Annapolis police roll out data-driven summer crime plan for Ward 3

Annapolis Police Chief Cortland Jackson told the Public Safety Standing Committee on May 5 that the department is launching a data‑driven summer crime plan that will deploy resources across all eight wards and concentrate specific measures in Ward 3, including plain‑clothes targeted enforcement teams and frequent community engagement.

Jackson said the plan will “be data driven” and emphasized both visibility and community outreach: “We want to have [crime prevention initiatives] every couple of weeks ... to make sure that the residents get a sense of presence from the Annapolis Police Department.” He said the city will continue the effort “until we get a sense and the residents get a sense that things are okay.”

Why it matters: Committee members and police described Ward 3 as having high rates of property crime concentrated along the West Street corridor and near Safeway and Kohl’s, and they framed the plan as a mix of enforcement, evidence review and public information so residents and businesses can take preventive steps.

What police reported: Jackson gave ward-level numbers and priorities. For the period covering the last fiscal year through the present, he reported two homicides (one in 2024 and one in 2025), and that Ward 3 ranked high across categories of violent and property crimes. Captain Thacker told the committee that in the 2024 data for Ward 3, “78% was property crime, 21% person or violent crime.” The department provided example counts: 31 aggravated assaults in Ward 3 (19 described as domestic), 58 shoplifting incidents, 18 motor vehicle thefts and multiple burglaries. Jackson said of motor vehicle thefts: “8 were unlocked, and they were recovered. 10 were locked and recovered. 1 was locked and not recovered, and 1 was unlocked and not recovered.”

Enforcement and community measures: The plan combines an intelligence‑based approach, special enforcement action teams (plain clothes SEAT officers), regular patrol and targeted traffic enforcement. Jackson described the SEAT units as plain‑clothes officers “who are highly trained, who are going to know what to look for” and said they will pursue outstanding warrants and use video evidence to identify suspects. When Alderman Gay asked for reassurance the plain‑clothes effort would operate within constitutional limits, Jackson said the deployments are “targeted enforcement, constitutionally based” and that officers will articulate “the building blocks of probable cause” when stops or arrests are made.

Business coordination and outreach: Police and council members said the West Street corridor — particularly Safeway and Kohl’s — account for a significant cluster of incidents. Captain Thacker said store loss prevention officers are active and that the department intends to meet store managers. Jackson and Thacker also pressed for a sustained public information campaign about theft prevention — repeating messages such as “lock your car” and “don’t leave valuables in plain view.” Jackson said he had asked his deputy chief to oversee the messaging and report back to the department and council.

Accountability and follow‑up: Jackson said detectives remain actively investigating unsolved homicides; he asked the public to provide tips. He also requested council follow‑up on the University of Maryland workload study for the department and said he will brief the committee further after reviewing the study.

Procedural actions: At the start of the meeting Alderman Gay moved to approve the amended agenda; the motion was seconded and approved. At the end of the meeting Alderman Gay moved to adjourn; that motion was seconded and approved.

What’s next: Police said they will review outcomes every 30 days and adjust deployments. Jackson invited aldermen to ride along to see operations in the field and said the department will share more detailed plans privately to avoid revealing tactical information.