Baltimore Mayor & Council President Introduce Legislation to Create Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS) as Third Branch of Public Safety
Earlier today, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and City Council President Zeke Cohen announced legislation to establish a new city agency: the Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS). The department will serve as Baltimore’s third branch of public safety and emergency services, operating alongside the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) and the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD)/EMS. Key Objectives & Structure of the New Agency * Codifying Violence Prevention : The legislation formally establishes DNS to institutionalize and house the violence prevention work and community programs currently managed by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE). MONSE staff, mission, and day-to-day operations will continue uninterrupted under the DNS banner, led by Director Stefanie Mavronis. * Alternative 911 Emergency Response : DNS will build out a formal emergency response branch to handle nonviolent 911 calls, such as quality-of-life concerns, mental health...