Law enforcement officers from a variety of state and city agencies will join forces for the Summer Jumpstart Warrant Initiative, an unprecedented effort to get 1000 violent offenders off the streets of Baltimore.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III announced the start of the Summer Jumpstart Warrant Initiative, which targets violent offenders in Baltimore. The Mayor was joined by Colonel Terrence Sheridan, Superintendant of the Maryland State Police, Patrick McGee, Director of Maryland Division of Parole and Probation, Captain Sam Cogan from the Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, Sam Abed, Director of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, and Ed Parker, Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

“With this multi-jurisdictional effort, we are going to take violent offenders off our streets and make Baltimore’s neighborhoods safer,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “We are grateful to Governor O'Malley and our city and state partners for supporting this effort.”

“This warrant initiative wouldn't be possible without the help and commitment of our State partners who work with us daily to make Baltimore safer,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld, III. “The Baltimore Police Department is committed to doing everything in our power to aggressively target and apprehend violent criminals that pray on our neighborhoods and pose a risk to the safety of our families.”

Throughout the month of June, law enforcement officers and agents from the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Division of Parole and Probation, and the Department of Juvenile Services will team up to form eight dedicated warrant squads. The squads will serve warrants for crimes of violence, including gun crimes, violations of probation, sex offenses, and domestic violence. The goal of the initiative is to get 1000 violent offenders off the streets. Juvenile warrants will be served to youth who are likely to become victims or perpetrators of violence.

The Summer Jumpstart Warrant Initiative is supported by a public safety grant of $151,803 provided by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. The funding will support all overtime costs associated with the initiative.

“Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld deserve a great deal of credit for making Baltimore a safer place,” said Kristen Mahoney, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention, on behalf of Governor Martin O’Malley. “The men and women of the Baltimore Police Department, working as partners with state agencies, have made great strides in advancing public safety. The Summer Jumpstart Warrant Initiative will continue this progress and make a positive difference on the streets of Baltimore.”

For more information, please contact BPD Public Affairs at (410) 396-2012.