Baltimore proposes new Department of Neighborhood Safety

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and City Council President Zeke Cohen have proposed the creation of a Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS). The new agency is intended to improve emergency response efficiency and reduce the burden on the city’s 911 system by providing an alternative to traditional police, fire, and EMS responses for specific nonviolent situations.

The proposal suggests that trained DNS responders would handle approximately 22,000 annual calls that may not require law enforcement, such as welfare checks, trespassing, public intoxication, and nuisance complaints. This approach aims to allow primary first responders to focus on high-priority emergencies.

Additionally, the DNS would absorb the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, continuing violence prevention efforts like the Group Violence Reduction Strategy. This strategy targets individuals at high risk of involvement in gun violence through direct outreach and service connections. The establishment of the department is subject to approval by the Baltimore City Council.