* 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 Conway
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - District Action Plans and Focused Patrols
For the purpose of inviting the Police Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department to appear before the Baltimore City Council to discuss how the department can develop and implement District Action Plans as a system to manage the reduction of community crime; establish achievement or impact objectives that define desired outcomes; and monitor district-level strategies and tactics to evaluate shifting crime trends.
body
Recitals
Community policing encourages interactive partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The range of potential partners is large, and these partnerships can be used to accomplish the two interrelated goals of developing solutions to problems through collaborative problem solving and improving public trust. A fundamental principle of community policing is that, "the public should play a role in prioritizing and addressing public safety problems."
On the forefront of this interaction are the District Commanders and Patrol Officers working in our neighborhood police districts. Patrol has long been referred to as the "backbone of policing" because in the vast majority of police departments, the largest percentage of police personnel are assigned to patrol. The effectiveness of patrol operations within a police department is usually judged by three major functions. These include answering calls for service, deterring crime by a highly visible police presence, and investigating suspicious circumstances.
To build trust and collaboration between the community and police, both sides have to come together and establish community priorities. Practically, every January each police District Commander should be responsible for developing a District Action Plan in collaboration with members of the District Community Relations Council, residents and business owners. These action plans should focus on the top three to five reoccurring crime problems and quality of life issues affecting each patrol post within the district. The determination of whether a problem is prevalent should be supported by statistical data, incident reports, community complaints, officer observations and other metrics.
Once these action plans have been drafted, the District Commander and their management team should be responsible for developing strategies and tactics that focus on those issues in an effort to reduce crime and quality of life issues. This should be accomplished through the implementation of effective strategies and tactics that are prudently designed to bring about the desired outcomes of crime reduction and disorder, and through a systematic approach of working in collaboration with allied agencies. In order to bring about permanent change, these tactics must be comprehensive, flexible, and adaptable to the shifting crime trends the police department identifies and monitors.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Baltimore City Council invites the Police Commissioner to discuss how the department can develop and implement District Action Plans as a system to manage the reduction of community crime; establish achievement or impact objectives that define desired outcomes; and monitor district-level strategies and tactics to evaluate shifting crime trends.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Police Commissioner and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.