Baltimore City officials have introduced legislation to establish a Department of Neighborhood Safety, creating a third branch of the City’s public safety
system focused on violence prevention and alternative responses to certain nonviolent 911 calls.
The proposed Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS) would operate alongside the Baltimore Police Department and Baltimore City Fire Department/Emergency Medical Services. The department would formally incorporate the work of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) into the City’s public safety structure while expanding Baltimore’s alternative emergency response system.
Under the proposal, trained professionals, including social workers and recovery counselors, could respond to certain nonviolent calls that do not require police, fire, or EMS. According to the City, approximately 22,000 calls to 911 each year could potentially be better served by alternative responders, including some welfare checks, public nuisance calls, and situations involving people experiencing homelessness.
“The Department of Neighborhood Safety represents the future of public safety in Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon Scott. “It codifies the work of MONSE…and will create a new, comprehensive alternative response system to ensure that when residents call 911, they receive a response that meets their needs.”
Baltimore has tested alternative emergency response through a 911 diversion pilot since 2021. The new department would expand and institutionalize that approach while also overseeing care continuity teams that connect residents with follow-up services after an alternative response.
The City’s fiscal 2027 budget includes funding to support the department’s establishment and alternative response capabilities. If the legislation is approved, Baltimore plans to conduct a nationwide search for an executive director and engage residents as the department’s structure is developed.
