City, state, and community partners will collaborate to address safety and quality-of-life concerns in downtown Baltimore as part of the pilot phase of a Strategic Operations Center.
The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved $2 million of funding for the launch of the center’s pilot phase. That is on top of the $20 million that UMB and the State of Maryland have committed to support the permanent center after the pilot period.
The center will serve as a 24/7 hub where agencies and partners can share information and resources, and coordinate real-time responses to various situations.
Part of the center’s mission is to tailor responses to community needs in different situations, whether that includes social workers, clean street ambassadors, public safety employees, or other resources.
The center will use video technology to identify various events in need of response, but not license plates or faces, according to the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.
“The goal of the Strategic Operations Center is simple: to strengthen public confidence,
foster a welcoming environment, and create the conditions for sustained growth and
investment, growth, and vitality in Downtown Baltimore,” said DPOB President Shelonda Stokes in a statement. “This is more than technology. It is about government, law
enforcement, social services, and community voices working side by side to prevent
problems before they escalate.”
Trained professionals from participating agencies will staff the center, including workers from the University of Maryland School of Social Work, UMB Police and Public Safety, the Mayor’s Office of African American Male Engagement, Maryland State Police, Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services, Maryland Capitol Police, Department of Public Works, Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, Department of Transportation, Baltimore Police Department, and Office of Emergency Management.
“As an anchor institution, UMB is deeply committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our community,” said UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell in a statement. “The SOC reflects that
commitment by uniting agencies and community organizations in a single, coordinated effort. By working together in real time, we can respond to our community more effectively while building stronger trust and lasting change.”
