Baltimore Police Department Community Collaboration Initiative

Baltimore Police Department, the Mayor, and City Council of Baltimore City entered into an agreement  referred to as the “Consent Decree” with the U.S. Department of Justice, “to ensure that the City and BPD protect individuals’ statutory and constitutional rights, treat individuals with dignity and respect, and promote public safety in a manner that is fiscally responsible and responsive to community priorities” Among the many mandates from the 2017 Consent Decree, Baltimore Police Department must ensure the genuine and active participation from community members and stakeholders in reviewing and revising agency policies, practices and the implementation of both. This proposal describes an initiative from Baltimore Police Department to comply with the mandate, and more importantly, create a sustained process to gain direct involvement from the community in the design and implementation of policing policies.

            Currently, the agency electronically posts draft policies for individual community members to review and offer general comments. As an additional strategy, the agency is requesting $650,000.00 to organize, directly collaborate with, and bring community members together as cohorts - representing private, public, and nonprofit sectors - to review and make recommendations regarding draft policies, training, youth engagement practices; and the implementation of them all. Their review process will consider specific factors, i.e., the impact on communities and groups of people (youth); long and short-term influences on communities; and the extent to which diversity, equity, and inclusion are reflected.

            We anticipate beginning the project July 2022 and ending June 2024 (24 months). Modifications to this timeframe are dependent on the progress of the agency complying with the Consent Decree and its requirement for Community Collaboration Partnerships.