A Message from the Governor - Safe Neighborhoods, Safe Families

Statement

A Message from the Governor - Safe Neighborhoods, Safe Families

Improving public safety in our neighborhoods and communities is the most important obligation we have as public servants. Yesterday, I was proud to stand with House Speaker Michael E. Busch, Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer, public safety officials and community leaders to celebrate the successes of the Capital City Safe Streets program, launched one year ago as a first-of-its-kind state and local partnership to reduce crime in Annapolis. To date, total crime is down 32 percent and violent crime is down 39 percent in Annapolis over the past year, when compared to the 12 months prior.

The Capital City Safe Streets initiative shows that by working together, across borders and throughout our One Maryland, we can harness the necessary tools to make our neighborhoods safer and protect Maryland families. Today, we are seeing the unmistakable benefits of this unique partnership.

We continue to put families first by making public safety a top priority, achieving 66 fewer homicides last year statewide - a 12 percent reduction - the second highest reduction in homicides in nearly a quarter-century. We've increased public safety funding in Maryland by more than $200 million to make Maryland families safer, eliminated an inherited backlog of over 24,000 DNA samples, and created the Violence Prevention Initiative to identify and closely monitor the most violent, repeat offenders in our State to get them off the streets the moment they become a risk to the public.

The initiative in Annapolis demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together. I look forward to similar partnerships with jurisdictions throughout Maryland, as we continue putting families first by improving public safety.

Martin O'Malley

Governor

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