Recommended Favorably
9/8/2014	0	City Council	Adopted
11/21/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/21/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/18/2013	0	City Council	Introduced
11/18/2013	0	City Council	Assigned
11/18/2013	0	Public Safety Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing

* 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: President Young


A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Police Department Staffing Concerns

FOR the purpose of calling on the Police Commissioner and representatives from the Department of Finance to appear before the City Council to discuss the Police Department’s short and long term staffing plan, the number of officers available for duty versus the authorized strength of the force, the Police Department’s use of overtime to fill staffing gaps, and how staffing policies and projections impact the Police Department’s ability to protect the public.
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Recitals

Staffing levels and deployments have long been a source of concern at the Baltimore City Police Department, and there are indications that the situation is currently worsening rather than improving. Presently, the Department has hundreds of vacancies, putting it at roughly 75% of its authorized strength.

This manpower shortage can be exacerbated by inefficient deployment patterns, as well as the prolonged presence of numerous officers on suspended-with-pay lists. For one reason or another, the Police Department all too often does not have enough officers to achieve goals that its authorized strength, one of the highest ratios of officers to residents in the nation, would appear to make easily achievable.

Attempting to meet the Department’s goals, and keep Baltimore’s citize...