[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6653608,"mediaKeyId","2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f","parentId",2478078,"title","Annapolis Fire Department: steady EMS demand, delayed apparatus deliveries and a new strategic plan","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4978000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f&start=4978&end=4978","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f/thumbnail_4978000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653608/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Annapolis-Fire-Department-steady-EMS-demand-delayed-apparatus-deliveries-and-a-new-strategic-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653608-43ca6f7e4328dd953b0228e1a9aa125f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179926&Signature=BcA4kvAqhqIr-a0bC672oxGu-Ly2z3qAhWG5SxnmZMQ88WQ1vOIGaumJXi52NzyNR9vYq8ynnTJP4-SWcpT1ZflK15rmgK6zTZOyjYW~kbdqDjkZiB9usB7r-t-inclbhC3qLugcMKOqHq9ztmQRyuySqtXkAE6d1s2sL8HUVEmqSZuW7ogk2S7iaoATYHiG5nL57aFsrwsLnzNbgZTSpnpZGOiS~4TQ-pzx5kGkwyF9zNzm233keeIA7ZCozIqbjivSrBXuVOoNBg3r9Mnk0mBRmjw7Q7cuRUCOs5DqI36NXFrHKWfHN2N~5oroggoaxYYBY7lLorMWhKWCMQ4xnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Annapolis, MD","date","2025-03-04T02:16:44.05Z","article","Annapolis Fire Department leadership told the Public Safety Standing Committee March 2025 that EMS calls continue to dominate department workload, that Ward 8 was the third-least-busy ward by call volume in 2024, and that equipment lead times and rising costs are a pressing operational issue.

Chief O’Malley said the department responded to over 13,000 calls citywide in 2024 and that approximately 75 percent of those were EMS-related. “The majority of what we do in Annapolis Fire Department is EMS related,” the chief said. He reported 863 calls in Ward 8 during 2024 and said the ward was the third-least-busy in the city by call count.

The chief also described procurement and production delays for major apparatus. He showed a production photo of a replacement engine ordered after City Council funding in July 2022 and said the engine’s price has increased: the vehicle cost $720,000 when ordered and an identical engine ordered today would cost about $1,000,000 and take two to three years to deliver. The department also has two medic units on order that remain in queue; the chief said similar multi-year lead times are affecting EMS units as well.

Chief O’Malley outlined a new strategic planning effort. The department has engaged the Center for Public Safety Excellence modeling tools and plans broad community outreach and a department-wide strategic plan targeted for completion by September 2025. He said the plan will examine staffing, apparatus needs, and future risks posed by taller building stock and changing city development.

Committee members asked about mutual-aid capacity for large or wind-driven fires, event planning for Eastport (Blue Angels, festivals) and the federal SAFER staffing grants. Chief O’Malley said the department’s mutual-aid arrangements with Anne Arundel County and the U.S. Naval Academy remain available and that special-event preplanning — including bicycle medics and a small off-road vehicle for congested events — helps the department respond when streets are tightly packed. On grants, the chief said the department received previous SAFER support to add staffing (with the city assuming the cost at grant end), applied for additional SAFER funding for a peak-time medic unit but did not receive it, and is monitoring the federal grant environment for impacts.

Committee members praised the department’s public-facing outreach — including social-media employee spotlights — and asked about volunteer recruitment and training. Chief O’Malley said the department continues recruiting and works with volunteers where feasible; he also listed recent hires and promotions and noted that most of the department’s operating budget is for staffing and benefits rather than grant-funded line items.

No formal policy votes were taken during the fire department presentation; members asked for continued updates on apparatus delivery timing, strategic-plan milestones and the status of federal grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Safety Committee Meeting March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Fire Chief O'Malley told the Public Safety Standing Committee that EMS calls make up roughly three-quarters of the department's workload, Ward 8 was among the less busy wards in 2024, and the city faces long lead times and rising costs on new fire engines and medic units.","taxTitle","Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland","taxId",59348,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6653613,"Annapolis police present 2024 crime figures: Ward 8 tops for vehicle thefts, NIBRS changes affect counts",3667,1291000,4958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f&start=1291&end=4958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f/thumbnail_1291000.jpg","/articles/6653613/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Annapolis-police-present-2024-crime-figures-Ward-8-tops-for-vehicle-thefts-NIBRS-changes-affect-counts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653613-91176b43d6f52c068a9db819a8e91aad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179926&Signature=Zd2EOcqmp~8isxin0QXA3hmBC7ZBWHdgMuNhj6sL4-lIK6b3Q4fBXQwP7kvl7gAE03jffqAJnTiF-qKGiN7Mluu3OqF-o2CDL8s4vYqX9iohJVK01pqBYaiv8G9Z5rkD4tjzVCwN5cIlB5ipjOS5beG3DssjkQSblHMOCPerJuXccn3awJ36JlfLc-FGpkwi53QRa5m37--zpm7Pw2CIyKni00LnWdZl7sHqNT~~pp~ABzXI~FI8nQzMSWPWzrK~jo9~Hnd5Yy29O7OauqIwZ0AZaacUEbEPAdy0F7weirgQ-y82-t0ISYVGsKjw3C5w0xwFkAQuEKOoos9k4jPJUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Annapolis Police Department briefed the Public Safety Standing Committee on 2024 crime data and operational priorities March 2025, highlighting that Ward 8 ranked differently across crime categories and that a national reporting change has altered how incidents are counted.

Chief Ed Jackson introduced command staff and outlined the department’s switch from the Uniform Crime Reports to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), saying the new system counts all offenses in a single incident rather than using a hierarchy that registers only the most serious offense. “Now under the national incident based reporting system, we count everything. If it is 5 crimes committed in 1 incident, we count that,” Chief Jackson said.

Using the NIBRS framework, the department reported that Ward 8 ranked fourth overall among the eight wards for total crime in 2024. The department detailed category-specific counts and local patterns: motor vehicle theft was the single largest problem in Ward 8 (22 motor vehicle thefts), robberies numbered 12 (tied for first with Ward 6) with most incidents involving force by hand or firearms, and thefts totaled 89 with 37 recorded as shoplifting. On motor vehicle theft specifically, the department said 17 of the 22 vehicles were recovered and five remained unrecovered; seven thefts involved unlocked vehicles and ten were locked but recovered.

Chief Jackson and Captain Lamar Howard attributed a portion of the motor-vehicle-theft problem to unsecured property and to newer electronic methods of entry. “Not only your valuables left in these vehicles but the spare keys to operate these vehicles are also being left inside of the taken vehicles,” Captain Howard said. Chief Jackson added that electronic cloning devices can circumvent modern key systems and that he would ask the command staff to research and report back to the committee.

The department also described violent-crime trends and investigative practices. Aggravated assaults in Ward 8 were frequently domestic related; the chief characterized domestic incidents in residences as social problems that often require non-police interventions, while noting street and business incidents are the ones police can more directly address. The department reported one gunshot victim in Ward 8 so far this year and listed several recent “shots fired” locations along ward borders with Ward 6.

Committee members raised public-information and transparency issues. Several aldermen urged faster, clearer releases of incident updates and praised recent daily crime summaries, while also seeking more proactive Public Information Officer (PIO) capacity. Chief Jackson said the department will send its new PIO, Courtland Jackson, to training and that the APD daily report includes arrests and reported crimes; he emphasized withholding information only when it would compromise an investigation or public safety.

The briefing included recruitment and accountability topics. Staff said the department has actively recruited from larger regional departments and that Maryland’s Police Accountability Act requires background checks and can revoke certification for officers who leave while under investigation for serious misconduct. The APD described its background screening and use of the Maryland registry for prior personnel actions.

No formal votes or directives were adopted during the APD presentation; members asked for follow-up on vehicle-theft mechanisms (electronic cloning), continuing PIO improvements and clearer, neighborhood-oriented daily reporting.","Chief Ed Jackson and command staff detailed 2024 crime counts, explained a switch to NIBRS data collection that increases incident counts relative to older reporting, and addressed public information, recruitment and investigative responses to overdoses and gun violence.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6653619,"Annapolis committee hears overdose trends, data gaps and push to treat some deaths as homicides",400,721000,1121000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f&start=721&end=1121","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478078-caa94e0f35cbfac13503e83d94bf0e8f/thumbnail_721000.jpg","/articles/6653619/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Annapolis-committee-hears-overdose-trends-data-gaps-and-push-to-treat-some-deaths-as-homicides","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653619-23e9121e46362426d177f2622b04bc28/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179926&Signature=QR4M~vioEEMFewIZj-s-qu8SXJ6DFdNTfysw6LgS~Z5JyYvyABLAcB~aC6hrhhYSByWK6FCYmhj0HyXTzdCHlNYa3eRDV34TF9XWas225hGkjhwsDiwlY0XVDP7cejuy~0eCrCO0bANThc-r0gVs8IW21NhpvBigxv2vcz5hlu6VN9ZBi91e1d0kDGNzYXdnugcAGZBguIFmuzGyXrN5HQEgSFVzldpIeMfzcORtet0UXBGWozWBjWNvsIdY6VnwMbz5Uxc5WD-1TaNTiVjTQZADaP-1H0PnjDQ0NDOgpHuBkLiWiLrAsZl4I5x-fnH7WLp0spKqT8412RZxsDgV0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Safety Standing Committee of the City of Annapolis heard an Office of Emergency Management update March 2025 on overdose incidents, Narcan use and local response, with police and committee members pressing for clearer data and stronger avenues to hold dealers accountable.

Ms. Edna Jackson, a city council associate who stepped in for the Office of Emergency Management, summarized slides the committee was shown. “Narcan usage has been used in 60 percent of overdoses in Ward 8,” Jackson said while walking the committee through age, race and location breakdowns. She also said 80 percent of overdose victims in several recent years were Black/African American, and noted geographic clustering: “80 percent of them were along within 2 blocks of Madison Street.”

The presentation prompted committee members to question the way incidents are attributed. Alderman Gay asked why Ward 8 — “the second lowest African American population in the city” — showed one of the highest counts of African American overdose victims and suggested the city might be recording overdoses where they occur rather than where the person lives. “The data should be appropriated to where the individual lives, not where the overdose occurs,” Gay said, urging staff to provide both sets of numbers in future reports.

The city’s police leadership discussed how overdose cases are investigated and the evidentiary work that can support prosecution. Chief Ed Jackson of the Annapolis Police Department said police strive to identify sources when possible, collect electronic and trace evidence and work with federal partners. “Let’s not just take the report. Let’s try to find out where it came from,” the chief said, adding that investigators deliver leads to the state’s attorney’s office for charging decisions.

Committee members and police also discussed legislation pending in Annapolis’s state legislature intended to make it easier to charge suppliers after fatal overdoses. A council member present flagged a bill that would allow prosecutors to charge dealers when someone dies after ingesting a supplied drug; the committee discussed how local charging practices and medical examiner rulings interact with such legislation. “If you can show that a person deliberately put fentanyl out on the street, know what the end results could be,” Chief Jackson said, calling intent and proof questions that would be resolved in court and by prosecutors.

Members of the public reiterated interest in greater data transparency and asked for the OEM slides and underlying numbers. Bill Reichert, president of the Eastport Civic Association, asked explicitly whether the slides were publicly posted; staff responded the slides were available on the city’s legislative website. Reichert and other public speakers said clearer, timely release of incident classification (for example, whether overdoses are treated as isolated incidents or as part of larger distribution investigations) could reduce rumor and help civic groups target outreach.

The OEM presenter also noted a related community program: a Food Friday distribution that supplies fresh and nonperishable food to local households. Jackson said the program has grown from about 200 weekly boxes to roughly 275 and is provided in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Food Bank; she presented counts of recipients by neighborhood as part of the department’s community-support overview.

The committee asked staff to return with clarified overdose data that distinguishes place of overdose from place of residence and with additional details on investigative and charging pathways when overdoses are fatal. No formal motions or votes were taken on policy changes during the meeting.

The discussion underscored two themes that committee members pressed repeatedly: (1) provide both “overdose occurrence” and “residence-based” counts so patterns are not misread, and (2) ensure investigators collect and preserve evidence that would allow prosecutors to evaluate charges against suppliers when deaths occur.","City staff and police presented 2023–24 overdose and Narcan data for Ward 8 and citywide, sparking committee questions about how overdoses are counted, where they are recorded and whether state law should make it easier to charge dealers for fatal overdoses.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Annapolis Fire Department: steady EMS demand, delayed apparatus deliveries and a new strategic plan

Annapolis police present 2024 crime figures: Ward 8 tops for vehicle thefts, NIBRS changes affect counts

Annapolis committee hears overdose trends, data gaps and push to treat some deaths as homicides