Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Interim Police Commissioner Kevin Davis are visiting East Baltimore neighborhoods Sunday to invite residents to an upcoming public safety forum, an effort the mayor sees as a "critical component" in building trust between police and community members.
Rawlings-Blake and Davis will go door to door to encourage residents to attend the forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday at American Brewery, 1701 Gay St. Last year, more than 2,000 people attended a series of public safety forums, providing feedback that helped the mayor shape policy decisions, Rawlings-Blake's spokesman Kevin Harris said.
During Sunday's canvass, Rawlings-Blake will talk to residents about the ways their feedback has influenced the decision to post lawsuits against police online, the city's effort to equip officers with body cameras and her push for the General Assembly to reform the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights.
"She wants residents to know she took their concerns to heart, and these conversations represent more than just talk," Harris said. "They are a platform for residents to have serious input in her efforts to reform and modernize our police department, as well as have honest conversations with law enforcement."
Harris said the forums are a chance for residents to speak candidly with the mayor. Last year, residents talked about their wish to see more officers on the streets, and some expressed frustration over the way they were treated by law enforcement, Harris said.
"We heard those concerns, and using their feedback, the mayor moved forward on many additional reforms," Harris said. "The mayor understands we have a lot more work to do, but if we are going to be successful that work has to be done in a way that the community feels they can have honest and constructive conversations with the leadership of this city.
"These forums represent that opportunity and the mayor looks forward to engaging with residents."
Wednesday's forum is the first in this year's series. One is planned for each of the city's police districts.
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