'Escalation policy' in place for Safe Streets program
BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Safe Streets employees do not alert law enforcement when there are weapons involved in conflict mediation, though Mayor Brandon Scott said there are new escalation policy plans in place.
In July, Baltimore City leaders indicated escalation policies would be reviewed following the Brooklyn Day mass shooting – Baltimore’s largest mass shooting in history. At some point during the party, four Safe Streets workers from the Brooklyn location were called to help mediate a conflict with multiple armed people, but that information was never relayed to anyone else. Hours later, two people were shot and killed and 28 others were wounded.
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, MONSE, oversees the implementation of the Safe Streets program; the 10 different locations are operated by two nonprofits: LifeBridge Health and Catholic Charities.
“MONSE is actively working to support frontline staff at the Brooklyn site, in partnership with Catholic Charities, and we are assessing the internal escalation protocols to inform MONSE when incidents emerge that may be outside their scope of work or require additional resources,” said MONSE Spokesperson Sydney Burns in an emailed statement in July 2023.
ALSO READ | Mayor Scott to nominate Khalil Zaied as Director of Department of Public Works
Burns no longer works for MONSE or Baltimore City government.
During a radio interview on March 13, Mayor Scott said new escalation policies have been implemented. Later in the morning, FOX45 News questioned Mayor Scott about the policy and why it hadn’t been shared sooner.
“Escalating incidents like what we saw in Brooklyn where those on the ground will notify administration in MONSE about what’s happening and then thus allowing those individuals at the top levels of MONSE to make further decisions. It’s that simple,” Mayor Scott said.
The policy, provided by MONSE, is below.
Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.