Community Forum

Join members of the Monitoring Team for our First Quarter Community Forum. Topics include; Use of Force, First Amendment Protected Activities, Misconduct & Discipline, Supervision, and the CIT Assessment. Join us at the University of Baltimore inside the Angelos Law Center in the Moot Court Room at 1401 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 at 6 PM. The event will also be available via live stream on the Monitoring Team’s Facebook page.

Monitoring Team Files Compliance Review & Outcomes Assessment Regarding Crisis Intervention

This assessment is the Monitoring Team’s first comprehensive evaluation of BPD’s crisis intervention program. A critical component of the assessment was the review of a randomly selected, statistically significant sample of behavioral health incidents from 2022 in which a Behavioral Health Form was completed. Specifically, the Monitoring Team evaluated whether BPD officers de-escalated crises and reduced the unnecessary use of force; minimized arrests; improved the safety of patrol officers, individuals with behavioral health disabilities or in crisis and their families, and others within the City’s behavioral health crisis system; and reduced the inappropriate involvement of individuals with behavioral health disabilities with the criminal justice system. The Monitoring Team also evaluated whether CIT officers at the incident took primary responsibility, or if a supervisor took responsibility instead, whether the supervisor sought input from the CIT officer.

The full Assessment can be found here.

Approval of Revised Use of Force Policies

The Baltimore Police Department Monitoring Team (“Monitoring Team”) approved the revisions the Baltimore Police Department (“BPD”) made to thirteen policies related to the use of force. The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has indicated that it concurs with this approval, and the Monitoring Team has filed their approvals with the Court. The revised policies can be accessed at the following links:

• Policy 409 (Firearms Regulations)

• Policy 412 (Patrol Rifle Program)

• Policy 414 (Less Lethal Munitions and Chemical Agents)

• Policy 710 (Level 3 Use of Force Investigations)

• Policy 719 (Conducted Electrical Weapon)

• Policy 725 (Use of Force Review and Assessment)

• Policy 1005 (Non-Uniformed Policing Standards)

• Policy 1107 (De-Escalation)

• Policy 1111 (Batons)

• Policy 1115 (Use of Force)

• Policy 1118 (Oleoresin Capsicum Spray)

• Policy 1503 (Emergency Vehicle Operation and Pursuit Policy)

• Policy 1602 (Canine Procedure)

The revised policies are the product of intensive collaboration among BPD, DOJ and the Monitoring Team, and reflect input and feedback from community stakeholders.

Press Release

Media Contact:

Kenneth L. Thompson

Phone: 410-244-7575

info@bpdmonitor.com www.bpdmonitor.com

DEPARTURE OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL HARRISON

(Baltimore, MD)- The Baltimore Police Consent Decree Monitoring Team has enjoyed a positive and productive relationship with Commissioner Michael Harrison. During his tenure, the Police Department has made significant progress on the road to compliance with the Decree. We congratulate Commissioner Harrison on his highly successful term leading the Baltimore Police Department.

 

The Monitoring Team has also enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Deputy Commissioner Richard Worley. We know that he appreciates that the Consent Decree, with all of it various requirements, is a Federal court order with which the Police Department and the City must comply. We look forward to continuing our productive relationship with the Baltimore Police Department under Commissioner Worley‘s leadership, and we look forward to the not-too-distant day when US District Court finds the City and the Department in full compliance.

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The Baltimore Police Monitoring Team oversees the implementation of the Consent Decree – a judicially-enforceable agreement – between the Baltimore City Police Department, the City of Baltimore

and the United States. The Consent Decree requires BPD to adopt a number of specific reforms aimed at ensuring effective, safe, and constitutional policing. The Monitoring Team’s job is to help the Court gauge whether, consistent with the Consent Decree’s objectives, BPD is achieving meaningful reform by making tangible changes in its policies and practices for the benefit of Baltimoreans. The Monitoring Team also provides technical assistance to BPD as it seeks to implement the reforms required by the Consent Decree. The Monitoring Team includes specialists in policing and police reform, civil rights enforcement, psychology, social science, organizational change, data and technology, and community engagement.