Subtitle 56 – Citizens Advisory Commission for Public Safety
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-1 (2026)
§ 56-1 Commission established.LinkCopy Citation
There is a Baltimore City Citizens Advisory Commission for Public Safety.
History: Ord. 17-035
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-2 (2026)
§ 56-2 Commission composition.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
The Advisory Commission comprises 23 members.
(2)
Of these:
(i)
20 members are appointed by the Mayor in accordance with <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">City Charter Article IV, § 6</cite>; and
(ii)
3 are ex officio members.
(b)Appointed members.
The members appointed by the Mayor are as follows:
(1)
a member of the Baltimore City House Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, to be nominated by the Speaker of the House of Delegates;
(2)
a member of the Baltimore City Senate Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly, to be nominated by the President of the Senate; and
(3)
the following, to be nominated by the President of the City Council:
(i)
2 Baltimore City residents;
(ii)
a representative of the Hispanic community;
(iii)
a representative of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community;
(iv)
an individual with expertise in the area of reentry after incarceration;
(v)
a representative of the Fraternal Order of Police;
(vi)
a representative of the Vanguard Justice Society;
(vii)
a resident of Baltimore City public housing;
(viii)
an individual at least 14 years old or older and under the age of 21; and
(ix)
1 resident of each of the 9 police districts of Baltimore City.
(c)Ex officio members.
The ex officio members are as follows:
(1)
the Chair of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee or of any City Council Committee succeeding to the duties of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee (or the Chair’s designee) ;
(2)
the Police Commissioner (or the Commissioner’s designee); and
(3)
the Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement or of any office or agency succeeding to the duties of the Office of Civil Rights and Wage Enforcement relevant to duties of the Citizens Advisory Commission for Public Safety (or the Director’s designee) .
History: Ord. 17-035
History: Ord. 17-068
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-3 (2026)
§ 56-3 Term of appointed members.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
(1)
Appointed members of the Advisory Commission serve for a term of 4 years, concurrent with the term of the Mayor.
(2)
At the end of a term, an appointed member continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(b)Vacancies.
A member appointed to fill a vacancy in a term:
(1)
must meet the same qualifications as that required for the member being succeeded; and
(2)
serves only for the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(c)Term limits.
No appointed member may serve for more than 2 consecutive full terms.
History: Ord. 17-035
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-4 (2026)
§ 56-4 Officers; Committees.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Officers.
Annually, the Advisory Commission:
(1)
shall elect one of its members to serve as the Commission’s Chair; and
(2)
and may elect from among its members a Vice-Chair and any other officers that the Commission considers necessary or appropriate.
(b)Committees.
The Advisory Commission may establish committees to assist it in carrying out its functions and duties.
History: Ord. 17-035
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-5 (2026)
§ 56-5 Meetings, quorum, etc.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Meetings.
(1)
The Advisory Commission shall hold public meetings at least once quarterly.
(2)
All meetings of the Commission must be conducted in accordance with the State Open Meetings Act (Title 3 of the <cite data-path="|general">General Provisions Article</cite> of the Maryland Code).
(b)Quorum.
A majority of the Commission’s authorized membership constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
(c)Voting.
An affirmative vote by a majority of a quorum is needed for any official action.
(d)Rules of procedure.
The Commission may adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings.
History: Ord. 17-035
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 56-6 (2026)
§ 56-6 Community Interaction Recommendations Reports.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
In cooperation with the Baltimore City Police Department, the Advisory Commission shall develop annually a Community Interaction Recommendations Report.
(b)Focus.
The Report shall focus on making recommendations to create consistent positive interactions between police officers and community residents.
(c)Contents.
The report shall:
(1)
recommend ways that police officers, by actively participating in neighborhood meetings and events, can bring police together with a wide array of City residents;
(2)
identify ways to help build long–term consistent interaction between police officers and youth in Baltimore’s schools, recreation centers, and other youth programs;
(3)
identify ways that police officers can interact directly with members of the reentry community in a positive manner;
(4)
recommend ways that emphasis can be placed on creating positive interactions with Baltimore’s African-American, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, domestic-violence victim, public housing, and immigrant and refugee communities;
(5)
recommend ways that emphasis can be placed on improving relationships between the Police Department and the small business community;
(6)
provide ideas for citizen-involved training of police officers;
(7)
list and evaluate partnerships between the Police Department and nonprofit organizations and other non-law-enforcement entities;
(8)
include recommendations for homeless and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community interactions;
(9)
include recommendations on how to recruit and retain City residents as police officers; and
(10)
identify ways to form and maintain lasting and coordinated relationships with colleges and universities located in Baltimore City, including Morgan State University and Coppin State University.
(d)Annual submission.
On or before November 15 of each year, the Advisory Commission shall submit its Report for the ensuing calendar year to the City Council and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the members of the Baltimore City House and Senate Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly.
History: Ord. 17-035