Annapolis Public Safety Committee Meeting – June 17, 2026

The Annapolis Public Safety Committee met on June 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM to discuss summer safety plans and receive presentations from the Internal Affairs Department, the Reentry Program, the Annapolis Fire Department, and the Office of Emergency Management. The meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes from April 15, 2026, and featured detailed updates on police accountability, reentry services, and seasonal emergency preparedness.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the agenda as written.
• The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the April 15, 2026 meeting.

Discussion Items

Internal Affairs, Police Accountability Board (PAB), and Administrative Charging Committee (ACC) Presentation

• Lakeisha Blue, Director of Internal Affairs for the Annapolis Police Department, explained the complaint process for police misconduct, including four possible findings: sustained, not sustained, exonerated, and unfounded.
• Kenneth Vincent Jr., Chair of the ACC, reported that since July 1, 2022, the ACC has reviewed 88 cases from the Annapolis Police Department. Of those, 42.2% were unfounded, 31.9% resulted in administrative charges, and 24.9% were exonerated. He noted a significant improvement in case turnaround times and a downward trend in complaints.
• Jeanette Ortiz, Chair of the PAB, described the board’s oversight role, including policy recommendations and annual reporting. She highlighted that the PAB meets eight out of twelve months and issues a detailed annual report (most recent for 2025).
• Committee members asked for comparative data from prior years and were told it could be provided. Ortiz expressed willingness to share legislative recommendations to improve the state’s police accountability law.

Reentry Program Presentation

• Captain Lamar Howard, Officer PFC Robert Horn, David Ball (a program graduate), and Vanessa Bright (Executive Director of Maryland Reentry Resource Center) presented the Positive Impact Program (PIP), launched in June 2020. The program has served over 300 returning citizens, offering housing, vocational training (e.g., HVAC, CDL, automotive), and peer support.
• David Ball shared his personal story: incarcerated for 41 years, released in September 2024, and now employed as a case manager and health manager after completing the program.
• Vanessa Bright raised a concern that the program received no funding from the city in the latest budget cycle, despite years of partnership. She requested an explanation. Committee members (including Alderman Smith Brown) expressed strong support and promised to investigate and advocate for future funding.
• Officer Horn noted that the program is open to anyone, not just recently incarcerated individuals, and that the 18th class is graduating in August 2026.

Summer Safety Plan – Annapolis Police Department

• Acting Chief Amy Miguel and Deputy Chief Stanley Brantford outlined the summer crime plan (May–August). Key goals: reduce gun violence, violent crime, property crime, and increase community engagement.
• Strategies include focused patrols in high-crime areas, bicycle and foot patrols, traffic enforcement on Forest Drive and West Street, and community outreach at summer camps and events.
• Staffing update: 118 sworn officers (authorized 125), with active hiring and increased applications.
• The department reported a downward trend in crime for the first part of 2026 and aims to keep summer crime below 2025 levels.

Summer Safety Plan – Annapolis Fire Department

• Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Lopez presented the fire department’s summer safety initiative, focusing on marine rescue, special event preparedness, responder health, and community risk reduction.
• Key partnerships include the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Natural Resources Police, and Anne Arundel County Fire.
• The department emphasized data-driven deployment and enhanced responder wellness protocols for heat stress.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Presentation

• Deputy Director Dave Mandel discussed cooling center operations (activated four times so far, with a fifth expected), the special assistance roster for vulnerable residents, and a new city heat-related illness plan for personnel.
• OEM is conducting summer outreach to older Annapolitans, covering personal safety, emergency preparedness, and heat safety.
• Mandel provided an update on the recent storm: all power restored, two families displaced, and ongoing recovery efforts. He noted that the storm’s 60–70 mph winds were unexpected and caused tree damage that was difficult to prevent.
• Committee members discussed tree tracking and replanting after storms, with a suggestion to coordinate with the urban forester.

Key Outcomes

• The committee approved the agenda and minutes from April 15, 2026.
• Committee members committed to following up on funding for the Reentry Program and requested contact information for future collaboration.
• The committee expressed appreciation for all presentations and noted that the Internal Affairs presentation would likely become an annual update.
• No formal votes were taken on substantive items; the meeting adjourned after all presentations and Q&A.