City Council Hearing: Committee of the Whole; October 14, 2026

The Baltimore City Council Committee of the Whole held a hearing on October 14, 2026, on City Council Bill 26-0221, proposing a Department of Neighborhood Safety. The department would codify the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s violence-prevention work and establish non-law-enforcement alternative response teams for eligible 911 calls, including social workers and peer support staff. The administration described plans to connect the teams to the 911 computer-aided dispatch system, initially roll them out in phases, and develop performance measures with community input. Council members and witnesses emphasized accountability, community trust, responder training, and coordination with police, fire, hospitals, behavioral-health services, and homeless-services agencies.

Funding and staffing remain under development. Officials cited a $15 million opioid-settlement allocation for 24/7 outreach, a $1.1 million federal earmark for startup, and state budget support for a new CAD system; they said these sources could support the first three to five years, while long-term costs and sustainable funding are unresolved. The Finance Department noted the bill itself creates no new fiscal commitment and that future appropriations must be included in annual budgets. Two initial positions—an executive director and an alternative-response deputy director—were approved for hiring, with additional roles anticipated. Councilman Conway requested preliminary long-term cost and staffing projections within 45 days. No vote was held; another hearing is planned for amendments and a vote. No contract awards or vendor selections were identified.