Baltimore City Council approves new Department of Neighborhood Safety

Baltimore City Council has given final approval to establish a Department of Neighborhood Safety (DNS) aimed at changing responses to some nonviolent emergency calls, including mental health crises, according to FOX45 Baltimore and WYPR.

The bill passed with a 12-1 vote and now awaits the mayor's signature to become law. The new department will serve as a third branch of public safety in Baltimore, alongside police and fire services, Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement reported by WYPR.

The DNS will send clinicians and social workers to 911 calls that may not require traditional emergency services, such as police or fire, focusing on behavioral health challenges and deescalation. This approach is intended to reduce strain on police, fire departments, and hospitals, as noted by Johns Hopkins Hospital President Dr. Redonda Miller, according to WYPR.

City Council President Zeke Cohen supported the department as a way to relieve police officers from duties outside traditional law enforcement, while Councilman Mark Conway opposed the bill due to concerns about its financial cost, which could be at least $50 million initially, FOX45 Baltimore reported.

The department reflects a city effort to shift from punitive actions toward connecting individuals with city and state services before crises escalate, with broad support from local organizations including Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, WYPR noted.