Baltimore to Launch 911 Diversion Agency With $15 Million Opioid Funding

Baltimore City Council voted nearly unanimously on Monday to create a new Department of Neighborhood Safety, a move that will divert specific 911 calls from police to mental health professionals. The agency will launch with $15 million in restitution funds derived from settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors.

The proposal, introduced jointly by Mayor Brandon Scott and Council President Zeke Cohen last month, consolidates the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement into a standalone entity. The new department will employ social workers and peer specialists to handle non-life-threatening calls, such as welfare checks and nuisance reports. These teams will operate at all hours for incidents deemed safe and free of weapons. Baltimore currently diverts approximately 1.5% of 911 calls, a figure that officials hope to increase through this new structure.

The plan faces scrutiny over its long-term financial viability. A memo from the city’s deputy director of finance noted that the opioid restitution funds are expected to be depleted by 2032. The document warned of a potential funding cliff, after which programs would either end or require a new funding source. Conway, the only council member to vote against the measure, cited this lack of a final budget as his primary concern.

“I fear we’ll trip and fall and saddle the city with expectations we’re not fully prepared to meet,” Conway said. He argued that the administration had not produced a budget for the new office before advancing the bill. However, other council members rejected the notion that the legislation was rushed. Councilwoman Odette Ramos stated that the bill caps years of work following several fatal police encounters with residents in mental health crises.

Council President Zeke Cohen said he prefers to hire a director for the office before assigning a final price tag. He cited analyses from existing systems in Denver and Durham, where officials visited to observe diversion programs. Durham diverts 5% of 911 calls from police. Cohen wants to ensure the incoming director is on board before any public cost figures are released.

Letitia Dzirasa, the deputy mayor for equity, health and human services, said she expects to send a preliminary budget to the council in the next several weeks. The city anticipates a phased rollout similar to the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, potentially piloting the program in specific areas before expanding it citywide. The council is scheduled to take a final vote on the legislation early next month.