![[photo, Hazmat 1 truck, Baltimore City Fire Department, Charles St., Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/images/1198-1-06955b.jpg)
As a volunteer service, the first fire company was founded in Baltimore City in 1763. To ensure quick and efficient response to fires in the City, the first professional service was created in 1859. Since then, the Department has expanded to include emergency medical response units, and specialized hazard units to confront emergency needs.
Formed in 2008, the Administration Division consolidated all maintenance, procurement and supply functions for the Fire Department. Moreover, the Division ensures communications between City and volunteer fire and rescue companies, oversees the Fire Academy, and conducts community outreach and training programs.
COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION DIVISION
Within the City Fire Department, the Fire Incendiary Bureau began in February 1938 to investigate possible arsons. The Bureau was restructured as the Fire Investigation Bureau in April 1958. At that time, the Office of Fire Marshal was created.
The Fire Marshal is responsible for the investigation and enforcement of laws regarding arson; fire prevention; the installation and maintenance of fire detection and extinguisher equipment; the availability and adequacy of fire exits at public and commercial establishments; and the storage, sale, or use of explosives and combustibles. To ensure that all new construction meets Fire Code standards, the Office works with City building inspectors, and oversees efforts to bring older commercial buildings up to Code. For State properties and other institution requiring State licensure, the Office performs similar duties as well (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 6-401 through 6-403).
OPERATIONS DIVISION
The Division oversees Emergency Medical Services.
Bishop L. Robinson, Sr., Police Administration Building, 601 East Fayette St., Baltimore, Maryland, July 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
In 1885, the Police Department was restructured, creating new divisions and incorporating new technologies. Call boxes were installed throughout the City, the Harbor Patrol began, and the City's first patrol wagon was purchased. These changes allowed units to stay in better contact, reduce response times, and better police City waterways.
By 1961, the City Park Police joined the Police Department, further increasing the Department's scope and size (Chapter 290, Acts of 1961).
Supervision of the Department transferred from the Board of Police Commissioners to a single Police Commissioner in July 1978. The Police Commissioner was appointed by the Mayor with City Council consent for a six-year term. Since October 1, 2016, however, the Police Commissioner, while still appointed by the Mayor with City Council consent, serves at the pleasure of the Mayor (Chapter 193, Acts of 2016).
In April 2019, the Police Department organized into four bureaus: Administrative, Compliance, Operations, and Public Integrity. Since December 2023, the Department's four bureaus reformed as: Administrative, Criminal Investigations, Patrol and Community Policing, and Public Integrity and Compliance.
ADMINISTRATIVE BUREAU
The Bureau formerly was responsible for five divisions: Asset Management, Finance, Human Resources, Recruitment, and Science and Evidence. By December 2023, these had reformed into three divisions: Finance, Forensic Sciences and Evidence Services, and Personnel Services.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU
Under the Criminal Investigation Bureau were the Criminal Intelligence Division and the Detectives Division. These reformed by December 2023 into two divisions: Data-Driven Strategies, and Detectives.
PATROL & COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU
Under the Patrol and Community Policing Bureau are Neighborhood Services, and Patrol.
PUBLIC INTEGRITY & COMPLIANCE BUREAU
Under the Public Integrity and Compliance Bureau are three main divisions: Communications and Records Management, Informationa Technology, and Public Integrity. The Bureau also is responsible for Consent Decree Implementation, Education and Training, Equal Opportunity and Diversity, and Performance Standards.
Today, the Police Training Academy ensures professional and equal treatment of members of the Police Department, as well as the professional and ethical behavior of its members.
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OFFICE OF FIRE MARSHAL
The Office of Fire Marshal originated as Fire Inspector in March 1858. Established by the City Council to assist volunteer fire companies operating in the City, the Fire Inspector was empowered to conduct and enforce all State and local fire ordinances for the City (Chapter 253, Acts of 1858). The office of Fire Inspector was abolished in 1894, when many of its duties were absorbed by the State Fire Marshal (Chapters 248 & 339, Acts of 1894).
Formerly named the Field Operations Division, the Operations Division maintains and coordinates fire and emergency medical services throughout the City to respond to fire emergencies. The Division includes thirty-seven fire stations, as well as hazmat units, fireboats, and a dive rescue unit.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Duties of Emergency Medical Services started in 1927, when the Fire Department added five ambulances to its fleet of vehicles. Responsible for coordinating independent medical response providers in the City, Emergency Medical Services also maintains its own staff of emergency medical technicians, and a fleet of medical response vehicles.
![[photo, Bishop L. Robinson, Sr., Police Administration Building, 601 East Fayette St., Baltimore, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/images/1198-1-2310.jpg)
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Origins of the Police Department trace to the colonial period when Baltimore County constables patrolled the area that later became Baltimore City. The first constables assigned specifically to Baltimore City were authorized by the General Assembly in 1784 (Chapter 69, Acts of 1784). Following the City's separation from Baltimore County in 1851, the State Legislature authorized creation of a City police force in March 1853 (Chapter 46, Acts of 1853). During the Civil War, the Federal military authorities took control of the Baltimore City police on June 27, 1861, and then turned over the Police Department to the authority of the State in March 1862.
The General Assembly established the Board of Police Commissioners of Baltimore as a State agency in 1867 (Chapter 367, Acts of 1867). The Board was charged with expanding the Department, as well as updating and increasing its capabilities. Its members from 1867 to 1920 were appointed by the Governor. After 1920, a single Police Commissioner of Baltimore City was chosen by the Governor and also served on the Governor’s Advisory Council.
CHIEF OF STAFF
Previously, the Chief of Staff oversaw the daily administrative duties of the Police Department, including meeting its fiscal and procurement needs. In April 2019, the Chief of Staff became responsible for the Executive Protection Unit, Government Affairs, and Public Information.
In April 2019, the Administrative Bureau organized within the Police Department.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau began as the Crime Reduction Bureau, later was renamed the Operations Bureau, and in September 2017, reformed as the Criminal Investigations Bureau. In February 2018, it reorganized as the Criminal Investigation Division, and in April 2019 as one of two primary units under the Operations Bureau. In December 2023, the unit was elevated as the Criminal Investigation Bureau.
DETECTIVES DIVISION
Within the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Detectives Division formerly had four units: Anti-Crime, Homicide, Shootings, and Special Investigations. These were reorganized by December 2023 as: Citywide Investigations, Group Violence and Anti-Crime, Homicide and Robbery, and Special Investigations Section.
The Patrol and Community Policing Bureau started as a patrol unit, part of the Crime Reduction Bureau, which later became the Operations Bureau. It restructured as the Patrol Bureau, which organized in September 2017. Under the Operations Bureau, it reformed in February 2018 as the Neighborhood Patrol Division and, in April 2019, as Patrol. In December 2023, the Patrol unit was reorganized as the Patrol and Community Policing Bureau.
In April 2019, the Compliance Bureau began and assumed responsibility for Audits and Inspections; Consent Decree Implementation; Education and Training; and Technology. Also in April 2019, the Public Integrity Bureau was created. The two bureaus merged in December 2023 to form the Public Integrity and Compliance Bureau.
POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY
Duties of the Police Training Academy started in 1900 when the Board of Police Examiners was established. The Board formed to ensure the qualifications of an expanding police force (Chapter 16, Acts of 1900). To further ensure professional standards, the Baltimore City Police Academy opened in 1913, providing specialized training to recruits. It later was renamed the Professional Development and Training Academy, and then the Police Training Academy. Still later, it was placed under the Strategic Investigation and Support Services Bureau in February 2018, under the Compliance Bureau in April 2019, and under the Public Integrity and Compliance Bureau in December 2023.
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