"1. To make our public safety strategy effective, it is critical that we track where, when, and how crime occurs, while also analyzing that data to identify trends and better allocate resources. Baltimore was once a leader in using data in city governance. While the City and BPD continue to track data, we have moved away from using it as an accountability measure. As Mayor, I will refocus our efforts to use data to inform decisions and to hold agency heads accountable for their performance. I will also expand the way we use data so that city services work better for our neighborhoods most affected by gun violence and disinvestment.
As Mayor, I will rebuild BPD's program that tracks crime data and use that information to inform deployment, action, and resources. Multiple shootings on the same block in the same month should trigger not only a shift in BPD patrol strategy, but also the deployment of city services and resources with a sense of urgency.
To bring all the data we track into alignment, I will revamp the parallel, city government program that tracks performance data in all agencies. This should be used to hold department and agency leadership accountable to that performance. But also, this data can and should inform our efforts to reduce violent crime, too. To provide the most impacted neighborhoods with the resources they need, we must ensure our agencies fulfill their core functions equitably. This goes for filling potholes, cleaning up trash, and clearing alleys. Together, tracking data intentionally and using it to proactively prioritize service response can help reduce crime and make our communities feel more valued."
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