Baltimore 911 Reform: New Agency Launches Without Set Budget
Lawmakers approved a plan to send mental health professionals to low-risk calls, leaving the city to determine costs after funding sources dry up.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Baltimore City Council members advanced legislation on Monday to create a new Department of Neighborhood Safety, a move that splits 911 response duties between police and mental health professionals. The council passed two near-unanimous votes to move the bill forward, setting the stage for final passage in early November.
The proposal, introduced last month by Mayor Brandon Scott and Council President Zeke Cohen, consolidates current crime diversion efforts currently managed by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. Under the new structure, teams consisting of a social worker and a peer specialist would respond to non-life-threatening calls, such as welfare checks and nuisance reports, that do not involve weapons.
These unlicensed peer specialists would bring relevant life experience to the response. The department is designed to operate at all hours once fully staffed. This shift aims to reduce police involvement in situations where individuals are in crisis but not in immediate physical danger.
A central point of contention remains the lack of a finalized cost estimate for the new agency. Councilman Mark Conway, the only member to vote against the plan, argued that the administration rushed the process without a complete budget. He warned that the city might face financial burdens it is not prepared to handle.
“I fear we’ll trip and fall and saddle the city with expectations we’re not fully prepared to meet,” Conway said. The city’s finance department agreed that the bill carries a potentially large fiscal impact. A memo from the deputy director of finance stated that total expenses depend on staffing levels and the volume of calls the department handles.
Scott’s staff plan to launch the department using $15 million in restitution funds from opioid manufacturers. However, those funds are projected to be depleted by 2032. The finance memo warned of a funding cliff that could force programs to end or transition to new sources. Cohen stated he wants to hire a director before assigning a final price tag to the office.
Cohen and staff from the mayor’s office visited Durham to study its 911 diversion program before introducing the bill. Durham diverts 5% of its 911 calls from police, a rate that significantly exceeds Baltimore’s current 1.5% diversion rate. Cohen said the city conducted analyses based on systems in Denver and Durham but wants the new director on board before releasing public figures.
Other council members rejected the claim that the bill was rushed. Councilwoman Odette Ramos noted that the council held several hearings last year after residents in mental health crises were killed by police. “I don’t feel this has been rushed,” Ramos said. “This is the cap on all of the work that has been done.” Council Vice President Sharon Green Middleton added that she has advocated for wrap-around services throughout her tenure. Conway responded that managing the budget is a core duty of the council. Deputy Mayor Letitia Dzirasa said she expects to send a preliminary budget to the council in the next several weeks. She anticipates a phased rollout, potentially piloting the program in specific areas first.
