Crime-fighting effort to aid Annapolis

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - A new crime-fighting initiative that is concentrating state and federal crime-fighting resources to combat Annapolis’ growing crime problem could be a model for other Maryland cities.

“We’re coming together ... to say this will be the safest city in Maryland,” said House Speaker Michael Busch, who represents the Annapolis area.

The Capital City Safe Streets Coalition, unveiled Thursday, is the result of local lobbying for help to quell crime problems in Maryland’s capital.

Officials say local, state and federal governments have never worked together in Maryland for the aid of a municipality.

The more than $500,000 program, most of which is funded through state and federal grants, includes:

» the state increasing its efforts to serve warrants to repeat offenders in the city.

» state and federal prosecutors boosting their efforts to put repeat violent offenders in prison.

» Annapolis receiving funding to enhance crime-mapping technology and hire a crime analyst to find trends and solutions.

Officials have not set a timetable for the program. Though reports of serious crime in Annapolis have gone down in the past year, homicides haven’t abated. Three slayings have occurred so far this year, compared with eight last year.

City officials blame crime problems on increased drug activity.

“On any given evening, [Gov. Martin O’Malley] can see drug transactions taking place, in plain sight, just three blocks from his home,” Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer said.

Busch joined O’Malley, U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein and other elected officials at a church in Eastport where the program was presented, but one resident at the news conference questioned officials about the accountability of the new initiative.

“It’s easy to say it’s the city’s problem or the county’s problem, but this is our problem,” O’Malley said.

jflanagan@baltimoreexaminer.com

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