BPD Watch

In 1853, the Maryland state legislature established the department in its current form with uniforms and firearms “to ensure greater security for the City of Baltimore”. The city was not given the authority to manage its own police operations by the state. In the early years of the department, there was internal political conflict about loyalties. Internal political conflict over loyalties was a hallmark of the early decades of the department.

In 1861, the U.S. The federal government took control of the police department after the police had helped to push Union and Confederate protesters into an armed confrontation during the Baltimore riots of 1861. The U.S. The U.S. Military ran the police department up until 1862 when they handed power back to the state legislature.

In 1885, the department introduced the callbox, the Bertillon identification scheme in 1896, as well as radio communications in 1933.

Baltimore Police Department employs 2,935 civilian and sworn personnel which includes dispatchers, crime laboratory technicians, and unarmed auxiliary officers. One of the nine district police officers is assigned or in a specialized unit. Patrol officers work four ten-hour shifts per week.

The department is now managed by Michael Harrison, Police Commissioner. The department is headed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner is the head of the department. Four Deputy Commissioners are responsible for heading Operations, Public Integrity Compliance, Compliance, and Administrative Bureaus. The Colonel rank and Lieutenant Colonel serve as the heads of specific sections or divisions within the agency (Patrol. Criminal Investigations. Neighborhood Services. The Major rank is for those who plan, execute, coordinate, and eventually supervise the day-to-day activities of the department in prominent areas (Homicide/Shootings/Special Operations), Communications, etc. As well as those who are the commanding officers of each district, Similar to the Major’s Executive officer at the district level, Captains can also supervise a sub-division (Traffic Tactical, Major Crimes). Lieutenants are responsible for being the district’s shift commander. Non-sworn personnel can fill in for some of the Director and Coordinator positions, including the civilian chief financial officer responsible for the Management Services Division.

Office of the Police Commissioner

See also: List of Commissioners of the Baltimore Police Department

• Chief of Staff
  • Media Relations Section
  • Governmental Affairs
  • Executive Protection Unit
• Legal Affairs Section

Baltimore Police Southeast District

Operations bureau

Patrol Division

• Chief of Patrol
  • Inspector
    • Night Commander
    • Area I
      • Central District
        • Headquarters Security Unit
      • Southeastern District
      • Southern District
      • Special Operations Section Unit
        • SWAT Platoon A
        • SWAT Platoon B
        • K-9 Unit
        • Traffic Unit
        • Aviation Unit
        • Stadiums & Honor Guard Unit
        • Special Events & Auxiliary Unit
        • Emergency Service & Marine Unit
    • Area II
      • Eastern District
      • Northeastern District
      • Northern District
      • Special Enforcement Section Vice Unit
    • Area III
      • Northwestern District
      • Western District
      • Southwestern District
      • Adult & Juvenile Booking Court Liaison Unit
    • Community Relations Division Unit
      • Victim Services Unit
      • Re-Entry Unit
      • Neighborhood Services Liaison Unit

 

Baltimore Police Southern District

Criminal Investigation Division

• Chief of Detectives
  • Homicide Unit
  • District Detective Unit
    • City-Wide Robbery Unit
    • Advance Technical Unit
    • Witness Services Unit
  • Special Investigations Section
    • Arson Unit
    • State’s Attorney’s Liaison
    • Pawn Shop Unit
    • Economic Crimes Unit
    • Child Abuse
    • Missing Persons
    • Domestic Violence
    • Sex Offense
      • Sex Offender Registry Unit
  • Operational Intelligence Section
    • Task Force & HIDTA Teams
    • Cyber & Electronic Crimes Unit
    • Regional Auto Theft Task Force
    • Warrant Apprehension Task Force
    • Gun Offender Registry
  • Analytical Intelligence Section
    • Watch Center
    • Crime Analysis
    • Citiwatch
    • Comstat Unit
  • Crime Laboratory Section

Homeland Security Division

• Communications Section
• Information Technology Section
• Records and Research Section
• Citiwatch
• Building Security

Special Operations Division

• Tactical Section
• Strategic Response Section
• Traffic Section

Public integrity bureau

• Anti-Corruption and Ethical Investigations
• S.I.R.T.
• Internal Affairs Section

Compliance bureau

• Evidence Control Unit
• Best Practices Unit
• Office of Internal Oversight
• General Accountability Office
  • Overtime and Secondary Employment Unit
  • UCR
  • Written Directives Unit
• Education and Training Section
  • Police Academy
  • Professional Development
    • In-Service Training
  • Firearm Training Unit
    • Armory Unit
  • Administrative and Command Investigations Unit
  • Audits & Inspections

Administrative bureau

• Information Technology Section
• Human Resources Section
  • Personnel Administration
  • Medical Unit
• Recruitment Section
  • Background Investigation Unit
• Information Services Section
  • Communications Unit
    • Radio Shop
  • Records Management Section
    • Mail Room
    • Hot Desk & CHASE
    • Warrants & Identification
    • Criminal History
• Fiscal Services
  • Property Section
    • Facilities Management
    • Fleet Management
    • Quartermaster Unit
  • Finance Section
    • Grants Unit