Building Trust & Reducing Crime

Without safe communities, nothing else is really possible.

While violent crime rates in Baltimore City are trending at an all-time low, so far this year Baltimore County has seen certain increases in rates of violent crimes like aggravated assaults and sexual violence, according to data from Major Cities Chiefs Association. 

Towson is an unfortunate example of this. Our civic capital has been the victim of devastating crimes that instill fear in the community and disrupt the vitality of the region.

When people feel unsafe, it has real consequences. Families start looking for safer places to live. Businesses hesitate to invest. Neighbors stop trusting each other and communities lose their sense of connection. In fact, the last census showed that for the first time in a century, Baltimore County’s population has declined. We cannot afford to let fear drive people away.

Real safety is more than just crime statistics—it’s about people feeling protected where they live.

Nick’s Plan to Foster Safe Communities:

• Revamp BCStat: On the first day, we will perform a comprehensive review of BCStat, our crime reporting system, and set standards for the consistent and correct classification of crimes. We will also prioritize and invest in BCStat so that it is more than a reporting tool. It should be the fulcrum of our crime fight, driving strategic decision-making, promoting inter-agency and cross-agency collaboration and, most importantly, fostering accountability with the community using public facing resources. 
• Strategic and responsive policing: Focus prosecutorial resources on the small number of individuals responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime. This includes targeting violent cross-jurisdictional crime by partnering with law enforcement counterparts, using joint task forces and embedding County officers with other agencies and vice versa to hold repeat offenders and perpetual bad actors accountable. 
• Expand programs for at-risk youth:  Steer youth away from crime before they enter the system—because kids deserve support, not criminalization. This means investing in Patty Centers and Community Schools and leveraging proven restorative justice and community engagement programs that hold juveniles accountable while giving them a foundation for safe, productive lives. A big part of that effort is making juvenile crime data public through BCStat.
• Expand anti-crime technology: Communities are safer when actionable data can get authorities quickly and accurately. This requires a concerted investment in latest technologies as well as systems, policies and ordinances that guarantee usage and efficacy. Among these technologies are CCTV camera and car tag trackers, NIBIN integrated ShotSpotters, Nighthawk LEOVision for collating CCTV and tracking data across agencies. These technologies paired with a revamped BCStat will integrate actionable leads in real time that lead to safer streets and more effective interventions. 
• Prioritize recruitment and resources: In view of major officer shortage, we will attracted 600 new high-qualified officers while retaining top-tier police officers, ensuring they have the training, resources and equipment needed to protect residents and boost morale. Our process must be rigorous and competitive, but we also have hundreds of vacancies that must be filled. 
• Stand by our officers by equipping them properly: We must deliver take home vehicles. The promise was made, and the law passed but execution has been lopsided. Nick Stewart will ensure all officers, whether employed prior to the agreement, onboarded afterwards or those new to the department have opportunity for a take home vehicle. Also, the department needs to address resource shortages for officers by issuing more sets of uniforms to new officers, installing encrypted radios in cars and fully staffing mental health services to ensure all referrals are accepted and processed promptly.
• Modernize and optimize the Department: We should also modernize our scheduling and overtime systems to ensure fair and efficient overtime payments. Critically, we will evaluate how civilian support roles such as crossing guards and minor accident responders could be utilized, along with part time and flex schedules, to relieve officers and ensure an efficient, orderly and unstressed police department. 

Across all of these efforts we must dedicate ourselves to rebuilding trust between residents, police and policymakers by creating open conversations and real collaboration to ensure public safety efforts reflect what communities actually need.

Public safety isn’t just about crime rates— it’s about people feeling safe walking in their neighborhoods, sending their kids to school and supporting local businesses.

With smart policies, real accountability and strong partnerships, Nick will make sure Baltimore County is a place where families can live, work and thrive—without fear.

For more on Nick’s vision on improving public safety, check out his op-ed below:

Baltimore County needs rational policy to bring down crime | GUEST COMMENTARY

Baltimore County needs to establish an environment of trust and pursue rational policies to be effective in fighting crime, writes Nick Stewart.

Baltimore Sun