Safer Streets

RBR031414

Originally posted in The Rawlings-Blake Review, Issue #193

Public safety is an issue that is on the minds of citizens, businesses, communities, City officials—and it is on my mind every hour of every day.

While we have made major gains in our efforts to make Baltimore a safer city (statistics show that crime has decreased in a number major categories, including assault, robbery, rape, and even overall violent crime), we need to do better. Our citizens deserve better.

The cornerstone of our crime fighting strategy is focusing on targeting violent repeat offenders. We are working to make our police force more nimble and technologically savvy so that we can be proactive and remove these criminals from the streets before they commit violent crimes.

To enhance our focus on violent repeat offenders, we are implementing a program that has seen success in several other cities: Operation Ceasefire. This program has shown great promise in reducing homicides in several other big cities. Over the past several weeks, my administration has been working to get the program up and running here in Baltimore. It will be a collaborative effort across several City agencies, as well as law enforcement partners at all levels of government. Operation Ceasefire will continue our all-hands-on-deck approach to fighting crime, and I am convinced that it will complement our efforts to make our city safer.

The program will focus on violent repeat offenders and will work directly with community members and law enforcement agencies to make clear that the violence taking place in our communities must end now; that there will be severe and swift consequences for any future acts of violence; and that if you are genuinely sincere about wanting to change your life, we are here with the resources and support to assist you in that endeavor.

It is important that we continue to work to strengthen the partnership between the police and our communities. Last year we saw a 300% increase in residents calling in to report tips to the police. We need to continue working together to reduce violence in our communities. I would like to urge all of Baltimore’s residents to engage, speak up, and work with us to reduce violence.

To that end, my administration has also increased support for Crime Stoppers, a central tip line for residents to provide information that could help to solve a crime or prevent one from taking place. If you or someone you know has any information that could help, please call Crime Stoppers at 866-7-LOCKUP.

This past Wednesday, I joined with Police Commissioner Batts, leaders from the Western police district, and members of the community at Frederick Douglass High School to hold the first in a series of Public Safety Forums. In the coming weeks, we will be visiting with residents in each of the nine police districts to explain our public safety strategy, to discuss crime reduction, and to afford residents the opportunity to meet with me, the police commissioner, and other members of the administration to inquire about current initiatives and ways they can volunteer to help.

We are taking every step imaginable to reduce violent crime and homicides in our city. I have charged Police Commissioner Batts with a broad range of reforms that will ultimately make our police force more nimble and responsive in the crime fight, while building bridges with the communities we serve. I urge you to join us for our upcoming Public Safety Forums. For details, stay tuned to my Twitter and Facebook pages.

Related Stories

MIMA En Español: Be on Alert for Utility Pricing Scam / Alerta de Estafa de Utilidades

¡Alerta! ¿Está pagando más de lo normal por tus utilidades de electricidad?

El Programa de Becas Escolares de la Alcaldesa Pugh

El Programa de Becas Escolares es para estudiantes de la secundaria que se gradúen de las escuelas de la Ciudad de Baltimore.

Código de Alerta Azul y Consejos de Salud

Código de Alerta Azul y Consejos de Salud