More than 60 Events Held Across Baltimore to Promote Public Safety, Build Trust in Communities

BALTIMORE, MD. (Wednesday, August 2, 2023) - Yesterday, Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by state leaders, city officials, law enforcement partners at National Night Out events across Baltimore City. Scott Administration officials and city leaders attended a total of more than 60 events across Baltimore, more than double from last year. National Night Out is an annual nationwide event that strengthens community relations with law enforcement. 

“Increasing public safety in Baltimore is going to be driven by building safer communities and deepening trust with law enforcement partners and community violence interrupters,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Every year, National Night Out is an opportunity for communities to come together, build relationships, and lay the foundation for communities that are able to combat violence together. Today, on the 40th National Night Out, we toured events across the city to talk about how we can build on the successes we’ve had in reducing violence across Baltimore and how we can continue improving trust and open the lines of communication with law enforcement partners.”

Since taking office in December of 2020, Mayor Scott has made strengthening public safety a top priority. Through the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and in partnership with the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore residents, Mayor Scott began the work to implement Baltimore’s first-ever Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan (CVPP).  The CVPP employs a combination of holistic public safety strategies and community violence intervention to reduce violent crime in the City. 

Now, in its third year, Baltimore is seeing significant progress in reducing gun violence so far. As of Wednesday, August 2, 2023, homicides are down 24.9 percent (160 in 2023 vs. 213 in 2022) and nonfatal shootings are down 7 percent (398 in 2023 vs. 427 in 2022).

“Every year, National Night Out shows that coming together with the community is a key factor in moving forward and making our city safer for all,” said Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “The Baltimore Police Department is here to serve Baltimoreans in every one of our neighborhoods. At this year’s events, BPD members and our law enforcement partners were out in the community strengthening those relationships and building the trust that helps us effectively do our jobs.”

National Night Out began 40 years ago as a nationwide campaign to connect residents to law enforcement in an effort to foster positive relations between officers and the communities they serve. In Baltimore, a city of neighborhoods, community associations host events both individually and collaboratively to meet officers and city leaders and discuss safety concerns unique to their communities.